Hotel Home Florence

From the outside, the classically grand Tuscan villa that houses this upper-mid-range hotel looks a bit out of place, as its immediate surrounding don’t embody that same splendor. However, entering the white-and-gold lobby -- with mosaic-tiled floors, crystal chandeliers, and
oversized contemporary sculptures -- feels a bit like stepping into a playful,
upscale version of Alice's Wonderland. Welcome pastries, free newspapers, and bottled
water greet guests at a long white table in the lobby, while a lofted lounge
with a billiard table provides an additional area to relax. Amenities such as the
rooftop hot tub, which is available for private bookings, are geared towards
couples, though an on-site meeting room provides facilities for business
travelers, and tourists looking for a unique hotel within walking distance of
major sights will find good value here as well.

Situated on a plaza lacking character just off the intersection of several busy roads, the hotel
is just two blocks, or a five-minute walk, from Florence’s historic Santa Croce
neighborhood, loaded with historic basilicas, restaurants, and shops. The Arno
River, one block south of the hotel, provides a lovely 15-minute walk to the
famous Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. The Duomo takes less than 20
minutes to reach on foot, or 15 minutes by bus, but because of traffic
restrictions in the center city, can take over 20 minutes to reach by taxi.
Santa Maria Novella Train Station is a 20-minute cab ride, or 30-minute bus
ride, across town and Amerigo Vespucci Airport can be reached in 25 minutes by taxi
or 40 minutes by bus.

Rooms are compact, but
make an eye-catching first impression, with light, hardwood floors, large mirrors, and
contemporary white-on-white linens, art, and furnishings. Beds are comfortable,
ranging from twin to king-size, and rooms include satellite flat-screen TVs,
safes, mini-fridges, electric kettles for coffee or tea, and welcome pastries on arrival.
Unfortunately, the ultra-modern design scheme shows wear and tear easily, and dirt
or fingerprints are visible in some spots. Most of the soundproofed rooms look
out onto parking lots, anonymous streets, or air shafts, though Suites have
lovely balconies with views of Florence and are larger than other rooms, with iPod
docks and small seating areas. Prestige Rooms also offer more space, but the odd
layout and canopy beds make the added square footage less noticeable. Spare, travertine-floored
bathrooms are stocked with luxury C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries products and offer
walk-in showers or shower/tub combos depending on the room. We noticed some
dirt in the grout. The shower/tub combo in Suites is enclosed in transparent glass
and is visible from the rest of the room, so guests should consider whether this
will be an issue before booking. Some guests have also reported problems with
key-card entry and the safes in their rooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

The seasonal rooftop
terrace with open-air hot tub provides excellent views of Florence’s
Renaissance skyline and can be booked for private use by guests. There is a small, free fitness center on-site. The loft above the breakfast
room is a cozy place to play a game of pool or sit with a drink, though there
is no restaurant or proper bar on-site. A breakfast buffet is included with all web bookings and offers a typical continental selection with coffee made fresh
to order in a sleek and contemporary room, though the lack of windows and
cramped tables can make it feel slightly claustrophobic. If guests prefer,
breakfast can be ordered in-room as well. There is a small meeting room on-site
outfitted in the same modern design scheme as the rest of the hotel, and business
center services are available. Babysitters and cribs or extra beds can be
arranged prior to arrival and some booking plans include free parking.