We had the Deluxe Machiavelli Room at Palazzo Vecchietti during our first visit to Florence from 19/1/12 to 22/1/12. I must say it was by far the most unique and wonderful experience that we have had.

We were greeted very warmly by the charming Valentina at the front desk as we arrived around 12pm. To our surprise, Valentina told us that our room was ready (the standard check in time is 2pm). She then sat us down, offerred us a glass of prosecco, gave us an overview of the attractions in Florence, maps and other useful materials. She even taught me the correct pronunciations of some useful Italian phrases (which proved to be extremely useful later on through out our trip in Italy).

We were then shown our room, and how to use the espresso machine in the kitchen (a really nice touch, we could have coffee and hot drinks whenever we wanted). Our room was impeccable, very spacious and comfortable; the deco was fresh and modern with a simple yet elegant Italian flair. The room and the bathroom were even more stunning than the pictures that we had seen (even though the room did look really good in those pictures). Our room was kept spotless clean every day. And it was really nice to have a terrace, perfect to chill and have a glass of wine/coffee when we get back from sightseeing.

The sound proof was effective, the hotel was always very quiet. The internet was fast and we were able to use all of our devices (2 laptops, 2 mobile phones and an Ipad) at the same time. The kitchen was well-equipped, coffee tablets were replaced everyday and there were some basic cutlery and utensils for us to use. The breakfast was served in the breakfast room on the third floor (conveniently, right next to our room) and everything served was fresh and delicious. I especially loved the communal table in the breakfast room where I enjoyed chatting to other guests during breakfast. There were always fresh fruit such as apples, oranges and bananas left for guests at the breakfast room which was really nice.

Its prime location in the middle of Via degli Strozzi means you are right in the middle of actions. It takes 10 minutes, very easy walk to get here from Florence central station (SMN). The lively Piazza della Repubblica is a few steps away. The breathtaking Duomo is just 2 minutes walk up the street. You could reach all other major attractions such as Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Galleria degli Uffizi, Via Tornabuoni where you find Gucci, Prada, and Ferragamo, San Lorenzo market etc in less than 5 minutes, Oltrarno is 15 minutes away. Many highly ranked restaurants on TA are within walking distance from the hotel as well.

What I love most about Palazzo Vecchietti is its small, intimate and homely setting. It didn't feel like a hotel, where service is usually professional, but somewhat distant. And this, in my opinion sets Palazzo Vecchietti miles apart from other hotels that we have stayed. We felt very relaxed the whole time as if we were staying at a friend's place. Everyone, from the front desk to the breakfast room were gracious, friendly and really helpful. Valentina also helped us make all of our dinner reservations during our stay in Florence 2 weeks prior to our arrival. Her replies to my emails were also prompt. The check in and check out process were extremely efficient as well.

Overall, we were most impressed by Palazzo Vecchietti. Everything about it was perfect. Our stay at Palazzo Vecchietti was a bit of a splurge but it was worth every euro!! !

Thank you Valentina and everybody else at Palazzo Vecchietti, you made our visit to Florence a truly special and unforgettable affair. We will definitely stay here again!