A well deserved 5 star rating. Classic Old World charm and elegance updated with impeccable service…read moreand quality. From afternoon tea in the lobby to drinks on the terrace during the Golden Hour this is a must splurge. Come dressed well and enjoy.

Exceptional hotel. The entire staff and Concierge team are some of the best I have seen in my…read moretravels. Food was great, rooftop bar newly renovated, rooms were clean, well appointed and spacious. Only wish was to have more English speaking TV channels when it came to winding down at night. Situated along the Arno River was within walking distance to anything you needed or wanted for your stay in Italy. Fun fact - Napoleon's sister Carolina Boneparte once owned and resided at the hotel and is buried in the Church across the street. Not to worry the ceilings were very tall! Hehe.

amazing staff here and the hotel is very charming. its decent location, a short 15 minute walk from…read moreeverything. The hotel has a great bar and lounge area that comes alive in the evenings. Live piano player and just a cozy charming area. Breakfast buffet is ok, nothing amazing but definitely adequate enough. The rooms are clean and beds are very comfortable. One issue is the noise level is high, street noise is very high and not the hotels fault. So bring ear plugs, or noise machine. I was very happy with the hotel and the staff was amazing.

Our stay was very nice. Although at check in, they seemed to be very rude. They have to check how…read moremany individuals that are staying in the rooms. The staff like "salam" who work the front desk area are efficient and fast. They grab all your bags, can call you a taxi within minutes. Salam was very helpful. Rooms are clean. Pool is nice but half of the pool was 7ft deep. Too deep for my eldest but there is the other side that is only 2.5 ft deep. This is only about 0.8 mile from the meecato central. Don't rent a car because this is walkable and you cannot park anywhere near florence and with your rental. If you do have a rental there is a garage across the street they use for 45 euro a night. But you have in and out privileges. Other garages down town florence don't allow you to move the car in and out even if you paid all day fees. Overall this hotel was very nice

3 star hotel. Great if you're looking for proximity to train station, but that is almost all that…read morecan be said positive. The day time hostess/ check-in woman / coffee maker is quite friendly and sweet. However the nighttime clerk, seemed reluctant to provide additional services or answer basic question. Asked for a small bag of ice for an injury the first evening. Though she eventually provided a little plastic bag with about a 20 ice cubes from the freezer in the kitchen, her first response was to go to the pharmacy. And when inquiring about a hairdryer the second night, she told us, she have it away to another room! What?! Only one hairdryer for all rooms? (Turns out there was a hairdryer attached to the wall in the bathroom.) The room is clearly of Swedish design. Unfortunately, by that I mean IKEA furniture with some stickers still on the product. Despite the double paned windows, the train was relatively muted, however the walls are quite thin and you can hear the rooms next door. Including the yelling at the tv on one side, and the sex sounds from the other room. Lol. The elevator was pretty janky. Old style elevator where you have to close the outer doors and inner doors by hand. Someone must not have closed it properly one night, and I had to walk up the extra 3 floors. (Probably 6 sets of floors as Europe has those double floors.) Basic breakfast was decent. Scrambled eggs not made to order, so depending when you get them, between hot and room temp. But the host/ checkin lady is very personable and will make you a fresh cup of coffee. Pastries and yogurt also available. All in, I'd give it 3.5 stars. But as I have to choose between 3 and 4. It's a 3 overall. As Florence is super small, next time, I'd go much closer to city center.

This was my favorite hotel! I stayed here with my husband for a couple of days during our…read morehoneymoon! The front desk staff spoke perfect English and were so friendly! They actually gave us a bottle of wine and a dessert to celebrate! The room was large and comfortable, and had a covered balcony right next to the train station. Do NOT worry about the train station. You can not hear anything, because they sound proofed the room. There was a fully functional kitchen, which was great because i got to cook and save money on dining. The breakfast is plentiful and the coffee was strong. I highly recommend this hotel and will definitely stay here the next time we visit. Well done!

Location is a bit outside the city center but you can walk to the museums and restaurants without…read moreany trouble. The bartender is great and the cocktails are unusual but I haven't had anything bad yet. The gym is fully stocked except they need better mats for a work. The room we got was an upgrade and it was spacious with a beautiful bathroom and bidet! The nice thing about Marriott hotels is you know what you will get no matter where you are .

