My husband and I need an air-conditioned room in Florence for late June. Clean, small hotel or Band B. The Tourist House Ghiberti and Peterson B&B sounded great but they are booked. Pelase help if you can. Thank you.

I haven't stayed there yet, but next week I'll be at the Hotel Caravaggio and I can let you know how it is. They do have a/c.

I just e-mailed budget hotel suggestions to friends headed for Italy. Here is what I sent them for Florence (Not all have a/c - check websites):

"Some people like to be right by the Duomo or the San Lorenzo Market. Because of church bells and crowds/noise, this isn't my choice. But here are a few budget places in this area that are well-reviewed:
http://www.soggiornobattistero.it/
http://www.hotelperseo.it/index.html
http://www.hoteldali.com/pages/view.htm
http://www.touristhouseghiberti.com/

Other areas:
http://www.desireehotel.com/ This is where I'm booked for May - best place at cheapest rate I could find. Near the train station, but on a quiet side street.
http://www.hotelconsigli.com/ This is where I stayed last time; a little more $$. Great roof garden w/views of the hills and Arno river!
http://www.florenceby.com/ariele/pages/profile.htm
http://www.bellevuehouse.it/ Would have stayed here this time if I'd been willing to pay a bit more. Nice-sized rooms w/attractive decor. Owners very nice by e-mail.
http://www.ilbargellino.com/ Also on my short list. Great garden. Often booked.
http://www.hotelcasci.com/ Gets great reviews, in spite of basic decor beacuse owners are apparently very helpful and friendly.
http://www.florenceby.com/sanfredian...es/profile.htm In the Oltrarno (on the "other" side of the Arno river. A charming, quieter area with lots of great restaurants still about 15 minutes from the main sites. Huge rooms, nice decor, low rates. Would have stayed here on this trip, but they were booked."

Thank you so much Lesli. I am going to start searching these now.

You're welcome! Please let us know where you end up.

leslie --

I'm trying to find reviews of Residenza Johlea I from posters here. I saw your post from last June that you almost booked it. Do you know anything about the hotel? I found it in Karen Brown's guide, but am having trouble finding reviews from people who have stayed there - only 1 on trip advisor. Any information would be greatly appreciated (from any posters.)

Amy

I know the areas where the Johlea & Johanna are located. A bit of a stroll from the center of things, but if you don't mind walking, that can be a benefit in terms of quiet and more of a "neighborhood" feel.

I tried a Google search for "reviews johlea florence" and came up with the following (and a few others):
http://www.i-escape.com/hotel_print.php?hotel_key=IT004

The website itself (http://www.johanna.it/)
lists MANY reputable guidebooks in its "references" section, including Sandra Gustafsons's Great Sleeps, and Rivages Guides de Charm and TimeOut. Both of the latter can be read on-line. I wouldn't hesitate to book there.

You might try text searching here for both "johlea AND florence" as well as "johanna AND florence" in order to get whatever feedback exits for all properties in this group.

I also strongly considered their brand-new "Antica Dimora" for my own upcoming trip. It isn't even opening until May 1 (there's a link to it from the main site above.) Looks lovely....

thanks leslie. i'm also going to check out the hotels on your list above, as well. I'm currently booked at tourist house ghiberti, which is probably where we will end up staying. it was just interesting to find residenza johlea come so highly recommended by several reputable guidebooks, but then not find much about it (couple things on johanna) on this forum.

message awbaker: see the post 6 days trip report Florence etc....has the report you are looking for..

Karen

Hi Leslie,
I just book a room at the new Antica Dimora for two nights in Sept. If you happen to book and visit before Sept I would appreciate any feed back. The place looks lovely.
Diane

Karen -- I saw that trip report, but I believe aine stayed in Johanna, not Johlea. Thanks!

Hi ginn,

I received an email from Mrs Ancillotti, of the B&B Peterson, today.

She tells me that they will be opening another B&B on Via Guido Monaco.

Did she tell you about that?

karen -- I reread aine's trip report & realized she did stay at johlea. sorry!
ira -- i'm going to look into B&B Peterson as well. i loved your trip report btw.
ginn -- it seems we have a very similar itinerary & are looking at the same hotels. hope you write a trip report upon your return!

Diane - If I'm able to stop and get a look at the Dimora Altea, I'll post my impressions when I return (in late May.) I didn't see rates on the website for this property; do you mind my asking what you were quoted?

Some other B&B type options I considered - at approx. 100E/night or thereabouts:

http://www.dimora-altea.com/
http://www.relaiscampanile.it/
http://www.florenceoldbridge.com/
http://www.sanibnb.it/

This one, too:

http://www.relaisperla.com/

Leslie they quoted me 125E for a superior double room. Payment in cash only.
Looking forward to reading a trip report after your trip.

Leslie the B&B I am talking about is Antica Dimora not Dimora Altea.
Sorry for the confusion

Diane - Yes, the Antica Dimora, which is the new property run by the same people as the Johanna/Johlea. That is the one I said I'd strongly considered and may take a look at while I am in Florence. Thanks for letting me know the rate; I'd actually typed the wrong name into my question to you!

Although the Dimora Altea also looks nice. However, since their site provides rates, I obviously didn't need to ask you for those....