Berchielli Hotel Florence

I researched many hotels before deciding on this one to stay a week in Florence. It turned out to be a great choice. First of all the location was great. It is a short walk down river from Ponte Vecchio. Always a great view. This made it easy to visit activities on both sides of the Arno. I recommend walking up to the Piazzale Michelangelo when you first get there while you have the energy and to give you a great overview of the city. We were there Oct 9-16. We lucked out on perfect weather. We took a taxi to the hotel from the airport which took about 20 minutes. It cost 25 euros, a little more since it was Sunday. At the Berchielli, the staff is excellent. This includes front desk, breakfast and daily maid service. We booked the basic room so was pleasantly surprised to get a nice room on the 5th floor with a terrace overlooking the courtyard. This was fine because we wanted it to be quiet with an inside room and it was. You do hear a church bell but it just made it more charming. The room configurations are all different. Ours included a desk and small stocked minibar with enough room for our own bottle of water. The bed was on the firm side but surprisingly comfortable. We slept well. The bathroom was clean with a shower/bathtub combo. If you like lotion or hair conditioner, bring your own. I thought the blow dryer worked well. One reason I decided to stay here was because it had a full buffet breakfast. There were scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, thin pancakes, rolls, bread you could toast, pastries, whole and cut-up fresh fruit, yogurt, custard, cereals, cheese, juices, ice, coffees and tea. I like a big breakfast so I don't need to worry about a big lunch and instead use the time to visit the museums and sights. I didn't find anywhere special to recommend for dinner but it was all fairly good with similar offerings. We took a bus tour to Siena and San Gimingano one day and would recommend that. We also took a bus tour one afternoon to Pisa which I enjoyed but wish I had time to see more on both tours we found on the internet. I couldn't imagine some of these places in the heat and crowds of summer since I thought it was fairly crowded most places we went. Expect lines at the Uffizi and Accademia which we got reserved tickets ahead of time. Also there can be lines at the Duomo both to go inside and to climb up to the top of the cupola for amazing views. May not be good for those afraid of heights or claustraphobic. Plan on going to the Cathedral's museum to learn about what it was supposed to look like. Try and catch a guide for better understanding. Visit the Piazzas especially della Signoria with the Loggia dei Lanzi. We really visited most museums and churches that were recommended by quide books. Something to appreciate and learn in them all. Plan on visiting the Pitti Palace and take plenty of time to see all the exhibits and gardens. There is always more to see at museums that you think. Prices may seem high for some but it's part of the experience. We also took a train to visit Lucca. Love exploring little Tuscan towns. Do your research and plan wisely so you can see all you want as well as take in the beauty and charm of the area like sunset on the bridges, eating gelato and enjoying evening walks. The city is well lit-up at night. It is full of every high-end name brand store. Plan to have enough Euros on you since most museums just take cash. Also be prepared that the museums don't allow photos to be taken and are well watched. I think so you have to buy the books. Be stealthy. This is a wonderful hotel and place to visit especially if you appreciate art, architecture and history. Yes, there can be mosquitoes so be prepared if you are not covered up.

Very nice hotel with an excellent location. Sumptuous breakfast buffet and we also enjoyed the small bar where Giovanni was serving his very dry martinis.

An excellent hotel with equally excellent service in a beautiful city. We would recommend this hotel and definitely stay there when we are next in Florence.

This is a genuine 4-star hotel, lacking only its own restaurant. The breakfast room is a delight, with charming multilingual staff. With the exception of one rather offhand person, the reception staff were friendly and helpful; one of them obligingly spent time setting up our laptop for wireless internet reception (only available on the ground and first floor unless you used their computer). Double-glazed windows kept the bedroom quiet, permitting only the gentle sound of church bells. A nice place to stay!

The hotel was very nice, in a great location, with a very helpful staff. Nice facilities (bar, internet station, terraces), good breakfast (lots of variety), and nice size rooms with good bathrooms and good views. Right near Ponte Vecchio.

Excellent location. A good four star unlike a lot of others in Europe. A 10 to 15 minute walk from all the key historical sites.

We highly recommend this Hotel to everyone. The Hotel is of a high standard, the staff are very caring and friendly, our room overlooking the River Arno was just amazing! We had a wonderful stay Marilyn and Viktor Dietiker, Sydney, Australia.

I have stayed at this hotel many times and would recommend it without hesitation. Beautifully located on the banks of the Arno close to the Ponte Vecchio, it is within easy reach of all the main sights. Very comfortable, spacious air-conditioned rooms, and providing a full buffet breakfast. Prices are variable through the year, and there are some bargains if you can go in low season (August, or January-February).

I Stayed here for 3 nights and found the staff were most friendly and provided us with excellent service. The location was very good , the evening's we had spectactular view's overlooking the Ponte Vecchio and river. I could not fault the facilities/service and Highly recommend this Hotel.

lovely hotel in an excellent position 3 minuts walk to the ponte vecchio. rooms are biger than avarage. delux rooms over look the river and are huge with beautifull bathrooms and large comfortable beds but noisy from the vespas and cars. rooms facing the back are quieter but smaller but still big for Italy. excellent breakfast. Highly recomended. triple rooms are very big.

Older hotel in need of a facelift and refurbishing. My room was small, dark and dated, but well worth the discounted price.

Our room was absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed the use of our private terrace. The staff at the front desk were very cordial and helpful. They assisted us with dinner reservations, suggested activities during our stay, and pointed us in the right direction to walk around Florence. We appreciated the wireless internet service in their lobby.

The hotel is situated in probably the best area for seeing the sights of Florence, overlooking the Vechio bridge. Our room overlooked the river and was perfect. It's within walking distance of most of the sights. We had a delightful weekend - and would recommend it to anyone.

A great location. We asked for and received a room with a river view, with 2 full beds. Very nice breakfast with fresh cheeses, meats, even scrambled eggs and bacon. Easy walking to the historic city. If you can get the river view, this is a wonderful hotel.