The receptionist Marco should not work in hospitality, he made us feel like we are doing something…read morewrong and overall unpleasant human. Completely ignored my marriot titanium status, I would go as far as saying he treated us even worse because of it. Just made the whole experience unpleasant. The lady at the back office tried to make up for it which we appreciated but unfortunately Marcos was unable to be pleasant. I hope the hotel will retrain him or move him to a no customer interaction department.

A bumpy start with a stellar finish. My room was facing the square and was incredibly quiet and…read morepeaceful. I felt safe sleeping with the window open, breeze coming in. One night with a magical thunder & lightening storm. I slept better there than any other location on my lengthy trip. Hot water and great water pressure A+++ But, the best part was the staff and the people. I wish that I could name them all. The booking manager went out of his way to assist with a booking error that was all my fault. Quite an ordeal for him to correct. I am grateful. The front end manager took care of a room issue upon arrival and went above and beyond to make it better than okay... Specifically, two of the people that helped with room service were gracious and kind. It's wonderful to be greeted with that energy first thing in the morning. The restaurant and bar staff were kind, friendly and helpful daily. They really made me feel welcome and at home in Florence. The food is exceptional. You mist try the chocolate chip cookies and chocolate croissant- better than France I don't normally care for chocolate and these were a favorite! The touch of salt in the cookie and crispness at the edge! Masterful! The breakfast buffet is A+++ Beautifully displayed, large variety of options- FRESH! I had 3 dinners onsite- I loved the chicken Cesar salad. Pasta was delicate with complex flavors...Room service for breakfast made working from my room and a slow pace in the morning essential for the ease of my stay. The staff were incredibly kind and accommodating when I messed up with the room service ordering. They went above & beyond to help and make me feel comfortable. The hotel is in the perfect location. Close to walk to everything. Taxis a few steps away which is good because with traffic - requesting a car can take a bit to get to you before you even begin. Train & public transportation 5 min away. The over arching theme was the kindness of the staff - across the board. I am grateful... and... I can't wait to return and have recommended Grand Hotel Minerva to many headed to Florence.

Wow wow wow! Location is prime, beautiful and the service was impeccable. I have never fell in love…read morewith a hotel and I definitely fell in love with GHM. Booked through the hotel collection with AMEX travel and received such an amazing return. Giulia/Giuseppe were superb! Giulia took care of our check in and is full of amazing information! Giuseppe helped guide us to our rooms and was helpful in explaining how the room worked. The wait staff in the breakfast and the lounge/bar area were all very friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our honeymoon staying on property. A little bummed that the pool was closed but it was chilly in November so I totally understand. The rooftop was still open for use if you want to go take photos of the amazing view or bring your beverage to enjoy. I can't wait to come back to Florence and will be looking forward to staying on property again. My favorite was the breakfast buffet! The cappuccino, americano, the buffet spread.... Gah I dream about it still. Bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was beautiful, open and great water pressure w the rain style sprayer in the shower. Love the bidet but I think that's just standard in European style bathroom. Lastly, the view! We really lucked out w the room and the location... definitely the best hotel I've stayed at so far and we can't wait to be back.

Hotel Spadai was highly recommended to us by my sister-in-law. She constantly raves about the…read moreplace, and I could totally see why. The hotel was centrally located, and it's one of the more modern, elegant hotels we've stayed at during our trip. The Duomo and Piazza Santa Maria Novella were steps away from the hotel, and it's a less than 10 minute taxi to the train station. Their complimentary breakfast was amazing. They offered a huge variety of items including hot food, tortes, cereals, fruit, cheeses, parfaits, quiches, etc. I enjoyed a latte every morning with them. Our room at Hotel Spadai was excellent. Very spacious with tall ceilings and had plenty of room for us to lay out 2 large pieces of luggage and 2 small carry-ons. The bathroom was big as well, but the shower was disproportionate to it. The shower felt so much smaller, and what's weird was its two double doors. The doors met at the corner of the shower and didn't close all the way, so water could easily escape to the floor. Other than that, I would 1000% stay at this hotel again next time I'm in Florence.

