The Grand Hotel Florence - pre-2011 St. Regis renovation
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Programs: Bonvoy LTT, Hyatt Exp, AA 1MM, UA Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 970
A meal at Osteria Cinghiale Bianco is an absolute must. This restaurant is very close to the hotel and probably the BEST food I have ever eaten! Be sure to have your concierge book a table for you, because it is very popular and we had to wait even WITH a reservation. We saw people being turned away without reservations.
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We had dinner at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco (I think it means the Wild Boar). It was a small place, casual atmosphere just great service and food. wizzy had some meats sliced, pasta with truffles (yummy), then wild boar and polenta. I had brushetta, spinach risotto (sooooooo good) and steak with argula and parmesan. I had to send the steak back twice before it was cooked enough for me (overdone for most of you!) then strawberries with marscapone cheese. The head dude wouldnt let us leave without a shot of lemincello. The pitcher of house wine turned out to be only four Euro.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,579
Does anyone know which hotel has completed renovation in their guestrooms? Grand or Excelsior? We're planning a trip for Feb '08.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold, Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 108
troubled Plat
As of Wednesday, Grand is still closed for renovation, so Excelsior is operating at full gear for low season: getting a good room on an award stay is a ...... Situation apparently the same in Venice, making it even harder, because face it, they are very nice in Firenze, and much much less in Venezia
February should be safe and cozy, though (I guess). Not in Venice, NEVER in Venice in February!
E
February should be safe and cozy, though (I guess). Not in Venice, NEVER in Venice in February!
E
#19
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 173
Just a quick plug for this property. While it is not cheap, it was one of the nicest SPG properties I have ever stayed at. As in Venice at the E & R, my in-laws and I were both given beautiful rooms and enjoyed the attentive service that we received. Our arrival was expected and was well prepared for. They even sent Champaign up for my in-laws as they were celebrating their anniversary. I can't wait to come back.
#20
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 34,104
What is the cost for parking?
#21
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
According to internal data, EUR62. It's EUR55 at The Westin Florence.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
#22
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
According to internal data, EUR62. It's EUR55 at The Westin Florence.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Wow! At almost US $100 per day for parking, you may want to consider renting a car in Florence. There is a HERTZ right across the street from the hotel, along with other car rentals. Take the train into Florence, and then rent a car when you want to go out into the Tuscany countryside. You will definately NOT want to drive around the streets of Florence-- and actually many of the Tuscan hillside towns require you to park your car outside the city walls. So a bus into those towns may be a better choice.
#23
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 34,104
I read the threads on the Excelsior, the Grand, and the one comparing the properties. I chose the Grand in part because I loved the sounds of the balconies and terraces. We got a terrific upgrade, but saw no signs of balconies and terraces at the Grand. On rereading the hotel information, I see that folks report those are only on the top floor. I could see large terraces atop the Excelsior. If I had read this thread more carefully, I would have asked at the hotel about room with balcony availability.
The Grand has 83 double rooms, 11 single rooms, 6 junior suites, and 7 suites. The Excelsion has over 100 rooms and I believe only 8 or so suites and junior suites. Based on these numbers, it appears to me that upgrade possibilities are stronger at the Grand.
We were upgraded to a Renaiisance Suite. We were told the only suite more grand is the Royal Suite (which I doubt very much is available for platinum upgrades). The Renaiisance Suite goes for 2400 euros/night.
The front desk manager walked us to the room and showed us thru it. You enter into a hall. On the right hand side is a small bathroom which has a walk in shower. At the end of the hall to the left is the living room. It is fairly narrow, with a love seat on one side, and a renaiisance era reproduction seat on the other. There are frescos painted on the wall. There is also a desk and a TV in the room. There is a narrow tall window which faces the Arno.
Across from the living room, down three steps, is a short hall. Directly across is a bathroom with a tub and double sinks. With two bathrooms and 3 sinks, we had 25 bottles of toiletries. To the left is the bedroom with two singles pushed together to make a king. It also has frescoes on the wall. Again, there is a window facing the Arno. Fabrics are rich and appropriate for the renaiisance period.
We chose points for our amenity, and were also sent a full bottle of riesling.
Service was superb. The concierges were knowledgeable and congenial. They were always available to answer any question, no matter how mundane. The bellman and doorman were also very helpful.
