More about Alloro B&B
Behind those great big wooden doors you see as you walk the streets...
by TripAdvisor Member boxerfan
I chose Alloro B & B from all of the positive reviews, but was even more pleased when i discovered that it was sequestered behind those big wooden doors that signify private residences or small hotels...because it is technically located on a street that can become quite busy with car traffic, its location is even more desirable, because you are in the bustling city center, but your room is in a quiet peaceful setting. If you are arriving by train, there is no need for a taxi, as it is a 10 minute or less walk. The rate was excellent for the value of ammenities. It is a father/son operation and both are very nice and helpful. My room turned out to be more than i had hoped for in that it was huge, with extremely high ceilings embellished by a beautiful 100 year old fresco. Bathroom was also spacious. I had a small balcony that offered a good view of the Duomo. In the morning, you simply dial 9 on the phone to signal when you would like breakfast brought to you!! You get a choice of how you would like your coffee. Was very impressed with the fresh made yougurt provided. Large assortment of food and all delicious. Also, practically next door there is a restaurant called Ciro & Sons that is family operated. The dining room was lovely. The waitstaff attentive and congenial. The food was fabulous. You would not expect to find apple pie, but it was the most delicious one I have ever had. We lucked into truffles being in season--homemade pasta with black truffles--yum.
Great Location with excellent service
by TripAdvisor Member rob1959
We stayed for two nights at the Alloro having booked after reading the excellent reviews on this sight. We were not dissapointed, location was excellent 10 minutes from the railway station and an easy walk to all the central Florence attractions.
The room was spacious and well appointed with a King size bed, and was extremely comfortable... more than just a room it felt like our own private apartment in Florence. The owners Cristian and his father were helpful and pleasant and brought us a wonderful breakfast in bed each morning at a time chosen to suit us. I would throughly recommend this as an ideal base for a stay in Florence
Wonderful B & B
by TripAdvisor Member Dale/John
We booked this B&B because of it's positive reviews. It is truly great value. We arrived by train from Rome and walked to Alloro. Our room (the red one) was spacious, bright, clean and wonderfully decorated. The building was very well maintained and quiet. The owners could not have been more helpful, booking the Uffizi and Academia for us, and Christian taking the lengthy time it took to activate an Italian TIM in our cell phone. Christian also managed to secure a 3 day car rental for us at a very good rate. The main attractions are all easily accessible by foot and you practically fall into the San Lorenzo market just down the street.
We also ate at the restaurants locally, which were family run, the food fantastico and service terrific. All of our communications by email were responded to in a speedy manner. And finally we concur with all of the other reviews...breakfast in our room each morning was the best................we would highly recommend this B&B. It only has 5 rooms, so do it early. Thank you Christian and PaPa........next time I want the room with the balcony.........Dale & John.........Toronto, Canada
Best Accommodation on our 2 months european tour
by TripAdvisor Member basilman
This exquisite B&B is one where you are made feel very welcome by the ever helpful Cristian, the owner. He will go out of his way to assist you when you have a problem of which we had a few (nothing to do with the B&B). The room itself is absolutely a one off and as we've been to 31 countries in our travels throughout the years, this room (very large), it's ambience, it's cleaniness, it's decor, it's closeness to everything (but so very quiet), the breakfeast, the management is hard to beat. We would recommend it to anyone and if ever we go back to Florence, Aloro B&B will be where we stay.
A bit of advice though, when you are first trying to find the address, be aware that the street numbers do not run in order and the entrance of the hotel is also set back from the street a little.
A little Cramped for A Single
by TripAdvisor Member smacdvanbc
This B&B is in a supurb location halfway between the train station and the Duomo. Very hard to beat. Very good breakfast and excellent cappucino. The place is spotless and well run. I had the one single room in the establishment. A typical euro single about 5 feet wide and 15 feet long with a tiny bathroom attached. The room was furnished and decorated nicely but it was tiny. At 55 euros a night in the offseason tho' it was a bargain. Solo travelers staying here need to be highly self-relient in that the establishment is not at all conducice to interaction with the other guests and management is off-site after 5:00pm.
Started bad, but recovered well
by TripAdvisor Member MTBTraveller
We booked the Alloro based on the reviews and pics in this website.
We were expecting a nice, large room but on arrival were told there was only a twin available for our first night and we would get moved in the morning. This wasn't a problem, as we expected a room of similar quality. Instead we were shown to a very, very small twin with, tiny windows and chipped furniture. Not what we were expecting! The room was of a significantly poorer quality than the others we saw, and I would have expected some discount for staying there, but none was offered.
