HOTEL 500

If you are visiting Florence, have your own transport, and want luxury then this is the place for you. It is fabulous. Although it is fact situated in a quasi industrial zone on the outskirts of Florence, you would never know that you weren't in the heart of the Chianti countryside it has been done so cleverly. It has been surrounded by a cocoon of trees and vegetation and is hidden from the surrounding roads and its quiet. The hotel is a historic villa, has lovely large rooms and an amazing restaurant. As soon as you enter the reception area there is a sense of luxury and calm, beautiful perfumes in the air and a tranquil area to read. The pool is large and comfortable to relax in. I highly recommend it.

We booked here to visit Tuscany. It was a lovely hotel. Very helpful reception staff. Ensuite room was modern, comfortable, air conditioned , quiet and very clean. Breakfast was a little understaffed on occasions so took a while for coffee- but well worth waiting for and not rushing on holiday anyway. Dinner was great, served outside on the patio- very peaceful. make sure you have insect repellent. I didn't and was bitten. Tiny black insects you can hardly see but I am prone to bites. Advised to take the train into Florence, parking free at the station kalesandro. Get ticket from the machine and then remember to get it stamped in another machine!! Good area for visiting all areas of Tuscany with a hire car. We went to Lucca, San Gimignano Montecatini,Vinci and Florence all beautiful.

If you are with a car, located in between Firenze and Prato, easily accessible from the highways. Once there, you feel secluded and peaceful. Grounds are well kept, pool is excellent. Our rooms were very comfortable, best bed we slept in Italy! Drawbacks - the hotel hosts parties and weddings, so you may have loud music till midnight. Our suite was two stories, and the air conditioning was ineffective for the second one (with the bed), so sleeping was hot.

Don't be put off by its location. Once inside the hotel is beautiful as are the grounds and the staff are friendly and helpful. Not all speak English but we generally were able to make ourselves understood. Mainly a business hotel it is quiet in the week and it came as a surprise that on Sunday the pool area was packed! I think they do local weekend rates. I would happily go back and recommend as a base. You do really need a car if you stay here.

We arrived very late but had a very friendly reception, check in was quick and our rooms were very clean, spacious with lovely bed linen and towels. Our room opened at the back to a lovely terrace with chairs and benches, unfortunately we had to clean same before we could use them and were very disappointed that the area had not been cleaned for some time and was not touched during our 5 night stay. Breakfast was a little hit and miss with something being missing every morning and service for hot drinks very slow. On one morning there was no bread, cold meats or eggs/bacon, we had to request everything from the kitchen which was very disappointing for a 5 star hotel. Our deal included a 15% discount for dinner which we never used due to the lack of efficiency at breakfast. The setting of the hotel is lovely and with some TLC could be stunning, so come on management please get your act together.