| From: Soo Yin Tay, Singapore |
| Date of Stay: September, 2008 |
| Overall, a good B&B but could have been better if there is a 24hrs service counter. Staff was only around between 9am to 1pm every day and everything was very much Do it Yourself. However, they have given good tips on where to go and where to eat Restaurant recommended was so great!!! More for independent traveller with light luggage as u have to climb a long flight of stair before hitting the elevator :) |
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| From: JB, USA |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| The proprietors were very clear about the fact that their relais is NOT a hotel which is important to understand. It's kind of like borrowing a friend's apartment. They were kind, helpful, and speak perfect English. Unfortunately, the girl who checked us in was sullen, unwelcoming, and extremely unhelpful and sadly, detracted from our overall experience. The location is absolutely superb for a quick visit to Florence though we would have stepped up the accomodations had we stayed more than two or three nights. The rooms are just steps away from the famous "Porcellino" (lucky boar) bronze sculpture at the market. The rooms are very clean, bathrooms modern, the owners gracious and kind, and clear in their communication. |
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| From: AW, Australia |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| The warmth and charm of the hosts, Anna and Francesca, was reflected in the accommodation. We were made to feel most welcome even though we arrived a day early. Suites were spotlessly clean and ensuite bathrooms very spacious. We appreciated being able to make our own tea/coffee any time of the day. Anna was exceptionally helpful with local information. |
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| From: JW, Australia |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| Relais Cavalcanti was a delight. Anna and staff were very welcoming and helpful supplying maps and useful information and recommendations. Lovely to meet other travellers in kitchen dining area with relaxed homely feeling. I would definately recommend and look forward to a return visit in the future. |
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| From: DR, Spain |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| Once you have made the reservation they send you an email including detailed information and very good advice about everything you need to know, and are very responsive answering any questions you make. Francesca is very friendly and helpful, you will get the finest treatment. If you get to Florence late in the evening by car (a rented one) and have to park it overnight it is better to use the car park at the actual car rental office as they have it open till very late at night, even if the office is closed. Be aware that the car parks in Florence are very expensive plus it is difficult to drive in the city centre. Enjoy Florence! |
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| From: CI, Australia |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| This was a great place to stay, easily placed to explore the usual tourist attractions of Florence. My 11 year old daughter and I were only in Florence for an afternoon, a full day and a short morning, so our ability to see much was limited by our itinerary not the location of the apartment. We were given plenty of advice about where to find attractions, eat out, shop, find supermarkets etc and I would certainly stay here again for a longer period. I could not find a fridge to keep things cold, but suspect there was one with a key. We didn't bother due to our short stay and the fact that we always ate out, but you could easily cook simply in the kitchen. A kettle in the room would be useful to save a long walk from some of the rooms to the kitchen meaning you have to be dressed to make that early morning cuppa if you're wont to have one like me. A short cab ride to the railway station meant it was inexpensive, but you could easily walk it if you don't have too many bags. Incidentally, there are a number of stairs to climb from street level, but once you're in your room, they are not a problem. There is a lift from the first floor up, which is tiny, but fit 3 bags, my daughter and I, even if the bags were stacked up! |
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| From: TS, USA |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| My sister and I stayed in the Donatello room. It was a nice size room with comfortable beds and nice bathroom. It also has a great view of the Nuovo Market. The windows are double-paned which made it very quiet; we didn't hear any street noise. The Relais Cavalcanti is very close to the Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery -- great location! Be prepared for stairs though! There are about 22 that you need to climb to get to the elevator which will then take you to the 3rd floor. I would definitely stay here again. |
