Hotel Park Palace - Florence

Average rating:  8.2

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Apr 2008

Ok, another time again

Guest name: EC, Italy

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Mar 2008

I stayed in Florence three days. The hotel is very quiet, not very nearby to the city but is pleasant walking on foot to reach it (if the weather is fine, otherwhise you can take the bus 12 opposite the hotel) The rooms were spaciouses and comfortables, the breakfeast was enough abundant.

Guest name: EP, Italy

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2006

Having been in Florence before and having a rental car with us, we knew that this place was a hike to the Arno but we didnt care. We like this side of the bridge, we like the proximity of roads to the suburbs and to the Chianti region & we like the extra space a less centrally located space like this provides. The room was enormous and came with a great balcony to sit and read. The bathroom was similarly large. Services were minimal but okay... some staff helpful, some not interested. Breakfast was nice and served in a spacious dining area. However, the place was a little too quiet and felt more deserted than it was. We would have preferred a common area that encouraged meeting others.

Guest name: SR, USA

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

We enjoyed our stay at Park Palace. There is really nothing that we would compalin about. The room could stand an updating but we were happy with it. In driving past the hotel upon our arrival we had difficulty actually seeing the sign. We couldn't find the number and being strangers to the area and considering the speed that drivers in Italy and their lack of courtesy to us a larger sign out front would have been helpful.

Guest name: David McClelland, Canada

Average rating:  5.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

The Swimming pool was unavailable for swimm. The room was small and without any special facility as usual present in a 4 star hotel

Guest name: CS, Italy

Average rating:  6.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2007

- old furniture which is as well very old fashioned, would need to be renovated

Guest name: FH, Switzerland

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

Dans une belle villa ancienne, cet hotel offre l'avantage d'être situé dans un beau quartier de Florence, à 20 minutes à pied du Ponte Vecchio(la balade est très agréable). L'hotel est très calme, notre chambre spacieuse possède un balcon avec vue sur les jardins. Parking gratuit (rare)et piscine dans le parc (encore plus rare).Un vrai hotel de charme.

Guest name: Brigitte Stebenet, France

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

Situada en zona tranquil.la. A 20 minuts del centre amb un tranquil passeig matinal. L´esmorzar sense ser gran cosa, és suficient. El fet de tenir piscina, fantàstic. L´habitació era ample, molt còmode, però el lavabo era una mica vell. El tema del jardi, pìscina, es veia una mica deixat

Guest name: LR, Spain

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Aug 2007

A pretty decent hotel just outside the main city on a hill in a nice green area - lots of parkland and greenery to walk around and a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the main city. There is a good bus service (no. 12 and no.13) which makes getting into the city quite easy. You can also walk it in around 30 minutes but the walk back is mainly uphill and after a hard day's touring, may not be what you really want to do. Overall, the hotel was really good - it seemed for some reason, to be very popular with German tourists (no idea why). It has a little pool for those who fancy a dip and in the evenings, it has a nice verandah to sit upon and enjoy a quiet drink - also nice for breakfast too The only thing which we liked less was the bathroom with our room, which although clean and in generally OK shape, was a bit tatty and in need of refurbishment. Apart from that, a great hotel and a good place to stay whilst in Florence - probably better than most of the city centre establishments

Guest name: Sukhraj Barhey, United Kingdom

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Aug 2007

Superbe hotel sur les hauteurs de Florence.Un bus passe devant tous les quarts d'heure pour descendre en ville. Accueil chaleureux en français. Nous avions demandé une chambre pour 4 (2 adultes et 2 adolescents). En fait nous avons eu un superbe appartement avec 2 vastes et luxueuses chambres . Parking gratuit.

Guest name: Irene Karadjian, France

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jun 2007

The hotel and location were exactly as I expected from the descriptions and reviews. I got a large double room for single use and had no problem getting a good nights sleep. Breakfast was also very good. This was an excellent base for visiting all of the sites in Florence. The tourist bus stops right outside the hotel and public buses also provide a good service. The down hill walk into Florence is OK but take the bus back. There is no restaurant in the hotel and only two nearby. The Terasse is excellent with beautiful views of Florence but a bit pricey. The other can't remember the name told me on Saturday night that they had no tables for singles although there seemed to be plenty free (even though I was well dressed for a tourist).