The next morning we were moved to a beautful big airy double room, with exquisite decoration. I cannot fault it.
Service was friendly and discreet throughout our stay, both rooms were spotless and the breakfasts were a delight. Location is superb.
Only other minor gripe was breakfast being prepared right outside the bedroom door. Not an issue if you're an early riser, but could grate if you were looking for a lie-in!
I'd certainly reccomend it, but be clear over what room you are booking into before you go!
Great Experience!
by TripAdvisor Member magpie218
The Alloro B&B was perfect, helpful and pleasant host, great location. My friend and I stayed in a huge room, clean and comfortable. The breakfast was excellent! it was served in the room. this is a very nice place to stay in a fantastic location! I highly recommended this B&B to everyone!
Not what I expected.....
by TripAdvisor Member ChinaShrek
I read all of the great reviews for this place and decided to book it for three nights (December 26-29). This was a mistake and I want to warn others about our experience. I traveled to Florence with my mom and we requested a room with two beds. The room was so tiny and oddly shaped that it was impossible to move around in it when we were both there. Check out the pictures that I am including with this review and you will see what I mean. If I had known the size of the room was so small then we would have booked at another place. There are many hotels and B&Bs in old Florence for around the same price (80 euros per night). People below rave about the breakfast! This was also a big disappointment. They brought the same thing each morning -Yugurt, croissants, rolls, juice, and coffee. I like variety for my breakfasts and it was not possible to get anything else. I asked for cereal and they had none, for example. I also like to be able to to talk to the staff about where to eat and what to see. The owners of this place were never there and when I asked for suggestions they simply handed me a magazine about Florence. For me, a B&B should have friendly and chatty people where you can get to know the culture a bit better. This is not the place to do that. The location is great, but that's all the place has going for it.
Another satisfied customer
by TripAdvisor Member markam
We stayed at the Alloro B & B for three nights in late December.
Although, we had to change rooms for the last night because of a scheduling conflict, both rooms were very large, clean and fairly quiet. Nothing like what ChinaShrek experienced.
The location is very convenient, especially if arriving on the train.
A couple of things to be ready for though...
* As another reviewer noted, the breakfasts are always the same. Plenty to eat and all was good.
* The street entrance doesn't look like the picture on Trip Advisor, so don't try to find it that way. That picture is a view of the central couryard seen once you are inside. Also, there really is a street address number 8, just a go a little farther. Their name is on the building doorbell bank and also inside the doorway.
We would definitaly stay there again.
Photos
Healing of the Cripple and Raising of Tabitha
Florence
Eleonor of Toledo.
Basilica di Santa Croce (Florence, Italy)
Forum Posts
Bikes in Florence?
by jameyandmax
Can anyone tell me about the city-bike scheme in Florence? I've heard that you can pay a deposit and 'rent' bikes for free from the transport or parking authority. Is this true?
If not, can anyone recommend a good place to rent bicycles from (a woman's bike and a small adult or a large kids' bike)?
Thanks!!
Re: Bikes in Florence?
by mccalpin
I hadn't realized that Florence also did this (I've seen it in other cities), but I see that the program is described on the city's official website, so I guess it's true.
Look at http://www.comune.firenze.it/servizi_pubblici/trasporti/ciclabile_scarico.jpg which is a map of the bike trails and show locations where you can rent them (but a tourist may not be able to rent by the hour at all locations).
The official plan is described in Italian at http://www.comune.firenze.it/servizi_pubblici/trasporti/noleggiobici.htm
The highlights are
* you can rent bikes by the hour or day at train station Santa Maria Novella (the main one), and at
PARTERRE
PIAZZA DELLA CALZA
PIAZZA DEL CESTELLO
The hours at SMN are 07:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day (except in bad weather).
The rates for non residents and tourists: € 1.50 hour or € 4.00 for 5 hours or € 8.00 for all day.
Also, you must return the bike to the place that you rented it (as opposed to another drop-off point).
I will note that the tourist authority in Florence has a website in English - http://www.firenzeturismo.it/content/view/104/26/lang,en_EN/ - which gives similar but somewhat different information; it doesn't mention that you can't rent by the hour in some places. So be flexible, because these are both official websites (one is the city's main website, and the other is the city's tourist office) and it's hard to tell who has the latest info...oh, note at the bottom of the page the names of some other places to rent bikes (the initial list is a city-run program)...
Bill
Re: Bikes in Florence?
by jameyandmax
Thanks! This is really helpful!
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