The best hotel I've ever had the pleasure of staying at! From check-in to check-out, everything was…read moreabsolutely top-notch. The room and bathroom were spacious, luxurious, and beautifully designed. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and every detail of the experience felt thoughtful and elevated. The amenities were fantastic -- especially the unexpected happy hour at the bar, which was such a lovely touch. And the breakfast buffet? Truly unmatched. I'm convinced every future hotel breakfast will pale in comparison. I still think about the incredibly fresh raspberries and strawberries I had every morning! I also loved the robes and slippers provided in the room, which made the stay feel even more comfortable and indulgent. The location is perfect -- close to everything and just steps from the Duomo, yet surprisingly peaceful and not overly noisy. The hotel itself smells amazing and is decorated in such a beautiful, modern style. I honestly can't say enough wonderful things about this hotel. It was worth every penny, and I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

Would you spend the night in what used to be a women's prison in the 12th century?…read more The Pagliazza Tower is the oldest building in Florence. It was built in the 6th century AD by the Byzantines as part of the "newer" city walls to augment the older Roman ones and protect the city during the Gothic War. The circular shape, which was rare in the Middle Ages, reflects ancient Roman building techniques. The tower rests on a circular wall that surrounded a swimming pool or Roman thermal bath. In the basement there is a calidarium, with brick floor channels for heat, which would have been used for steam baths. According to our guide, Roberta, it was used as a women's prison in the 12th century. Pagliazza references the straw mat bedding upon which the inmates slept. Later on, it was converted into the bell tower of a church. Eventually it was acquired as a private residence. Today it is home to a luxury hotel with a small museum and restaurants. The museum showcases artifacts from excavations dating back to the Roman and medieval times. Although we didn't stay here, the history of the Pagliazza Tower is very interesting.

"It's not where you live, it's how you live,"…read more It's nestled in the heart of Florence with rooms with a view of the Duomo - Duomo (English: /dwomo/, Italian: [dwmo]) is an Italian term for a church with the features of, or having been built to serve as a cathedral, whether or not it currently plays this role. Checking in was easy with an accommodating staff. The rooms are nice, but not fabulous, The elevator system confuses everyone! The breakfast (complementary for us) was quite good. While the location is fabulous and the staff quite nice, I expected a slightly nicer room for the price, but as they say, location, location, location.

The best hotel I've ever stayed in!…read more Not only is the hotel's decor beautiful, but it's super comfortable (Perfect temperature without having to mess with a heating system). The morning breakfast buffet is delicious and awesome, especially if you're a typical tourist like myself who wants to try classic Italian pastries. You can also ask for custom made drinks like cappuccino and hot chocolate and the employees will gladly make them for you. It only takes a few days for this hotel to start feeling like a home. I was sad to leave! If you're visiting Florence, you should DEFINITELY stay in the Hotel Alba Palace.

I judge a hotel in a few basic things: 1) how I sleep…read more2) my shower 3) location and then of course other little details Sleep: The bed is on the firm side and the pillows flat, but that said; I slept amazingly well. The room temp was perfect and the double windows- yes, not just double paved windows, but DOUBLE double panel windows made for a quiet night Showers: The shower looks small from the inside, but once you get in; it's tiny. But, it has a handheld hose option, the pressure is perfect and I never ran out of hot water. So I give it an A+ Location: We came by train and this hotel is only a few minutes walk from Santa Maria Novella Station. And yet we loved the intimate little neighborhood it's in. Breakfast: Excellent! A great spread each morning of pastries, good coffee, juices, scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, sliced meats, cereal, cheese, yogurt and more. Just a great stay in a marvelous city! Can't wait to return. That breakfast!!

The staff is all friendly, the beds are incredibly comfortable, the view is amazing, and the daily…read morebreakfast is so delicious!! We stayed for 5 nights in December and truly enjoyed our time in this hotel. It is easy to walk to the center of town and all the sights and is a 9 min walk to the train station. Make sure you opt in for the breakfast! The morning pastries and breads are made in house and the coffee is excellent. If you are traveling as a family, they have a great "family room" setup. We would not hesitate to stay here again.

We stay at hotel Kraft this summer during a family vacation. The hotel was great! An outstanding…read morefeature was the breakfast which served one of the best cappuccinos during our entire 10 day Italian tour and an great variety of food, including omelets. The maître d' (in which we nickname Mr. Italy) during breakfast was amazing with helpful tips regarding Florence and must places to visit. The views from the restaurant and pool were amazing. Our room was quite spacious and clean. Overall, an excellent experience!