Bernini Palace

Our stay at the Bernini Palace was truly unforgettable. The hotel, set in a gorgeous 15th-century palace, felt like stepping back in time but with every modern comfort. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel so welcome and cared for. Our room was elegant and comfortable, with beautiful touches that made it feel special. Breakfast in the stunning hall, under frescoed ceilings, was one of the highlights of our trip. Everything about the Bernini Palace—from the charm of the building to the warmth of the people—made our time in Florence feel even more magical.

We stayed at the Bernini Palace between July 21-25 and I recommend this hotel for several reasons - its location, charm, history, breakfast, and air-conditioned rooms. Our room was elegant, spacious, and full of history. The reception staff were always courteous and helpful. Special shout-out to Lorenzo, the concierge, who greeted us with a friendly smile and worked hard to book us day trips out of Florence. Another shout-out to the housekeeping team, especially the lovely Indonesian lady (I forget her name) who was amazing during the turn-down service. If I had to offer a little nugget of constructive criticism, I would ask the breakfast room staff to be a little more discreet while checking room numbers. I shared it in a soft voice but the lady (Sara?) repeated it loudly for all guests to hear which was a little surprising. There was also another lady (short dark hair and glasses) who never smiled back or spoke when she served our table. Apart from those minor points, I highly recommend Bernini Palace for its location as well (a 2 minute walk to the Uffizi and other sights).

Location is good, however it is Florence most lodging is close to anywhere you want to go. The overall condition of the hotel experience is not 5 star, thus not justifying the price. My major complaint was the staff at the desk. This was not an isolated employee as I dealt with different attendants. As we arrived we were asked what we were going to do, I said firstly we will go next door to the Bargello. The employee said I can call for you to see if there are tickets available. I said fine he did book them for the cost of the tickets and I gave him a tip. He said you pay as a room charge upon check out. Very typical situation. However at check out it was demanded that we pay the fee in cash and surprise 10 extra Euro for calling. We were on our way to the airport out of country and did not have anymore Euros. I have never had a legitimate service at such a hotel demand side cash. They held our luggage and demand I go pull cash in 41c temps. Tired of fighting I did to get the cash but promised this review. The "concierge" service appears to be a sleazy side hustle by the staff. The entire situation was not honest and aggressive.