Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection

We stayed in Sina Villa Medici for 3 nights in July in 2 rooms (rooms 122 & 123) and booked on the Amex travel site since it was a Fine Hotel. The hotel lobby is beautiful and the antique keys (see pic) are charming. The hotel surprised us with a nice array of Haribo candies and a small cake because we told them we were visiting to celebrate our daughter's 10th birthday on the trip. The pool was great and refreshing in the suffocating heat and the staff at the pool were kind and attentive. Warning to parents: the deep end of the pool is probably 7-8 feet deep, which was a bit daunting to my kids. These were the only pros of this hotel. The cons were many and made it feel like this hotel should not have the Fine designation. The A/C and Wi-Fi were terrible and barely worked, so in the middle of a heatwave in July it was pretty uncomfortable. The Wi-Fi frequently just died and made booking tours and reservations tough. The sheets on the bed were rough and itchy and my 7 year old could not sleep and kept scratching at her skin until we asked that the sheets be changed after our first night. The hours of the pool are terrible-I don't understand why they don't open until 11am because the morning hours would be amazing for kids to get the swimming out of their system so the rest of the day can be spent exploring Florence; or, it would be nice to be able to cool of in the night hours after dinner. The breakfast buffet is pretty terrible and the staff are very rude; the options are not kid friendly and there are flies constantly hovering over the food in the heat. We loved Florence and would definitely return but I don't think we would choose this hotel in the future.

Classic hotel atmosphere in a beautiful city...and with a pool!

The most important thing you expect from a hotel, any hotel is a good nights sleep. I stayed 3 nights with 3 nights of poor sleep because the hotel insisted on leaving two enormous lights on in every balcony in the hotel until 2 am. Rude general manager who was dismissive to a solo traveler, staff refused to acknowledge they should turn off the lights at night. Hotel is far from the main attractions. Not walking distance and the walk is through a not so great neighborhood unless you walk a longer route along the river.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Sina Villa Medici in Florence. The hotel has a unique atmosphere that feels more like a boutique Palm Springs or Los Angeles Art Deco retreat than a traditional Florentine hotel. The intimate pool area tucked away in the back was a wonderful place to relax after a day of sightseeing, and it added a resort-like feel that can be hard to find in a city hotel. Our room was spacious, comfortable, and updated with modern finishes. While the guest rooms felt refreshed, some parts of the property—particularly certain common areas and the fitness center—showed their age and could benefit from some updating. We also encountered an issue with bugs in our room during our stay. However, once we informed the hotel staff, they addressed the situation promptly and professionally, which we appreciated. Overall, we were very pleased with our experience. The beautiful setting, relaxing pool, and comfortable accommodations outweighed the minor drawbacks. We would recommend Sina Villa Medici to travelers looking for a quieter, resort-style stay in Florence while still being close to the city’s attractions.

I’m not one who complains, however with this experience I feel I need to forewarn others of what to potentially expect. I’m sure other rooms in the hotel may be better, but if you select a room without a balcony, lower your expectations to the level of staying at a Motel 6. I am beyond disappointed that I paid over $700 per night for a room that had an interior view of peeling paint and mildew. I chose not to book a balcony room because we didn’t anticipate spending a lot of time in the hotel but to start your day opening the curtains to a view that looks dank and uncared for is unacceptable.