Wouldn’t it be great to show up at your hotel absolutely sure that you’ve book the type of place you really wanted. We’ve all been there. We have looked up hotels online and hope to book one based on pictures and descriptions that will make a nice stopping place at the end of a busy day touring. Then, after a long day of travel we show up just to find that the place is much older and run down than the pictures implied. And what happened to the year-round indoor pool? Under construction? It can be extremely frustrating to plan a vacation and have the most basic of arrangements turn out wrong. Where you stay can greatly impact the quality of the entire trip. After all, at the end of the day, everyone wants to retire to a clean and comfortable place that will serve as their home away from home.

Types of Florence Accommodations

In Florence and the surrounding Tuscany region you will find four main types of accommodations. There is the Florence farmhouse, which are actually located in the countryside outside of Florence in areas such as Siena and Chianti.

The farmhouse has the charm of old days and the luxury of a quaint bed and breakfast atmosphere. Often the morning meal and some dinners are included in the reservations. Farmhouses are family-friendly and the surrounding grounds have plenty of room for the kids to run around. Some will even accommodate small dogs.

Many farmhouse reservations will include tours of the countryside. These may include wine tasting and visits to the sea.

A villa can be found both inside the city limits and in the countryside. Usually villas are old castles or mansions that have been turned into homes away from home for extended visits. These can be quite luxurious and run the gamut of pricing. A villa, depending on where it is located, usually has a swimming pool. There is space and luxury enough to entertain business associates or newly made friends on your vacation. Some are suited to children, but it may be a good idea to check if young children would be welcome. It can be more stressful than relaxing if you are constantly worrying about what a young child might get into in a luxury villa.

An apartment may be the best type of accommodation for extended visits to the Tuscany region. Trips that are weeks or months long can be tiring if you are living out of a suitcase and eating every meal out. With an apartment in the city you will be close to work and play, can accommodate a family spending a long vacation, and be close to all the action. You will have the facilities to cook meals, picking up the freshest produce at the central market, and often there will be places to do laundry close by if not in the apartment building.

Hotels are best for those who like to be pampered on their trip to Italy. You can sample some of the best Florence, Italy recipes through room service or a leisurely stroll to a downtown restaurant along the river Arno. Many hotels are kid-friendly especially if only for a few nights.

Remember, your accommodations can be viewed as either a quick place to stop for the night or a part of the whole Florence experience. You decide what will give you the vacation of your dreams.