Hotel Alma Domus isn't run by nuns at least not when I was there, it's contracted out. The young guy working the desk insisted it wasn't even a convent, but a hotel. I did see a nun in the breakfast room one morning, but not any other times.

If I may ask, how much luggage do you take to need to stay in
one place and go back and forth? It just seems such a waste of
your time and money. Have you considered a rolling carry-on size piece of luggage that you can easily manage on the trains, buses etc? We travel for 2-3 weeks with one each plus I have an extra tote-type bag. Hope you have a great trip.

Oops, I should have been answering your question instead of
questioning you about your luggage.:) We also stayed at Hotel Duomo. The location is the best part about the hotel. It was
clean, simple furnishings, nice breakfast and helpful staff.

violetduck,

I have two overnighters planned. In both cases we'll sleep over in a second or third destination at the end of the first day, then we'll spend the second day in that area.

For instance, we'll make a quick stop in Pisa (little interest here but the train from Florence works better) and spend the rest of the day in Lucca. We'll go to La Spezia either before or after dinner to be in Cinque Terre the next day before returning to Florence in the evening.

Likewise, we'll go to San Gimignano for a good part of the day then move over to Siena for the evening and the next day.

Walking around all day with a carry-on is not what I'll do. I'll put a few necessities for both of us in my backpack and that will have to do.

= = = = =
A lot of people seem to be giving Alma Domus good reviews. I'll have to think about this.

In the meantime, anybody stay at Antica Residenza Cicogna.
Very good ratings/comments on TA.

just27,

I could read the humor in you message.

= = = = =
Well that settled that.

The Alma Domus won't take a one night reservation for the date I wanted (June 28th).

I guess I'll followup on Antica Residenza Cicogna unless other good suggestions appear.

Don't expect Alma Domus to be the same quality as it's only a 1 star. I suggested it because it met your guidelines of inexpensive, central, AC. You can't compare it to many of the other hotels you are looking at(some of which are three star) which are double the price.

I definitely see that your backpack will work better with all your changes. You are going to see lots of beautiful and interesting places. Enjoy!!!!

I've stayed at the Chiusarelli at least 3 times, and always been quite pleased with it. Beware, though - if you ask the server to bring you a cappacino at breakfast, instead of getting your own from the machine, you'll be charged extra for it now.

And the gruff guy who was at the front desk a few years ago - who many people here complained about, including me - is still there, but he's nice now.

Here's another place I've stayed in Siena - a small hotel called the Fani Mignanelli. A bit more than the Chiusarelli. 5 minutes walk from P. Gramsci, 1 minute from the Campo. Lovely place.

http://www.residenzadepoca.it/

Holly,

Could you comment about the setup of the Fani Mignanelli? I shied away from booking it as I read many reviews that said it was awkward to get into something about having to walk through a construction site??? I was going to check it out last year while staying at the Villa Elda but totally forgot!

We moved to the Chiusarelli after a poor experience with a place inside the walls. The room was very nice and comfortable and the breakfast was excellent. It has beautiful public spaces. BUT kybourbon is right that it is on a busy street, so if you choose that hotel you must insist on a room towards the back. The central bus station is a few hundred yards down the road.

The hotel's location is just outside of the walls near a gate, so the walled part of the city is very convenient and walkable.

All in all, we were very pleased with the Chiusarelli.

cruiseluv: The Fani Mignanelli is located almost directly across from a really large pasticceria (sp?) on the "main drag" heading into the old town. Maybe you've seen it - lots of pretty decor in the windows, a seating area in the back with a lunch and dessert type menu. You turn right into what looks to be the start of a calle, storefronts on both sides, then after about 30 feet, there's a gate. Go through that, and there's an elevator on the right that goes to the hotel on the upper floors. If someone said something about a construction site, all I can think is that maybe something was going on in the street out front, or they were tearing up something in that little calle area at some point. It was all clear when I stayed there, and when I went through the area again last year.

Thank you so much Holly. Wish I had known about this last year, I would have certainly considered staying there. Now I know for next time. I think I know the pasticceria you are talking about. Actually, we went in once , wanted to buy some stuff and couldn't get anybody to help us! They only had one woman working the long counter and many patrons waiting to be helped.

I considered the Chiusarelli but in the end decided to go with a very small place in the same area but a little closer to the Campo.

Antica Residenza Cicogna has only 6 rooms, recently renovated with A/C, private bathroom, breakfast room and the whole place is non-smoking (how do they enforce that). It gets great reviews on TA but I'm suspiscious of that.

Needless to say that when I write my trip report I will discuss how all this worked out.

We're doing a few things very different than what we've done in the past. Should be an interesting adventure.

What rate did you get? Do the rooms have views?

kybourbon,

I have no idea if the rooms have a view. When I look at the prioroties that is certainly not one of them for this hotel. We'll only be there for one night.

I expect we'll arrive at the hotel early evening. We'll walk around, have dinner, sleep, have breakfast (included) and check out. The rate is 90E.

The priorities are clean and comfortable (TA seems to indicate so), location (this seems to be), non-smoking (neither of us smoke and this is a big plus) and price since we're keeping our hotel in Florence.

Like I wrote, this trip is built very differently from all of our previous trips. In the past we've changed locations every 2-4 days. We'd packup, carry luggage, get on the train and move around.

As we get a bit older (and we had a few surgeries last year - knee for my wife and hip replacement for me though we're both fine now) we want to try not carrying luggage around.

I'm sure we'll learn something for the next trip.

Myer,

I think that is a great rate you got for June. I never went in, but I did walk past the entrance to the Antica Cigogna and it looked fine, location is excellent. Please post after you stay there and let us know of your experience.

cruiseluv,

I write extensive reports (probably too detailed) following each of my trips and expect to write one after this trip as well. I will report on this hotel.

It was you who suggested I look at this hotel.

Thanks for the responses.