We sat in the glorious winter garden/ballroom each day, feeling very regal. The room is absolutely spectacular, with comfortable seating throughout. The breakfast room is the balcony that rings the winter garden.
The hotel directed us to self parking for 25 euros/day. It was about 5 blocks from the hotel, and offered in and out privileges. The hotel made sure that our license was registered with the city, as the hotel is in the restricted traffic inner city.
Internet for 24 hours/day was 15 euros.
The Grand has 83 double rooms, 11 single rooms, 6 junior suites, and 7 suites. The Excelsion has over 100 rooms and I believe only 8 or so suites and junior suites. Based on these numbers, it appears to me that upgrade possibilities are stronger at the Grand.
We were upgraded to a Renaiisance Suite. We were told the only suite more grand is the Royal Suite (which I doubt very much is available for platinum upgrades). The Renaiisance Suite goes for 2400 euros/night.
The front desk manager walked us to the room and showed us thru it. You enter into a hall. On the right hand side is a small bathroom which has a walk in shower. At the end of the hall to the left is the living room. It is fairly narrow, with a love seat on one side, and a renaiisance era reproduction seat on the other. There are frescos painted on the wall. There is also a desk and a TV in the room. There is a narrow tall window which faces the Arno.
Across from the living room, down three steps, is a short hall. Directly across is a bathroom with a tub and double sinks. With two bathrooms and 3 sinks, we had 25 bottles of toiletries. To the left is the bedroom with two singles pushed together to make a king. It also has frescoes on the wall. Again, there is a window facing the Arno. Fabrics are rich and appropriate for the renaiisance period.
We chose points for our amenity, and were also sent a full bottle of riesling.
Service was superb. The concierges were knowledgeable and congenial. They were always available to answer any question, no matter how mundane. The bellman and doorman were also very helpful.
We sat in the glorious winter garden/ballroom each day, feeling very regal. The room is absolutely spectacular, with comfortable seating throughout. The breakfast room is the balcony that rings the winter garden.
The hotel directed us to self parking for 25 euros/day. It was about 5 blocks from the hotel, and offered in and out privileges. The hotel made sure that our license was registered with the city, as the hotel is in the restricted traffic inner city.
Internet for 24 hours/day was 15 euros.
#24
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,849
Anybody has seen/stayed in "Luxurious Florentine-style Junior Suite"?
I'm thinking of booking it for our Christmas/New Year's trip to Italy...
Was sold on the new Four Seasons, but it seems like some rooms are
really average there...
I'm thinking of booking it for our Christmas/New Year's trip to Italy...
Was sold on the new Four Seasons, but it seems like some rooms are
really average there...
#25
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Programs: NWA, Starwood, Continental, Hilton Honors
Posts: 17
Grand Hotel Florence
Bar none, the best hotel in the Starwood group as far as I'm concerned. Was there in April and still can't stop talking about the incredible room, location and service. I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Florence.
#26
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,366
I'm pretty close on this one too. I was there in November and the room, hotel, decor, staff, service...impressive. Just amazing.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,579
Is this hotel REALLY that good? Their rates are pretty high and I just found out that their breakfast is 39EUR a person.
#28
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Canada - YYC
Programs: Starwood Plt, Hilton Gold (got it free) AC Elite, Fairmont Plt, Priority Club Plt
Posts: 439
I have stayed at a number of Starwood hotels in Italy. By far this hotel gave the best service. A number of others treated us really well. This one was over the top.
#29
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: San Diego, CA , 4.2MM+ AA Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Starwood Gold
Posts: 574
On our last Italy trip we stayed at the Excelsior in Rome, The Grand in Florence and the Europa Regina in Venice.
The other two hotels were nice, but the Grand was by far the best. Not only was our room wonderful, but indeed it was the staff that put the hotel over the top. Everyone was friendly, helpful and seemed genuinely concerned that we were having a good stay.
There are so many wonderful coffee bars within an easy walk from the hotel, why worry about the price of breakfast? And 39 euros was about standard for all of the hotels.
The other two hotels were nice, but the Grand was by far the best. Not only was our room wonderful, but indeed it was the staff that put the hotel over the top. Everyone was friendly, helpful and seemed genuinely concerned that we were having a good stay.
