Written by: Sophia Koch
Finding affordable places to stay for my, oh so ever, broke student budget is one thing that I’ve learned since coming to Italy. I want a place that is in a good location like the city center or at least a five-minute walk to any sort of public transportation to get me to the city center, and I want a place that I can feel comfortable and safe in. Which my guess is, goes for the same as everyone else.
We all know that parents cannot wait to come visit their kids while abroad. It’s the perfect excuse to travel to Europe. I have family coming all next month and I have been getting a billion texts about what hotels they should stay at, which location is better, can the hotel keep their luggage on hold while traveling to a different city, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Well, I have concluded that to make the students and their families lives easier, I might just list a couple of things to think about when booking places to stay in Florence and possible places you could stay.
The really good thing I have found out about Florence is that everything is about a 5-to-20-minute walk to each other. But if you are coming to visit a student at Florence University of the Arts – The American University of Florence, staying near the Duomo or the Arno River near Ponte Vecchio always seems like a good option because they are not only great locations to stay for tourists, but is the exact location where the University is located throughout the city. . Most students also live about 10 minutes or less to the Duomo, with the others living closer to the river.
Hotel Spadai
Via de’ Martelli, 10, 50129 Firenze Fl
This hotel costs around 370 dollars per night for two people in a standard room. It is literally 100 meters from the Duomo and maybe a 15-minute walk to Ponte Vecchio, plus not even 10 minutes from all the good shopping. I went to look around the hotel and it was not even a minute walk from my apartment. I live around markets, great sandwich places, too close to some gelato places, and right next to a wine window.
There is no parking, if you are renting a car, but I suggest not trying to drive in this city unless you are familiar with it. There is safe access inside the hotel and it is located on a brightly lit street. Plus… there is a free mini bar that is replenished every day.
“First look for what is within their budget, and next what is important to them when it comes to a place to stay, such as location, breakfast, or security,” Lena Carolla, hospitality management major at FUA-AUF said.
Tornabuoni Suites Collection
Via de’ Tornabuoni, 9, 501000 Firenze Fl
This is the ideal location for anyone who loves fashion or art. Right when you walk outside you see Gucci, Prada, Giorgio Armani andFendi. Within a one kilometer radius you can discover all the artistic cornerstones that have helped make Florence a world-famous city of art and culture. And in just five minutes you’ll be able to reach the Arno River.
There are multiple types of rooms you can book: Family apartments, double rooms for two, and various other suites if you want to splurge a bit more or have more room. The standard room for two people is about 270 dollars per night.
One thing I have learned is to book early for the cheapest rates and look for special offers or discounts. It never hurts to knock a few dollars off the final price.
Home & Villas by Marriot Bonvoy: Dimora degli Affreschi (House of Frescoes) Deluxe Apartments
One other way to really get that feel for Florentine-style living is staying in an apartment or Airbnb type of place. Depending on how many people you are traveling with, Airbnbs can be cheaper, especially if you split the price.
Located on the ancient Via dei Benci in the district of Santa Croce, near the Arno River, and behind the Horne Museum, Marriott offers a range of 19th-Century 5 story apartments. Each apartment sleeps 4 people, has 2 bedrooms and costs around 320 euro a night. If you are looking to fit more people, the company offers nine other apartments that larger parties could separate into.
Near the apartments you can find shopping, markets and a multitude of cafes and bars through the ancient streets. If you cross the river, the Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and the famous Piazzale Michelangelo are just a quick walk away.
A FUA-AUF student’s family recently stayed at this apartment and loved how it was run through Marriott, but still was a different experience outside a regular hotel stay..
When trying to decide whether to stay at an Airbnb or hotel, you can always ask and think about security in and out of the buildings for safety, amenities, money differences, what will fit your stay more appropriately for what you want to do while in the city. Florence is a lively city filled with art, culture, great food, and even your own students, so make sure to consider a location close to them as well.