Villa Fiesole

On arrival at reception Aurora was warm, welcoming and super efficient. We booked the hotel last minute when we were in Fiesole after our original hotel had cancelled our reservation without informing us, thankfully this wonderful hotel more than made up for that experience! Beautiful location, amazing breakfast, shuttle service into Florence. But above all else Aurora on reception was fantastic and made us feel at home!

This beautiful villa is unfortunately a tourist trap and falls far short of what one would expect from a hotel. We arrived late in the evening due to travel delays and were told that no one was available to assist with our luggage, despite the many steep steps leading up to the property. The receptionist was pleasant and tried to help, but nothing was done. The parking area was completely full, but the biggest disappointment was our room. As soon as we entered, we were overwhelmed by a strong unpleasant odor coming from both the bedroom and the bathroom. Even the receptionist was shocked by the smell. She initially told us the hotel was fully booked, but after checking again, she somehow managed to find another room. Unfortunately, the problems continued. The air conditioning barely worked, making the room uncomfortable during the hot summer weather. The in-room safe was also out of order. Ironically, the only thing that worked properly was the coffee machine. Breakfast was equally disappointing, offering a very limited selection. To make matters worse, the hotel charges an additional €15 for a second omelette, which feels excessive given the overall quality of the breakfast. The villa itself is beautiful and full of charm, but it is simply not run at the standard one should expect from a hotel. A lovely property alone cannot compensate for poor maintenance, inadequate service, and an overall disappointing guest experience.

PROS -Spacious room with balcony and seating -Complimentary Prosecco and fruit upon arrival -Bed very comfortable -Breakfast included -Free shuttle to/from Florence center (also see CONS) -From the front desk to the bartender to the breakfast team, the staff was very helpful and friendly -Evening housekeeping service with fresh towels -Great outdoor space for relaxing or meeting other guests -Pool area with lounge chairs and umbrellas -Solarium up from the pool with lounge chairs was quiet and great for tanning CONS -Air conditioning works but is not strong; staff says it needs to be replaced (after we leave!) -Free shuttle not available for approximately 3 afternoon hours either from Fiesole to -Florence or from Florence to Fiesole -Extremely limited electrical sockets and in awkward locations; none by head of bed; only one Apple lightning and one usb-C direct plug-in by desk -Bathroom could use a nightlight for those nighttime visits -No vent in bathroom; mirror steams up immediately

The Villa Fiesole is a beautiful hotel in a stunning location with glorious views over the city of Florence. The staff were all friendly and helpful. We had a fabulous lunch in the Michelin star restaurant.

A very nice hotel in the beautiful hills overseeing Florence and close to Fiesole. Beautiful terraces with a view and swimming pool when weather permits (until end October). The location is great but the lack of sidewalks (or their narrowness) makes walking not pleasant which is a pity. The city buss number 7 works well though. The hotel's shuttle to the city did not seem to work in November. Nicely decorated room. Friendly and professional staff. Good breakfast. (And a wonderful star restaurant!)