Athenaeum Personal Hotel

4-star hotels mean completely different in Florence, Italy, than USA

Very nicely located in the heart of the central tourist district of Florence, walking distance from the major attractions, restaurants, and really walking distance from the train station (Santa Maria Novella) if your luggage is light. Taxis are about Euro 5-6 frp, SMN. Accademia gallery is closest (2.5 blocks) but the others are only a very reasonable walk away. In the heat of summer, the hotel is well air-conditioned, something that I found was a challenge in other Italian hotels that I had booked during this trip. The outside temperatures were above 40 degrees C some days. The hotel is clean, has a bar, and generally good looking lounge area w/seating. It is locked at the entrance at night and staff may be sleeping so, have patience to be buzzed in.

First of all, we were early, having arrived from Rome at 8 am, but unlike some other hotels (4 stars or higher) that we had reservations at, this site did not give us a room until AFTER the listed check-in time of 3pm. So, we had to walk around town & then sit in the lounge until 10-15 mins after check in to be let in. The rooms are T-I-N-Y. You will trip over stuff, esp. if you have large luggage. There is a mini-fridge-bar but don't plan on keeping anything in there - there is no extra room because they have it filled with stuff to buy. The bed is comfortable. The toilet in the bathroom is wierdly placed if you are of large frame and is high. It is so close to the sink that the R leg will inevitably be under the sink area if you are on the toilet. We are around 5'6" and our feet barely touched the floor. There are NO bedside power outlets. So, if you have need for medical equipment hookup then, sorry, none exists. The power outlets provided were not at convenient location to charge a phone that could serve as a bedside alarm (no actual bedside clock either), so, you have to get up and walk to a table, to shut off the alarm, or use the phone, or whatever. For a 4-star hotel, we learned that few offer in-room coffee maker in Italy. Even the lowest rated Motel 6 in the US offers a coffee maker. A prior 4-star hotel in Rome had an espresso machine in the room. This one had none. The nearest coffee place is the breakfast room in the basement that does not open until 7:00 am. If you want coffee outside of breakfast hours, you have to walk about 2 city blocks to the Piazza San Marco for a cafe. Terrible for a coffee addict. While some employees are very nice, some were a little impatient & rude. I was lectured by one about how four-star hotels did not provide coffee makers in the room.