Guest name: A W, Germany

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: 

stayed in Jun 2007

Park Palace Hotel is a Villa which was converted to a hotel in the hills above Florence. We found the property beautiful and a wonderful place to stay a tad outside the bustling main city of Florece. Staff was very helpful and rooms were more spacious than expected.

Guest name: Thomas Stone, USA

Average rating:  6.4

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Apr 2007

Awesome staff, but a very run down hotel. The matresses & pillows were very uncomfortable. We rented the suite that had access to a balcony, but you could not see out from your windows. The hotel is basically a large house that was converted. Breakfast was ok. Swimming pool was empty and unsafe for kids. There are 2 or 3 employees that we saw, all very accomadating and NICE. One went out of her way to book us a car on Easter. The walk to the city takes a while, take a cab back since it's uphill. Family restaurant 800 feet on the right is awesome. Check out the well.

Guest name: David Kalili, USA

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Mar 2007

this hotel is quiet and beautiful. The small road behind the hotel which allows to go by foot in 15 minutes to ponte vecchio is magnificient

Guest name: CB, France

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Dec 2006

We stayed for 2 nights at the end of December and venere.com offered a very good price and we were given a very comfortable room, probably as the hotel was not full. We were pleased with the secure free parking and the staff provided us with the route for the beautiful walk down to Firenze and marked all the nearby restaurants on a map. We caught the bus back to the hotel from Firenze and bought the 1.20 euro bus tickets from the tabaccheria near the bus stop. We have seen comments about the buffet breakfast and would agree but we did notice that Italian guests did not drink the filter coffee; instead they asked for espresso or cappuccino, which was freshly made for them! We would stay here again but not at the full room rate.

Guest name: Jeffrey Pink, United Kingdom

Average rating:  6.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2006

We had not realised quite how far this was out of central Florence as the map did not indicate the winding hill road. Luckily we took a cab! There is an excellent bus service into the central station and once you know this travel is easy. Fabulous views over Florence especially at night. This hotel would be described as shabby, old world but only 3 star. We ate at a fabulous restaurant just down the road (but be warned not many other places nearby) with a very romantic setting, which was a pity as we had left our husbands at home! Great homemade limone liqueur.

Guest name: Pauline Cliff, Australia

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Nov 2006

Very nice old villa turned into hotel in the quiet part of Florence. Nice people, kind to children.

Guest name: MT, Slovenia

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Group

stayed in Oct 2006

My two friends and I loved our stay at the Park Palace Hotel. As other guests mentioned in the reviews, it seems like Jane Austen meets A Room with a View. This hotel feels more like being invited to what is left of someone's old country estate after the city has grown up around it. We also found the best rate to be on Venere.com which might make the difference between appreciating it's charm rather than focusing on its deficits. The public rooms, with tree-framed views out over the small pool garden, were a very nice addition to our room. The room itself, large for European cities, was simple rather than elegant, but clean and comfortable and the beds in our room were fine. The weather was mild so we did not test the heating or cooling. The hotel should probably consider the addition of simple mosquito netting to the windows, a consideration for many hotels in Italy though. The breakfast, while not lavish, is a fine continental spread--complaints are probably from those expecting a more American or English style meal. It is about a 30 minute stroll down to the Ponte Vecchio, good incidental exercise for me and my small dog, and a 10 euro cab fare back up the hill to the hotel at Piazzale Galileo. Although not as easy to stop in often during the day, I came back for a tranquil break in the afternoon, and met my friends again in the evening in town without trouble. As the driver, I also appreciated the reasonable driving access to the hotel with on-site parking rather tangling our way in and out of the no-drive zone. While this hotel will not satisfy those seeking polished luxury or the city at your doorstep, it is suited to those looking for charm and access to both Firenze's centro and the Tuscan countryside, or those who wish for both the amenities of the city and a more tranquil non-urban setting.

Guest name: Kim Rosman, Italy

Average rating:  6.9

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jul 2006

Area condizionata non ha funzionato bene. Non siamo stati contenti della prima colazione come di solito in Italia.

Guest name: AN, Italy

Average rating:  7.2

Guest type: Group

stayed in Sep 2006

This hotel is outside of the city center, but a great location on one of the hillsides surrounding Firenze. We took a taxi to the city, as its a 20 minute walk to centro. The hotel itself is good value for the money! (order at venere.com - I've checked other webpages, and they are twice as expensive) The best advice to others visiting Firenze who would like to visit Galleria Accademia and the Uffizi - make the hotel reserve a ticket for you and you will not have to stand in line for hours. Make sure you stand in the right cue at the Accademia!

