Just returned from Florence where I spent 3 nights at the Hotel Boccaccio. I couldn't have been more pleased with my experience! The hotel is just steps from the Santa Maria Novella train station, and is located within walking distance to most of Florence's main attractions: Medici Chapels, L'Accademie, San Lorenzo market, Duomo, etc. There are numerous cafes, restaurants, snack bars and pizzerias, not to mention numerous internet spots (though I opted for convenience and used the lobby PC). The staff is pleasant and helpful; when I mentioned I wanted to find out about a specific tour to the Chianti region, they sent me next door to a travel agency (which does, I believe, have some association with the hotel). In minutes I'd gotten a tour booked for the very next day. The hotel also made advance reservations for me for L'Accademia. A great convenience and time-saver for what appeared to be just a $2-3 service charge. Breakfast offerings included cold cereals, rolls, cheese, ham, juices, coffees, tea and was more than enough to last through a day's sightseeing. My single room was spotless and the A/C functioned well (good thing as it was about 90!). Shutters kept out both noise and heat. I also enjoyed (in the cooler hours) the pleasant first floor terrace. One of the nicest hotels I've stayed at in Europe!

This is a great place to stay if you're travelling by train. As you walk out of the right side of the SMN train station you cross the street, walk to your left and then make a right and you can't miss it! Less than 5 minutes walk. The staff is really friendly. The hotel is super clean. Our room was towards the back of the hotel and if you opened the windows there was some noise but tolerable. We normally kept them closed and shut any noise out and turned on the A/C. Overall the hotel was great and will return on our next visit.

Spent 3 nights at the Boccaccio in Florence in a triple with 3 beds. This made the room a little tight with all our suitcases, but still comfortable enough. It's close to the trainstation which is a grea location: short walk to Arno river, right near Santa Maria Novella and into the rest of town. The front desk staff was wonderful, especially Stefano who gave us 3 wonderful dinner suggestions and made our reservations. Right down the street is a wonderful sidewalk café called Grotta de Leo where we had lunch twice.
I would definitely recommend this hotel: good location, nice clean comfortable rooms, great staff!

My daughter and I stayed at Hotel Boccaccio for five nights beginning on May 9, 2005. The hotel exceeded my expectations. The photographs and reviews didn't do justice to the hotel. The hotel has recently been renovated and is both charming and elegant. We had room 108 which has both a balcony and whirlpool. The high ceilings add to the spaciousness of the room which had enough floor space for us to do our Pilates stretches simultaneously. The bathroom was beautifully appointed and equally roomy.

The location was fantastic. We were 10 minutes from the Duomo, 5 minutes from the San Lorenzo Marketplace, and 15 minutes from Uffizi Gallery. We had a bakery/cafe across the street, the train station down the street, a travel agency next door, a place to make international calls two doors down, and a laundromat at the end of the block. The shutters and double paned windows helped to soundproof the room though light sleepers might find the traffic a problem.

We had access to the internet in the lobby and the terrace down the hall. The breakfast room was airy, and the assortment of cold cereals, rolls and croissants, ham, juices, and wrapped baked goods made a substantial meal. Cafe au lait was excellent. The menu stayed the same each day, but one could hardly expect more for the price.

Our hosts were the best I've ever had...even in 5 star hotels. They were gracious, accommodating, and knowledgeable. They offered us wine, expressos, and real conversation. Everyone at the front desk was beyond personable and helpful. They made reservations for us at restaurants that were topnotch but reasonable, helped us with arrangements for side trips, and made our stay in Florence perfect. We stayed in a hotel in Rome that was ranked #7, but Hotel Boccaccio was by far the better one at #40. For a 3 star hotel, Hotel Boccaccio is a fabulous find.