Santa Monaca

Ostello Santa Monaca, is a budget place. No AC, which is kinda rough in July. But, they give you clean sheets, and you are lucky if you need the top sheet. They have male, female, and unisex rooms. I stayed in the female room. They have seperate bathing areas. With the coolest little trough sinks. They have the hot water in the showers set for in the morning until like 10am, then they turn it off until 7. Which isnt a big deal, I honestlly just wanted a cold shower! Yeah July and sunburn! The room I stayed in had a fan, and a window. Though the room next to us didnt have a window. We were provided with lockers, you bring your own lock though. My least favorite part of it was the security.There are no locks anywhere. You can go in, no one checked my id or more proof that I was infact really sleeping there. There was no lock on the dorm room. So basically you can walk anywhere. Which wasnt so comforting, so be sure to bring a lock for your stuff. That being said, I had no problems nor did anyone else when I was staying there. I put the most important things in my locked locker at night and most of my stuff when i was away during the day. At night my clothes stayed out and unlocked, no one wanted them.

Unique Quality: The Hostle is in an old Convent, giving it some very interesting charater. You make and strip your bed. Sheets are provided at check in. The views arent specacular. It is on the other side of the Arno River, so it is about 15 minutes of powerwalking from it to the Accademia *I did that one morning, it kinda sucked, so dont oversleep on your days with reservations!* I had some really nice and friendly dormmates from all over, Brazil, Asia *I cannot remember which countries right now*, Switzerland, and Denmark.

Directions: The otherside of the river near Santa Spirito

Santa Monaca is a basic large-sized hostel catering for budget backpackers. Try to steer clear of the 22 bed dorm and the inevitable snorers. There's no breakfast but a large social area with cooking facilities.

Directions: South side of the Arno

The S. Monaca hostel is located in an ancient convent of the 15th century in the historical centre of Florence in the quarter of S. Spirito.
The only thing to remember is that you can't go sleeping after 1 a.m.

Directions: Oltrarno district

First let me say that I AM bitter about this place. The reason? I had the loudest, hurricane, tsunami, gail force wind snorer known to man two bunks down from me. NOTHING would break this mans unrelenting vacuum breath. The ceiling and room was free of dust, I am sure of it.

Besides typhoon man, the hostel is a converted convent, and you can tell. Seperate dorms, curfew at 1, lockout, etc, etc. It all adds up to a horrible hostel.

In their defense, the have cheap rooms at 16 Euro, a cool lounge area, clothes washing facilities plenty of shower facilities so you never have to wait. Plus, the take credit cards.

It is an alright place to stay, if you are going to do NO partying in Florence.

Santa Monaca Hostel: Located in the trndy Santo Spirito neighborhood, great location, only downside is the curfew at 1 AM, which is not that bad as there are great places to go out nearby. THe hostel reopens at 6AM so not hard to stay out all night, provided you can manage to sleep until 1 when the hostel closes again.

Unique Quality: PROS:
Great location
Good neighborhood, Santo Spirito are, see my blurb on Cabiria.
Cheap, 16.50 Euros
Internet cafe on the same street

CONS:
1 AM closure
1 PM lockout
Not well connected by bus to station, although not that far away either.
A tad rundown

Directions: Just between Santo Spirito and Piazza del Carmine.

Quiet area in the Oltrarno. Big dorm rooms, spacious eating area, simple breakfast included. Around 13 Euro per night, somewhat early cerfew (12:30)

Unique Quality: Simple and cheap

Directions: Oltrarno

Nothing it this place will wow you, but during the off season the large dorm rooms are not all that crowded, the bathrooms are clean, and the staff is friendly. There are many good bakeries located near the hostel that will provide a quick, cheap and tastey breakfast before heading out to see the sights.

Unique Quality: Like many hostels in Italy the setting is unique, an old building with a small garden area, neatly redone into inexpensive accomedations.

I came accross this cheap charming hostel while searching for accomodation in internet, but I finally didn't go, so I can't really tell you how it is. Anyway, it sounds nice and IS CHEAP! and this is very important in Florence...
Besides, is centrally located, near the Carmine Church, and is an old convent.
15 euros in dorm.

Unique Quality: If any of you ever go there, please mail me and tell me how it was.

Directions: From PonteVecchio, go west, take 2nd bridge, cross the river, follow Serragli till Via Sta.Monaca, turn right and there U R!!