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| From: TT, India |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| We stayed at Relais Cavalcanti in July 08.We cannot recommend it enough to people visitng Florence.Anna and Francesca are two sisters who run the place.Even before we got there their excellent service floored us..They offered to book tickets to the Uffizi and L'accademia free of commission to save us the trouble of standing in long queues. Once we got there we were really happy we booked there as it was as close to home as one could feel.Not only is the place spotlessly clean but airy and always smells wonderful.Both Anna and FRancesca were the perfect hosts.When we got in they gave us a map and told us places to see,to eat,visit,etc.They were also helpful in planning our day trips to outside Florence by giving us train details and other information. Location wise,we couldn't have asked for better.It was within walking distance to everything. Breakfast is not served but they have a dining room with cookies,cakes and pastries for the guests which is generously stocked.There is a small library in the dining room of travel books on Florence,Tuscany and Italy which proved to be very useful. Relais Cavalcanti has warmth,is personal and offers service which that no hotel can match upto. |
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| From: VK, USA |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| A bit hard to find, even with a map, but an excellent choice. Very centrally located, and still quiet and private. The double-paned windows blocked the sound very well. We enjoyed cooking in the kitchen. The pub downstairs (The Old Stove) was great fun. |
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| From: SD, Australia |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| We loved our stay in Florence. The directions provided were exact, we found the place easily. There are a few stairs to carry bags up to the first level, but from there, there is a lift. Anna was very very friendly. She settled us into our room and gave us a map, and information on laundromats, restaurants, sights etc. The room was clean, beautiful, decorated with old-fashioned furniture, and the bathroom was clean, spacious and modern. The rooms were cleaned daily and towels changed. The breakfast room was perfect- there was always little cakes and biscuits available for breakfast or any time of the day. My husband and I found a lovely food market in San Lorenzo and came back to the breakfast room to prepare ourselves lunch one day! The location was perfect- Florence is very small, so it is very easy to walk everywhere, to sights, to restaurants etc. There is an Irish pub downstairs, but if you keep the window closed (there is AC- which took a while to work, but eventually did kick in), then you can't hear any noise. We loved our stay at Relais Cavalcanti, and we would definitely go back! They even gave us a 10% discount for paying cash. |
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| From: AL, USA |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| The Relais Cavalcanti is located in the heart of Florence. You are within steps of the Straw Market, Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Duomo. Francesca was the most welcoming b&b host we have ever experienced. She outlined detailed recommendations for restaurants, shops, groceries, and attractions on a map of Florence and provided tourist tips for everything in Florence. She was truly one of the nicest people we have ever met. The common rooms include a small seating area and a breakfast room. In the breakfast room there is jam, dry cereal and cookies, as well as tea bags, ground coffee, plates, mugs, silverware, and pots and pans with a small kitchen area (sink, stove) and dining table for all the guest to use. We grabbed some milk, juice and fruit at a nearby market, and ate cereal each morning in the breakfast room for a quick start to the day. The room was pretty spacious with a bed, armoire, and desk. The bathroom was long and skinny. The room was clean and quaint. The only downsides were on the "comfort" side of things. The beds were extremely firm, and the towels were like a waffle-style dishtowel. Also, we were right above the Irish pub, and while it wasn't outrageously loud, you could hear the revelries of the pub downstairs a bit. Also, the inn is on 3rd floor of the building, and the elevator is teeny-tiny (no more than 2 people could fit in my opinion), so if you were a large group or claustrophobic, you might get sick of all the stairs. There is also one flight of stairs until you get to the elevator, but it isn't a huge deal. Make sure you practice with the key while the staff is there, so you can get the hang of it, it is a bit tricky. Overall, we loved the location and hospitality at Relais Cavalcanti. If the beds and towels were a bit more comfy, it would have been perfect! But as it stands, it was a good value. |
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| From: RR, Spain |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| Nice place and nice staff... A good choice!!! |
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| From: TP, USA |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| This place was wonderful and the staff was exceptional! The women that work there are incredibly sweet and made reservations for us at all the museums. They were great at responding to emails. It's a cute little townhouse. The bathrooms were really nice. I have no complaints about this place. Location was great. The AC was adequate (I have to mention this since all the other hotels we stayed at did not). Some people might say that the beds were hard, but I slept soundly. Very spacious and nice. (We stayed in a 2 bedroom). |
