Hotel David
Florence
Happy hour all through the stay
Hotel David is a family-run hotel on the south side of the Arno river that runs through Florence, near the Michelangelo hill with views of the Duomo and the city of Florence. It takes about 20 minutes to walk along the Arno from the centre of the city, where the Duomo is located, and you can take the C4 bus from outside the Santa Maria Novella train station to get to the hotel just outside the station.
There are two reasons why I chose Hotel David over the many hotels and accommodation options near the station or in the heart of the city. One is that it is the perfect location in Florence for those travelling with a rental car. While the entire city of Florence is a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato, or restricted traffic zone, where only residents are allowed to enter), the Hotel David is outside the ZTL zone and has free parking on the hotel grounds. In a historical city like Florence, hotels with such conditions are really rare, as they are close to the old town and the streets.
The reason people want to stay here, however, is not so much the location or the parking, but the reviews from previous guests, which collectively say: A small establishment with a warm and comfortable atmosphere, fantastic service and a truly homely feel. Since 1958, when my grandfather opened a hotel in a 19th century villa, the Concetti family has run this family hotel. The furnishings and rooms in the hotel are a little old-fashioned, simple and friendly, just like a home.
And there is one tradition that has been maintained since the hotel opened, and that is the 'Happy Hour' or 'Aperitivo' that starts at 6.30pm. Wine, beer and simple snacks such as sandwiches are served, and every evening guests gather in the outdoor garden to share wine and talk about the day's events. And it's all free! (And to top it all off, the minibar with bottled water and beer is also free).
When you travel, you get the feeling that the value of accommodation is not in the dazzling decor or luxurious furnishings, but in the sincere consideration and hospitality of the people who run it. In this respect, Hotel David is not just a place for a busy trip, where you get tired of taking pictures at famous tourist attractions and fall asleep, but a place that is perfect for a slow trip, where you can take your time to look around.
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Wish List
To be honest, I chose the wrong accommodation on my last two trips to Florence. One of them was on the second floor of a rock cafe that was open until dawn.
So I have carefully read 210 reviews over the past year. And this is the place on my wish list that I decided to stay in on my next trip.