Guest name: Benedicte Hauge, Norway

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2006

The hotel is the perfect place to stay while in Florence...an easy,inexpensive public bus trip into downtown complements a "country-villa" atmosphere replete with beautiful grounds and swimming pool. A wonderful experience that balances out the tourist-crowded downtown Florence and it's major attractions.

Guest name: JD, USA

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jun 2006

Very green and calm surroundings. Refreshing contrast to the busy center of Florence. It is possible to walk to the center. The bus is very close and it is a nice walk dowtown but we preferred taxi which we found were well spent money since there is a lot of walking anyway. Nice and helpful englishspeaking staff. Spacious room.

Guest name: Camilla Harrysson, Sweden

Average rating:  8.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jul 2006

This hotel is excellent in terms of atmosphere, location, service, and access. The neighborhood is beautiful and quiet compared to downtown Florence. Access is easy with busses running every 30 minutes in either direction - both go downtown; and the hotel sells bus tickets. The rooms are large and nicely decorated. The air conditioner worked very well. The breakfast was excellent and plentiful and setting was very nice either indoors or outside. The restaurant, Conte Ugolini, recommended by hotel management was very good and reasonable.

Guest name: Jerry Janecka, USA

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Group

stayed in Jul 2006

An excellent, old fashioned hotel, decorated with real taste, spacious rooms, good breakfast, excellent location to visit Florence.

Guest name: Frans Geilfus, Belgium

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Jun 2006

The hotel was very nice, and had great accomodations for us and our 2 small children. Probably a little too far from the city, for us with the kids, but one of the employees was nice enough to drive us to dinner one night so we didn't have to take a bus or wait for a cab. We asked for a room with a balcony and were told there were no rooms with balconies. (Thought I remembered a picture of a room with a balcony) An enjoyable stay overall.

Guest name: Stephanie Lucarelli, USA

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jun 2006

We were travelling with our children ages 11 & 17 so we asked for a room for four. We were pleasantly surprised at the size of the room. We loved the property and found two great restaurants with in a couple minutes of the hotel. The walk down the hill to the main part of Florence took about 20 minutes. This was well worth it to be removed from the traffic in Florence. My daughter want to honeymoon at this hotel when that day comes - hopefully many years in the future. I would definitly return to Park Palace on our next trip.

Guest name: Bruce Erickson, USA

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Mother and daughter

stayed in Jun 2006

This hotel must have been at some time extremely grand but it is now in need of some TLC. Our room was large but the decor was generally outdated and in need of renovation, with a balcony that you wouldn't want to sit out on. The communal areas were very nice but never saw anyone using them. Breakfast was good and the bus stop (inc the sight seeing bus)into Florence was right outside the hotel. There is a very nice little restaurant just around the corner. On the whole I thought this was rather overpriced.

Guest name: Melanie Sharp, United Kingdom

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jun 2006

Overall, enjoyed staying here very much. Very easy to access by car from the highway, plus on-site parking a plus. Grounds and hotel building were very attractive, very "classic" in style. Staff very helpful, most spoke English well. Room clean and very nice -- not huge, but large compared to other hotels at which we stayed, plus high ceilings and windows conferred an airy feel. Very large bathrooms. Room had small patio and lovely view towards the south of Florence. Very good buffet breakfast. Not super easy to get into downtown, but "do-able" -- pleasant walk (30 min?), taxi (around 10 euro), and bus (1 euro -- tickets available at front desk). Mostly relied on the bus, which worked out ok -- only problem was with occassional unexplained delays between successive busses. Wife very happy with my choice of accommodations; I would stay here again.

Guest name: John Kramer, USA

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in May 2006

We stayed for two nights in early May and were very pleased. It was nice to be a little away from the center of Florence and even nicer to wake up to birds and a view of the hills rather than scooters and alleyways. But, taxis back to the hotel ranged from 9 euros to 17 (at night with an extra charge for calling the taxi). Also, two qualifications: the morning breakfast is the dreaded European breakfast with undistinguished ham and cheese, bad coffee, canned juices, and stale bread - this is made worse by the fact that there is no coffee place in the area. Second problem: no internet - let's get real hotels of Europe that seek internet bookers - we do indeed want internet in our rooms for local information or even to book the next stay. But, I would still say there again.