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| From: Randall Smith, USA |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| Relais Cavalcanti was the perfect place to stay in Firenze. Great location, very nice property - great room/bath, sitting room, common dining room - all very attractive, clean and comfortable. Our hostess, Franchesca was lovely and helpful. She had marked up a map with many suggestions and resources for us. Very attentive. Oh, and great view from our window of the Palazzo Vecchio. Relais Cavalcanti made our visit perfect. |
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| From: Paul Stevens, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| We had a very good time at Relais Cavalcanti and, when we return to Florence, we shall certainly stay there again. The other guests were friendly and from all over the world. The toast, jam, cakes, tea and coffee provided in the kitchen gave ample breakfast! |
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| From: PH, USA |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| The inn is very conveniently located to the major attractions of Florence. For an inn in this location, it is also very reasonably priced. The staff member that greeted us supplied us with a map of the area on which were already marked some recommended restaurants, shops, Internet cafes, etc. This was very helpful particularly on the arrival night to be able to find a restaurant close by. The inn has a great large room that you can relax in, play cards after a long day, or even cook a meal! We enjoyed purchasing items for our meal and also to take home at the Centrale Market which was also indicated on the map. It is a great place to go to get the flavor of the local cuisine offerings. One of our trips was a slightly longer walk but we had read great reviews about a fantastic pizzeria in the Jewish Ghetto area. The reviews were all accurate. Wonderful pizzas and calzones. Our only problem which we knew we would have in advance and the owners of Cavalcanti had warned us about was parking of our car. In Florence there is no parking available on the streets so it costs us 30 euro per day for the car. If you have no use for a car, then I would not recommend having one. We had driven up from Rome and spent two nights in San Gimignano on the way. Then we went to Pisa and Lucca for a day. One more day was spent in Asissi on our return to Rome. So for the four of us, it probably worked out having a full week car rental even though we had to pay so much to garage the car in Florence. |
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| From: MP, Canada |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| Location, location, location! I think the only better place would be a 5 star hotel but you would pay $1000 per night. This place is clean, cute, 5-10 minute walk from the Duomo... Unfortunately, the elevator doesn't start at the bottom so it would be difficult for a person with a disability to get up there. |
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| From: ME, Spain |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| Muy bueno. Situado en un lugar perfecto. Trato excelente. |
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| From: AG, USA |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| The location of this property could not be better. Stairs, small lift, 5 keys and limited attendant were all known and only minor drawbacks to a charming, spacious and clean place to stay. The water temperature and pressure in the shower was moderate. Any outside noises were blocked out by efficient windows. There is quite a bit of noise within the property and if you have guests moving about, socializing and gathering in the common breakfast room while you are trying to sleep, this could be an issue. The snacks provided were a nice touch although if you see something in the evening that you might want the next morning, you should take it then. Many of the snacks disappeared overnight and the supplies weren't replenished until the afternoon. One bottle of Coke and one water bottle were supplied in the small fridge in our room upon arrival. While staying 3 nights, I think it would have been a nice touch to replace each day. This was our experience in Venice and Rome. I would stay here again and would recommend Relais Cavalcanti to anyone who doesn't require luxurious accommodations, is okay with staff only on premises part time and would like to be in the center of all the sights in Florence. A real value! |
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| From: John Powers, USA |
| Date of Stay: April, 2008 |
| The owners were wonderful and the rooms were great. BUT, there were people outside our window until 2am to 3am all 3 nights yelling and screaming and running motor bikes. Even with the windows closed it was horriblly noisy and intrusive. It made for a terrible stay as we were exhausted from lack of sleep each night. In fact, on our last day in Florence we were so tired we had to stay in our room during the day as it was quiet enough for us to sleep. |
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