Grand Hotel Villa Medici - A Sina Hotel - Florence, Italy     

Just returned from ten days in Florence and Rome. This hotel was our first stop. The rooms were clean and spacious and we had a lovely view of the garden, mind you it wasn't cheap! On arrival we received mixed advice about parking our hire car . It transpired that if the hotel parks the car for you in the municipal car park opposite then you pay twice as much as if you park it yourself. When checking on the type of breakfast available, we were told that it wasn't included in our booking and that it would cost 30 euros each! Although I had a print out of our reservation it didn't mention breakfast. I knew it was included and it took a lot of chasing for them to accept we were correct. It wasn't even that good and certainly not worth 30. Sitting in the garden by the pool was very relaxing and the lovely lady on lifeguard duty was always quick to ensure everyone had a comfortable sunbed, nothing was too much trouble for her! The position of the hotel suited us, it was a 15 minute walk to the centre, but it was fairly quiet at the end of a busy day sightseeing. Overall, a very nice place to stay!

Belated review- Stayed here with my parents for 4 nights back in April. I booked through AMEX Platinum's Fine Hotels program. Maybe that was the reason, or maybe the hotel service is always this excellent, but we were treated like VIPs throughout our stay. Upon arrival, we were upgraded to a 5th-floor deluxe suite, with a welcome platter of fresh fruit and a bottle of wine awaiting our entry. The room was beautifully appointed with traditional decor. Large comfy bed, luxurious curtains, even a tapestry! Separate bedroom and sitting area with a TV in each, and a balcony with a view of the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio. The room was not soundproofed, but I have yet to come across a hotel room in Italy that is. Also, the bathroom exhibited a slightly funky odor, but was otherwise functional and spacious. So overall, the suite was gorgeous and comfortable with only a couple of minor inconveniences. As for the hotel itself, the common areas are a stylish blend of past and present. There's a lovely courtyard with a swimming pool, and adjacent to that is the Conservatory restaurant. The breakfast buffet is average, but definitely have dinner here if you can! Best Italian meal I've ever had, hands down. Even a place like Babbo's in NY doesn't compare. Of course, it probably helped that we went on an off-season weeknight and were essentially treated to a private dinner. Still, wow. Location: As others have written, the hotel is a 10-15 minute walk from most city attractions. But it's located in a relatively quiet neighborhood. Plus it's very close to the SMN bus/train terminal, which is convenient for day excursions to Siena and other Tuscan towns, or for arrivals/departures via Eurostar. Finally, it's worth noting that Travel & Leisure magazine just ranked the Grand Hotel Villa Medici 35th in all of Europe. That's better than any other Fiorentine hotel. Considering that the place doesn't seem to be as well-known as some of its neighbors (yet), this means that we're looking at a hidden gem.