Palazzo Gamba - Florence, Italy     

As a native Italian living in the USA, I travel to Italy several times a year with my family of 5 and on business. In July 2007 our family stayed two times at the Palazzo Gamba. The only problem we encountered was the noise level from the first floor apartment we were given during our 2nd stay. We did not have a problem at all during our 1st stay as the 1st apartment was higher up and faced the street on side of Duomo, plus it had one inner bedroom that was not on any street. The 1st flor apartment we had during our 2nd stay was directly over a busy street (Via Martelli) and did not have sound proof windows. This led to 2 nights of no sleep due to noise of buses, street cleaners, cars, vespas, all night long. Although we asked to be moved to a different apartment, there were no vacancies. So only word of caution - ask for an apartment on high floor, not facing Via Martelli and with sound proof windows. Otherwise – beautiful apartments, simply equipped kitchen with dishwasher; bathrooms were small but clean, plenty of towels, great location. Only one key is provided which makes it diffiult for familes or friends going in 2 different directions for the day. Front desk staff helpful and coureous.

Our family of 5 spent 7 nights in the Botticelli Apartment. Two-bedrooms on the 3rd floor with frescoed ceilings and a view of the duomo and baptistry. There was a small kitchen area, two of the four burners worked on the stove and a large refrigerator. There is a grocery store close by, which we took advantage of. The bus stop is across the street as is the ATM machine. Negatives, the noise level is extremely high - young people hang out of the steps of the church til at least 2 a.m. each night singing and drinking. Four ambulances are stationed across the street and are constantly on the go, sirens wailing at all hours. The beds are extremely hard and fairly uncomfortable. The bathrooms (2) were both very small with leaky showers that drained very slowly. Positives: Location, location, location. It couldn't be beat. In several minutes you could be at the Ponte Vecchio, The Uffizi, Accademia, Boboli Gardens, Piazza della Signora, The Pitti Palace, or just strolling along the Arno. Cristiano and Jessica were very helpful at the check-in. But as has been pointed out, the hours of 12 noon to 8 p.m. are not convenience if you have a late flight from the United States and arrive in Florence at 9 a.m. It is a 15 minutes taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. Cost about 25 Euros plus an additional 1 euro for each bag. We needed two taxis. The weather was extremely warm for October. It was in the 80's every day and no rain. The city was more crowded than I expected it to be. The tour books tell you October is quieter, but it wasn't true. Shop owners we talked with said September and October are becoming as busy as June and July. Because of the weak dollar, the cost was about $360 a night. Would we stay here again, yes, because of the location and convenience but certainly not because of a "quiet, relaxing atmosphere" as the hotel advertises.