Because I read all of these reviews, I knew I needed to call ahead and let the hotel know when we would be arriving so that someone would be there to check us in. The guy that checked us in could hardly speak English and was not helpful. The shower worked fine and the bed was comfortable enough but the room was not very clean. Bathroom in the hall was decently clean. The location is why we picked the hotel and we appreciated how close it was to everything. I'd recommend this hotel to someone who doesn't care about the room and just the location.

Arrived with my luggage and had to bring them up what seemed like 8 flights of stairs. Rang bell and knocked on door for an hour. Finally had to go to another hotel in the building to see if they could get in touch with the owner. Finally got to my room and it was dirty. Bathroom in the room was odd - had a cloth tarp for a ceiling. Room was not cleaned on a daily basis and staff was non -existent. The guests rule the roost so to speak. Everyone smoked in their rooms so cigarette smoke was always in the air. They also always flung their butts outside onto the ledge, so if it rained and your window was open, you'd get the stench of a wet ashtray with smoked cigarettes.

There also seemed to be a major problem with electricity and wiring in the building. The first night, my only light went out and i had no one to contact for 3 days. Finally, I dug around the hotel for some lamps and put them in the room myself.

All in all, the location is perfect. Close to everything. The bed is comfortable and clean. As long as you don't run into any problems and need assistance, it's not a bad deal.

As a student and having booked this hostel for 3 of us to stay cheaply in Florence, I wasn't expecting a fantastic hostel but I was truly shocked at the state of the 'Hotel' Souvenir. As soon as we arrived, it was clear that there are serious issues in this 'hotel'. We had to wait about 45 mins until someone actually attended us and took us to our room. The man had been out shopping! The room was away from the main reception, over the main staircase and down a dark and dingy corridor which, to be frank, smelt of urine. The room had a double bed and single but the sheets were dirty in places and of a really poor standard. Our greatest worry, as 3 girls, on our own in this hostel, was that the security in the hotel seemed very poor. The doors to our room were rickety as was the door leading directly from the main staircase which was always left open to the road outside. One night we were absolutely terrified as someone appeared to try to push the door into our room. The bathroom, which was shared, was hideous. There was little toilet paper and we ended up using tissues. There was no one about to actually ask for things.

I get the impression that the Hotel Souvenir is actually split into two parts. There was one part next to the reception which appeared to be better presented but the other part, we were staying in, was left unattended and seemed to have little care taken on it. There seems to be a 'two class' system going on.

This was a horrifying experience for me and my friends. Thankfully we spent our days and nights out in the stunning city of Florence and were generally able to forget about the hostel but it was a disappointing place, which frankly, shouldn't be allowed to run in the state it is in.

If you are on your own, please avoid this hostel at all costs. It just doesn't feel safe.

Don't mind basic - but when bathrooms dirty and no loo-rolls for over 24hrs , not acceptable. Nobody on the desk except to sign you in ,so no one to complain to . Shower in room but didn't work. Charging the same as far better pensionnes in same area.