Tornabuoni Suites & Spa - Florence, Italy     

It is very hard to come up with a definitive rating here - couples and younger people thirsting to explore the Florentine experience may easily rate it as a '5', while older people and business travellers may well leave its premises rather unimpressed. The facts are these : gorgeous views over the rooftops of Florence ( ours, the Belvedere suite, facing towards a majestic Tuscany sunset ) , a very prestigious address in Florence's foremost shopping district, very close proximity to the Arno and a 5-10 min walk to the Duomo and the Palazzo Vechio ( and what fine walks these are ). It is also very close to the train station - unless you carry a lot of luggage, no need to take a taxi there. The suite itself was OK, very clean and airy and of adequate size for two people but somewhat short on amenities ( small fridge, no real possiblity of cooking inside ). The bedroom is nice with a TV and a large window facing west, while the bathroom ( with a shower ) was again OK but lacking somthing special to distinguish it ( but it does have a fine view also ). The building is of course an old one, imparting on its residents a touch of the city's atmosphere ( we realy liked it for that fact and would overlook the occasional annoying smell penetrating into the elevator) . Note that the suites are located on the building's upper two floors, while the elevator stops at the floor below them - a matter of concern for disabled people and possibly for older travellers as well. Those looking for a number of hotel services as a prerequisite for a relaxing holiday stay, they better look eslewhere. There is a clean-up service everyday ( except Sunday ), while Janice ( the American who manages the place ) will be there to greet you and show you around. She is really helpful, knows Florence inside-out and is one phone call away from helping you arrange whatever you wish to do in the city, or sort out any problems that might arise - and that is pretty much all. To be fair, there must also be an option to provide breakfast on request - we never used it, as there are many options for that close by. So, how do I rate this place ? I understand that some people will find it inconvenient and short on services, but in the internet age one is not excused for not knowing what he is getting himself into when booking a hotel. Therefore, speaking for those wishing to experience something of Florence and not just visit it, I'd say it's a solid 4.

We arrived in Florence late on a Thursday evening. We paid a very expensive taxi driver to take us 10yds from the station to our destination! Janice (the confident American) greeted us professionally and helped us settle in very well. We paid the bill upfront - which was a problem as their credit card machine wasn't working well. The apartment was well kitted out with all the amenities we needed. We expected it to be bigger but we were excited about our travels and looked forward to the weekend ahead! The street we stayed on was the most magical, fashionable one in Florence. We even spied Roberto Cavalli drinking espresso in his cafe at the end of the street!! The only downside was the fact that the cleaner (who was super friendly) only worked until Saturday. Sunday we had no toilet roll! No clean bed or bathroom. Very disappointing. In fairness to the staff, we were offered a night free next time we stayed.