Florence March

maimee_magic

Hi helpful MSErs. I'd like to go to Florence for a few days at the end of March. Looked at flights with Ryanair from East Midlands but not sure where to stay. Can anyone recommend a nice hotel near all the sites and advise whether we should stay in Pisa and get the train to Florence or stay in Florence. Also does anyone know how much it costs on the train and how long it takes.
Thanks a bunch.:beer:

nw_man

Hi,

Have been to both on a cruise twice so cant help with hotels etc..... however, from what I have seen of Pisa, there isnt really anything else but the leaning tower etc so personally I wouldnt contemplate stopping there.

Pisa is a half day trip.

Florence is stunning though.

will-he-payitoff

We stayed in Hotel Jane in Florence and would recomend it, Pisa is ok for a day trip but lots more to see in Florence

McAzrael

I liked Pisa best in the evening, when it all calmed down a bit and the Piazza di Miracolli looks stunning under floodlights. It won't be warm enough in March to sit out on the lawn eating ice cream, but maybe if you have an early flight home from Pisa airport then you could book for the final night in Pisa. Otherwise, I should book to stay in Florence.

Florence has a fairly compact city centre, with all the tourist sites and all the tourist hotels, with the working city in a sprawl around it. You needn't be concerned with the sprawl. On separate trips I've stopped at Hotel Globus (OK room, good breakfast, handy for the station) and the Hotel Alba (Small but comfortable room, OK breakfast, handy for the station). Check out Venere for hotels in their home market of Italy. Trip Advisor will help you pick out hotels and check prices against Expedia and a load of other booking sites. As usual, remember people like far more to write a bad review than a good one and take Americans complaining about the size of the room or rejoicing about the lovely welcome with a pinch of salt.

Train times and fares for all Italian trains are available at https://www.trenitalia.it The English button is at the top. Standard fare from Pisa Airport to Florence is €5.80 in second class. There are occasional direct trains, but you'll most likely get one train to Pisa Centrale and then another to Firenze SMN. Last time I flew into Pisa airport (a couple of years ago) there was no ticket machine at the airport station. When you come through customs into the arrivals hall turn [STRIKE]left[/STRIKE] right and head to the info desk at the end. Buy a ticket, turn round and go right to the other end of the airport for the train station. Remember to cancel your ticket in the little yellow box at the end of the platform (for all Italian trains where you don't have a seat reservation). At Florence station there are ticket machines with an option to deal in English.

Edit: Please turn right as you come into the arrivals hall. Unless things have changed.

maimee_magic

Thanks so much for all the advice so far. Flights now booked for a bargain £62.18. Could have saved another £20 but still awaiting my neteller prepaid mastercard. My head starts spinning when I search on tripadvisor. So many conflicting reviews. Will look at the hote Jane but any other hotel recommendations would be most welcome.

ed89

when in Florence (at least once a year) I usually stay here (link below)

ok - it's a hostel not a hotel, but if you can get a private room there, then you'll be quids in. true MSE style!

- it's right in the centre of the city, 2 mins walk from SMN train station
- it's clean, and the staff are great
- there is a bar which is pretty damn cheap

have a look at the website and discover for yourself!

http://www.plusflorence.com/

BillTrac

Everywhere in Florence itself is close/walkable from any hotel. Unlike Rome where everything is spread out Florence is quite compact

Fantastic place to visit.

We stayed in the Residenza Giotto a few years ago. Small apartment but with a rooftop terrace that when you sat out for your breakfast/took a bottle of vino out you looked up at the Duomo.

Bit like that programme the prisoner, everywhere you walked you ended up back at the centre...:rotfl:

There are a few supermarkets where food/drinks are sensible prices.

We flew into Pisa and caught the train to Florence. Our apartment was literally 3 minutes from the station

ed89

ps. if you are in florence for a few nights, be sure to eat at kitsch (see link)

apertivo - buy a drink or cocktail for about €6/7, then help yourself to the huge buffet full of lovely italian food...eat until you're full! real trendy place and very cheap too!

http://www.kitsch-bar.com/

ponymad_3

Been to Pisa and Florence. Went back to Pisa and then also visited the lovely city of Lucca. You say a few days can you confirm the number of full days. I found Florence very quiet in the evenings in March, there were few locals about as it was very chilly in the evenings. Unlike the Spanish cities where patio heaters are out and you can still have cafe culture it takes a bit more finding. However totally recommend and the sightseeing is great.
We spent the last day in Pisa on our latest visit to the region , due mainly to the flight times. we managed to leave our bags but not sure if this was at the railway or airport. We then had a really great lunch at a trattoria off a side street away from the tower, all the restaurants are touristy there. Ate with loads of students. No menu and great fun.

maimee_magic

Hi Ponymad, like you we've got an evening flight back from Pisa so after 3 full days in Florence we plan to leave our bags at the station and spend the last day in Pisa. Don't suppose you remember the name of the trattoria do you?

iaps

We used this transfer service from Pisa to Florence twice http://www.terravision.eu/florence_pisa.html and it was convenient. In 2009 it was possible to buy tickets for this transfer before flight departure in EMA airport, but not last October, so you might book online to avoid queueing in Pisa airport.

Last time we stayed here http://www.casadidante.it/eng_index.php Please, read all reviews on Tripadvisor - they are not exaggerated at all. We will stay there next time too.

And just round the corner there is Yellow Bar, which we do recommend to everyone visiting Florence http://preview.!!!!!!!.com/6h3xg86

Enjoy your time in this splendid (magic ) city!