There are so many wonderful coffee bars within an easy walk from the hotel, why worry about the price of breakfast? And 39 euros was about standard for all of the hotels.
#30
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: UA 1K Million Miler, Marriott Ambassador (lifetime Platinum), Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 370
I just got back from a four day trip to Italy (a whirlwind tour of Bologna, Florence, Venice and Milan). I stayed at the Grand Hotel in Florence and the Westin Regina in Venice. I'll post my Venice experience in the appropriate master thread but wanted to note that I thought the Grand was a significantly nicer hotel.
We checked in early A.M. after arriving from the train station. Check-in was a little slow (the manager of the hotel was on the phone to the check-in agent and despite the agent telling the manager a few times that she had guests waiting, he seemed to keep her on the phone anyway). That said, it was probably about five minutes at most and she became the most apologetic and friendly check-in agent, so we just let it go. Were told that we had two options for a room, a basic room that was ready, or an upgraded room with a river view and balcony if we waited a little while. Despite only being there one night, we took them up on it. They were helpful with our bags, found us a place to change and we were off to tour Florence.
Came back later that evening to get into our room. Our bags were awaiting us in the room and we were escorted up by the front desk agent (I personally hate when they do this, but some think its a nice touch). He showed us the wintergarden and the restaurant which both looked nice and brought us to our room. Our room was really nice--frescos painted throughout the walls and very large. The bathroom was large too, but I felt it was poorly designed, although the shower was really nice. The balcony was large with a table and chairs and overlooked the river. The room size (a near perfect square) reminded me of a room I stayed in at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco (but I've only stayed there once so I might have just gotten an odd room).
They offered us a discounted rate on breakfast as a SPG elite although it was still 22 EUR, so we passed. We did look at the restaurant on the hotel, which looked nice and seemed to have reasonable prices (much more reasonable than the prices at the Regina) for a hotel, but the bar prices were excessive (I think we paid 23 EUR for two beers and a bottle of water). We didn't eat in the restaurant.
The concierge was really helpful and friendly. We asked him for restaurant recommendations with a few hundred caveats (informal dress, non tourist area, certain food, etc.) and he sent us to a great place just south of the hotel that was clearly outside of the tourist zone and we were able to eat a three course meal, including wine for under 50 EUR.
Overall, I'd stay in this hotel again (although the cost might be prohibitive -- we were on a C&P stay and even that was still pricey).
We checked in early A.M. after arriving from the train station. Check-in was a little slow (the manager of the hotel was on the phone to the check-in agent and despite the agent telling the manager a few times that she had guests waiting, he seemed to keep her on the phone anyway). That said, it was probably about five minutes at most and she became the most apologetic and friendly check-in agent, so we just let it go. Were told that we had two options for a room, a basic room that was ready, or an upgraded room with a river view and balcony if we waited a little while. Despite only being there one night, we took them up on it. They were helpful with our bags, found us a place to change and we were off to tour Florence.
Came back later that evening to get into our room. Our bags were awaiting us in the room and we were escorted up by the front desk agent (I personally hate when they do this, but some think its a nice touch). He showed us the wintergarden and the restaurant which both looked nice and brought us to our room. Our room was really nice--frescos painted throughout the walls and very large. The bathroom was large too, but I felt it was poorly designed, although the shower was really nice. The balcony was large with a table and chairs and overlooked the river. The room size (a near perfect square) reminded me of a room I stayed in at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco (but I've only stayed there once so I might have just gotten an odd room).
They offered us a discounted rate on breakfast as a SPG elite although it was still 22 EUR, so we passed. We did look at the restaurant on the hotel, which looked nice and seemed to have reasonable prices (much more reasonable than the prices at the Regina) for a hotel, but the bar prices were excessive (I think we paid 23 EUR for two beers and a bottle of water). We didn't eat in the restaurant.
The concierge was really helpful and friendly. We asked him for restaurant recommendations with a few hundred caveats (informal dress, non tourist area, certain food, etc.) and he sent us to a great place just south of the hotel that was clearly outside of the tourist zone and we were able to eat a three course meal, including wine for under 50 EUR.
Overall, I'd stay in this hotel again (although the cost might be prohibitive -- we were on a C&P stay and even that was still pricey).