 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to Florence Airport Hotel
Ciao friends at In Italy. . .well, our trip was beyond marvelous and we’re already wanting to go back next year! Here’s a bit of a review:
The first “In Italy” property at which we stayed was Palazzo Bandino. Wow. Fabulous, warm, friendly are all meager words to describe the hospitality. On our first evening we enjoyed dinner prepared in their kitchen, and we were literally so full of food we couldn’t move. We joked for days about the reaction my husband Don had to the roasted guinea fowl, flinging his head back and closing his eyes as he ate each succulent bite with crispy skin! Wine flowed and food kept coming and coming. At 24 Euros/person it was great value for money. The next morning I asked Marta if we could pick some vegetables from their garden, and in a moment she re-appeared with a huge bowl filled with zucchini, cucumbers, and greens. Later when we were cooking we asked if we could purchase some olive oil or a garlic clove, and both were provided immediately at no charge. But the biggest surprise came on the morning of July 6 when we had planned to leave early. We thought we’d do a last-minute check of our e-mail on their computer, and we learned that our daughter-in-law had given birth to our first grandbaby, two weeks early! Amidst tears, hugs, a phone call from the US, Marta immediately presented us with a bottle of their champagne, which we opened and shared with other guests. We would heartily recommend Palazzo Bandino, and we hope to return there ourselves!
We rented our car through you, picking it up in Siena, then driving through Tuscany, CinqueTerre, back to Florence airport. There were four of us in our party, and we had a nice-sized car with plenty of room for luggage. When two of our party returned home to the US, we then exchanged it for a smaller one for just two of us. That was your suggestion, and it was a good one. My husband was happy to drive a cute Fiat 500 for the last part of our trip. The rental was seamless, even though my husband had forgotten his US driver’s license. He had gotten an International Driver’s License and thought that was all he needed. Somehow we never saw on the IDL that it clearly states you must ALSO have your valid driver’s license with you. A misunderstanding we encountered was with pre-payment for gas. We took the pre-payment option, but on the written contract, the wording was confusing. We ended up filling the tank before we took it back, and the agent said we would receive credit for it on our CC, but that didn’t happen. So, a word to the wise. . .take the pre-payment option and return the car with an empty tank!
The Florence Airport Hotel was excellent. We shopped in the grocery store which was right beside the hotel, and it was an easy drive from the hotel to the airport. Breakfast was outstanding and ample. The rooms were luxurious, and a card on the bed boasted 6 kinds of pillows that were available. Parking was no problem, since they have their own lots. We could easily take a local bus into Florence for our last walk around. Highly recommended.
In Florence we highly recommend Trattoria Mario www.trattoriamario.com. It is located in the center of Florence on Via Rosina next to the Mercato Centrale (Central Market). It is a five minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station or from the Piazza del Duomo. The address is Via Rosina 2R, although you can just look for the crowd of people waiting outside. Watch their times of opening—for lunch only—from 12-3, which is early for lunch in Italy. Get there early and get your name on the list. You’ll sit at tables with other people and eat as authentically and as cheaply as anywhere you’ll find. We actually went there twice, which is saying something for us!
So, Arrivederci for now. We’ll be returning to Italy, I’m sure, and we’ll be in touch.
Linda W. and family
Our trip to Italy was great! The Florence Airport Hotel turned out to be very convenient and was very accommodating.
Thanks for the tip!
Sandra R.
Dear Julie,
The hotel in Florence was very good indeed. We booked two rooms with the upgrade. One of the rooms was very good but the other was a little on the small size for a superior room. Nevertheless the reception staff were very good and the hotel was clean and smart. Breakfast was also of a high standard.
We were disappointed at the quality of local restaurants. The choice was limited and exacerbated by the fact that a lot of Florence "closes down" for August.
David K.
Dear Jessica,
Thank you for your email. I had a wonderful time in Italy. Florence Airport Hotel was the perfect B&B. Roberto was fantastic and his main caretaker, Lorna, took very good care of us. They were very friendly, helpful and accommodating. Definitely, I recommend Florence Airport Hotel -- it is very clean and comfortable. Thanks again for your help with everything.
Vivian B
Back
to Florence Airport Hotel