Guest name: Alan Sugarman, USA

Average rating:  6.8

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Apr 2006

The condition of the room is not what I expected. The room had a stale odor and the quality of the beds was very bad for a 4 star hotel. It felt like sleeping on a pullout sofa bed with springs poking you. The bathroom fixtures were old and there were hard water stains everywhere. The hotel staff was very nice however and it is a very charming looking hotel in a nice quiet suburban neighborhood and only about 15 minute walk to historic Firenze.

Guest name: Raymond Chang, USA

Average rating:  7.5

Guest type: Couple with children

stayed in Apr 2006

We got a 4 people bedroom and was very spacious, bathroom was ok, personel were very helpfull, bus downtown in front of the hotel

Guest name: FELIPE OLLIVIER, Mexico

Average rating:  9.3

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Apr 2006

We really enjoyed the peace and quiet with this hotel. We have stayed at other hotels in Florence and found the location of the Park Palace quite desirable. It isn't close to the historic area, though there are ample parking garages close to town. The view from our room was of Piazza Michelangelo, outstanding! Each morning we could open our window and hear birds chirping and watch the sunrise over the adjacent hill. Needless to say we would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Guest name: Devin Giovacchini, Italy

Average rating:  6.1

Guest type: Single corporate traveller

stayed in May 2005

The hotel is not too bad and the location is good, especially when you drive. The service is ok, far from great. The rooms are smallish and out of date, but some views can be nice. The four-star rating the hotel receives is very misleading.

Guest name: VR, USA

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Family Group

stayed in Feb 2006

What a delightful stay we had at the Park Palace! Built on a hill overlooking Florence, the hotel is surrounded by a garden and tall trees. We slept at night with windows open and woke to birds singing. The hotel wasn't full so the staff gave us one of their best rooms although we paid only a modest price, as quoted on the web site. The rooms are old fashioned with high ceilings and lots of light. Best of all were the pleasant, competent and helpful staff. We'd go back in a flash.

Guest name: Carolyn Tucher, USA

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jan 2006

What a great location! The walk down to the historic center was charming, although it took us 25 minutes rather than the advertised 18. A return taxi ride costs 10 euro. The cocktail hour in the commons room with a warm fire was very nice on a chilly day.

Guest name: Lysbeth Bainbridge, Italy

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jan 2006

The hotel was very charming with a magnificent fireplace in the lobby. The rooms were a little outdated but were clean and comfortable.

Guest name: Meredith McCosh, Canada

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jan 2006

Park Palace was an ideal location for those wanting to be near enough to the city to enjoy the major sites, but far enough away to have respite from the mania of sightseeing. Quiet, comfortable. They went above and beyond to accomodate us and our dog. Agree, a little expensive, but worth it if you want a great experience.

Guest name: Greg/Jessica Magnuson, Italy

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jan 2006

Our stay waw really great, the place is very nice and comfortable. I´d say that is necessary to pay attention to the furniture because some of them look kind of worn out specially the mattress.

Guest name: LILIA GONZALEZ COSIO, Spain

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Oct 2005

Very nice place to stay, could use with an updating but nice enough. La Terrazza Del Principe is the finest "ristorante" that we ate during our trip to Italy.

Guest name: MR, Canada

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Oct 2005

I searched the internet for hours hoping to discover the perfect hotel for a long weekend in Florence with a friend from America. When I saw the pictures of the Park Palace on this site, I emailed her: "I have found it!" The hotel was everything I had dreamed it might be. True, the first room we were given was rather ordinary, but when I asked if we might have a larger room, we were given a lovely suite with two antique armchairs, coffee table, writing desk beneath the window, two bathrooms, a walk-in closet, and no increase in price. The bathroom with its adorable tiles, arched doorway, and little window reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. The bed was set into an arched niche in a wall painted pale yellow. Our window opened over forested hills, cypress silhouettes, yellow ochre and terricotta buildings by the Arno river far below glowing in the dawn light. Comments I read here all proved true, for example, there is an elegant-but-reasonably-priced restaurant in a villa a short, romantic stroll down a sidewalk that glitters beneath streetlamps after it rains -- a half liter of vino della casa costs 6 euro & don't miss the mushrooms gathered in the nearby forests if you visit in the fall! Buses 12 (up) and 13 (down) stop directly in front of the hotel and pass by every 25 minutes to take you to and from the main train station. The walk home from the Ponto Vecchio at night meanders up a (steep) narrow lane for just under 20 minutes -- turn right at the first opportunity after the road levels out and the hotel is just to your left at the main road. Yes, people whisper in the dining room at breakfast. This seems to be a natural response to the awe-inspiring grandeur of the venue and to the feeling that you are living inside a Jane Austin novel. Sunlight in the pines outside tall windows gives the feeling of camping out, but like a princess with her entourage. Cross the road and stroll downhill through the Bobilis: gardens with fountains, flowers, and mean

