MerryTravel...

Perhaps what you posted is true as of late but I personally stayed at Tourist House Liberty only one night and there was no problem with a minimum stay requirement. As I said Alessandro was very easy to work with.

Thanks again to everybody for their helpful advice and support. Since so many hotels were booked, we upped our budget a bit and looked on Expedia. We booked the Astoria for about $200, which seems like both a good deal for it and a hotel that will suit our needs quite well. Sure I'd prefer a charming little family-run B&B booked through e-mail, but I think everyone else going to Florence in May got them first!

i originally had booked the BB peterson for 62E double/shower, but happen to stumble on a location i preferred more. looked around and found http://www.homeinflorence.com , they have bb and apartments. booked a bb twin/shower for 82E. Paolo was really prompt and nice to work with.

merrytravels~~we did exactly what you plan to do last May in FL. The hotel booked the taxi the night before for us due to the early am hour with no problem. The airport is not far from the city center-- a 10 min taxi ride for around $10--easy airport to check in and fly out. As far as hotels I cannot rec the one we stayed in when we returned to FL for the flight--close to the noise of San Lorenzo mkt--they started setting up their wares at 5 AM! The first time in FL we stayed at a Karen Brown B&B--the Johlea and loved it. It was a couple blocks from the Accademia and near lots of restaurants. Good luck!

Try the Hotel David...E129. Its across the Arno and just where Via Michaelangelo beigins in a small piazza. Cozy, homey, and will take care of your last night's arrangements for you...You can find it at venere.com

I''m still trying to figure out why you didn't pick up the phone and call your "first choice" hotel after they "never responded to my e-mail."
It would have saved a lot of time and worry and not only for you...

Another vote for Hotel David. We just stayed there for our last night in Italy last Saturday. 24 hour staff, extremely friendly & helpful, taxi at the door, and a 20 min. ride to the airport. You will find better rates at venere.com than on the hotel's own site.