Brunelleschi Hotel

"Our stay at this hotel was one of the most disappointing hotel experiences we have ever had. The problems began the moment we arrived. After checking into our room, we immediately noticed that the air conditioning was not working. We contacted the front desk and requested that it be fixed. We were later informed that the issue had been resolved, but when we returned to the room it was obvious that nothing had changed. The air conditioning was still broken. Because the hotel was fully booked, we were moved to another room. Unfortunately, that room was full of bugs and was completely unacceptable. As a result, we had to move back to our original room despite the fact that the air conditioning still did not work. The hotel’s solution was to provide a few fans. It is completely unbelievable that a hotel would charge full price for a room without functioning air conditioning and consider a fan to be an adequate substitute. Air conditioning is a basic amenity, especially during warmer months, and guests should not be expected to endure those conditions while paying premium rates. The next day, we were finally moved to a different room. However, the maintenance problems continued. The toilet in one of our rooms broke and hotel staff assured us it had been repaired. When we returned later that evening, the flushing mechanism was literally sitting inside the toilet bowl. Clearly, the issue had not been properly fixed. The safe in one of the rooms never worked during our stay despite being reported. In addition, the locking mechanism on one of the doors was defective, creating concerns about both security and basic functionality. Communication from the hotel was poor throughout our stay. We later discovered that breakfast was included with our reservation, yet no one informed us of this at check-in. As a result, we missed a benefit that we had already paid for. All of this occurred while paying an extreme premium for the stay. Although the location is excellent, that alone does not make up for the numerous issues we encountered. Given the rates charged by this property, the overall experience was truly disappointing. The concierge service was equally disappointing. We specifically asked for recommendations that were not tourist traps, yet we were directed to an overpriced restaurant that offered poor value. We also inquired about transportation options and were quoted rates through the hotel that were nearly double what we were able to arrange elsewhere. Rather than providing helpful guidance, the concierge service felt more focused on steering guests toward expensive options. To make matters worse, many of the common areas of the hotel were plagued by a persistent sewer smell. The odor was noticeable throughout much of the property and significantly detracted from the overall experience. What is most frustrating is that none of these issues occurred in isolation. During a single stay we dealt with a room without air conditioning, a replacement room full of bugs, multiple room changes, a broken toilet, a non-functioning safe, a defective door lock, poor communication regarding included amenities, unhelpful concierge recommendations, and a recurring sewer odor throughout the hotel. This experience fell far below the standard one would expect from a hotel charging premium rates. We would not stay here again and cannot recommend this property to other travelers."

"We booked to stay at the Hotel Brunelleschi, Florence staying 10th May for 2 nights. It was excellent in so many aspects. Superb location with the Piazza Duormo in very easy walking distance, a great atmosphere in the hotel, the room we were allocated was perfect, very comfortable beds and very quiet and easy access for my wife who has challenging mobility. We ate one evening outside on the terrace of there Osteria Pagliazza - good food and good service throughout the hotel."

"From the moment we arrived, every detail was perfect! The hotel is lovely, in a quiet nook near the Duomo. We loved hearing the bells every morning through our open window! Our connecting rooms were pristine and comfortable, with plenty of hot water and towels, and turndown service with chocolates. The housekeeping staff was so personable , kept us well supplied with bottles of water while also keeping our rooms immaculate. The porters ( hello, Samuel!), concierge, and front desk staff greeted us daily with warmth and patience, and were so helpful (especially after my husband lost his cellphone!) I cannot think of a nicer experience we have ever had in a hotel…perfection!! We would love to return!!"