Guest name: Linda Eisele, Switzerland

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Couple with children

stayed in Oct 2005

Great setting just away from the bustle of Florence centre with secure parking. Very spacious apartments. Only disapointlemt was breakfast. Excellent restaurant 100 metres away.

Guest name: David Whelan, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Oct 2005

Great Hotel. Excellent views and two good restaurants nearby. But beware of the busses. They run on Italian time. And bring bug spray since no one uses screens in Northern Italy.

Guest name: JH, USA

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Aug 2005

The location of this hotel is beautiful. It is nestled in the foothills, but only a short drive to the heart of the city. I found the staff to be very competent, and eager to please. My room was spotless! The woman who was in charge of the Front Desk, processed my registration in such a quick, efficient manner I was in my room within 5 minutes. During my stay, whenever I had a question or needed directions, this woman responded in a polite, articulate, and sincere manner. I felt like I was the most important person in town. I had limited exposure to the rest of the staff, but what I did observe was that the staff conducted themselves in a manner that you only find in the most expensive of hotels. It was a pleasure being there, and when I return to Italy, the "Park Palace" is where I will stay.

Guest name: Christine N. Gibson, USA

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Sep 2005

The hotel is charming and the walk is lovely. While I might prefer to be closer to the center of town in bad weather, the distance was no inconvenience this time of year. The staff was friendly. The room was huge by European standards!

Guest name: Joni LeSage, USA

Average rating:  9.5

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Aug 2005

This is a small, quiet hotel with fabulous views over Florence. Get the number 13 bus into Florence and the number 12 back - it stops right outside the train station. The Chalet Fontana is a lovely restaurant just around the corner. The pool looks lovely but is freezing! Bring the insect repellant as you are in the hills. The lounge area and sun terrace are just gorgeous - we highly recommend this hotel if you don't mind being a little out of the city.

Guest name: Mary Frain, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.3

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Aug 2005

A hotel in an excellent location approximately 15 minutes walk from the centre of Florence. Breakfast was limited and of continental type. The staff were very helpful and recommended two excellent restaurants a few minutes walk from the hotel. It is also part of the Switz consulate so if you want fireworks go on August 1st.

Guest name: Reginald Alan Leslie Arnold, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.5

Guest type: Couple with children

stayed in Jul 2005

We had a lovely stay at a villa and felt like lords returning from our trip to the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The bathrooms were clean and spacious but need style updating. The gardens and pool area were not meticulously maintained but that added to the casual/formal atmosphere. We travelled by car and parking was excellent. We throughouly enjoyed the pool, the antiques and the feel of being in a manor rather than a typical hotel.

Guest name: CD, Canada

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Family Group

stayed in Jul 2005

Sehr schönes Hotel; netter Service; romantsich trotz Stadtnähe. Durch den Swimmingpool wunderbar für Kinder geeignet.

Guest name: Lutz Gerber-Orlean, Germany

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Couple with children

stayed in Jul 2005

Park Palace was much better than we expected. People at the reception desk were very nice and accomodating. Our room was very larger and quite spacious for the four of us. The bath room was HUGE and clean, althought a bit outdated. The walk down hill to the center of the city was an easy 20-25 minutes, coming back up would take longer but there is good bus service at the door. We would stay there again, definitely.

Guest name: ME, USA

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Couple with children

stayed in Jul 2005

Good location.Easy bus conection with old town.One can walk as well 10-15 min.Swimming pool is for decoration only.

Guest name: Slawomir Organowski, Canada