Roaming Numeral

For our stay in Florence, we were lucky to get a good deal on the four-star Plaza Hotel Lucchesi Hotel, located just off the river Arno.

Although it’s not in walking distance of the train station- especially with our backpacks, there is a bus that stops just outside the building. Of course, we never quite figured out the Italian bus system (it was a short visit!) and accidentally took the bus in the wrong direction, ending up far outside of central Florence and deciding to simply wait on the bus for it to loop around again.

Had we managed to board the bus in the correct direction, we could have expected about a fifteen minute transfer. As it was, it was not a quick endeavor, but we certainly saw a lot of the city.

Upon entering the hotel, we immediately noticed that it was a bit fancier than we had been used to. Still in our travel clothes and sweaty from the bus, we were not exactly the hotel’s usual clientele, which generally seemed to be families and relatively well-off couples. Once, at breakfast, the couple sitting next to us suggested that we have the concierge arrange a private transfer for us to the nearby Piazzale Michelangelo for a fee. My companion and I looked at each other and silently agreed that we’d make the walk over for free.

Despite this, the hotel staff was always extremely polite to us and cheerfully greeted us every time we entered looking windblown and frazzled and maybe a bit dazed from our long days of sprinting around the city, trying to see as much as possible on our short visit.

We booked an entry level Premium Room, and were delighted by both the size of the room and the incredible view out the window- we could see the Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze from bed! There was a section for the comfortable twin beds (pushed together, of course) and a separate lounge area with a couch, armchair and writing desk.

I was also pleased to find that the bathroom amenities included hair conditioner- something that had been missing from our last several hotels. Seriously- when did hotels stop providing hair conditioner!?

We’d had a bit of time to kill before our room was ready for us, so we indulged in a delicious and slightly expensive lunch on the rooftop restaurant. Don’t worry- the view makes up for the price. The rooftop also has a small pool, but it was a little too chilly for us to take advantage of it on this particular trip.

The complimentary breakfast at this hotel was fantastic, with a wide selection of breakfast foods. Staff would also come around and take orders for special coffee orders- and don’t worry, they were able to make my dairy free cappuccinos! One morning, the staff came out with a tiny chocolate cake with fruit for a guest’s birthday. This attention to detail really makes Plaza Lucchesi one of my favorite stays.

Although we didn’t take advantage of it, the hotel also has a very swanky bar and restaurant, plus a concierge staff who can assist guests with planning tours, making museum reservations and even organizing marriage proposals!

While Plaza Lucchesi is a little far from the train station, I found it to be perfectly within walking distance to pretty much everything we wanted to see.

For example:

Piazzale Michelangelo- 20 minutes walk
Uffizi Gallery- 9 minutes walk
Piazza del Duomo- 15 minutes walk
Ponte Vecchio – 10 minutes walk

We didn’t spend too much time on the opposite side of the Arno, but I really liked what I was able to visit on my trip and this hotel would be a perfect launching point to explore both sides of the river.

Considering the clean and spacious rooms (especially for a European hotel), and the level of service we received during our stay, I think this hotel has some of the best pricing in the area- I’ll definitely be looking to stay here again for a return visit.