Leonardo House

The best part about Leonardo House is its owner. Leo is extremely helpful, responds to emails, and will help you make the most of your stay in Florence by drawing out his own version of a walking tour on your city map. The hostel itself is nothing special but it is clean and you will be within walking distance of every major site in Florence.

The Location

This hostel is about a five-minute walk from the train station, on a very quiet side street. There are very few things on this road other than the hostel but it is nice that there isn't a lot of traffic or commotion. The Duomo, Piazza Signoria, Uffizi, and Ponte Vecchio are all located within walking distance and the owner, Leonardo, will be happy to show how just how to get the them. There is no parking garage but there is some street parking available for cars and bicycles. The outside of the hostel kind of blends in with the rest of the large building, be sure to look out for the small gold door bell labeled "Leonardo House." There are several bars, restaurants, ATMs, street vendors, and shopping available on the streets adjacent to the hostel.

Rooms and Bathrooms

This hostel offers bedrooms with linen and pillows included. The beds have very thick mattresses and soft blankets, which smell fresh. Some rooms have a shared patio area but there is no furniture or view from the deck so it its only purpose seems to be for smoking. The rooms are fairly large and there is a variety of old art on the walls. Every guest in the hostel shares one of two bathrooms that are located in the main hallway. Towels are not included and neither is soap. Each bathroom has one toilet and one shower, both of which seem quite roomy and very clean. The shower has a slight leak though and it is easy to soak to floor. Also, there are no windows in the bathrooms which makes them get pretty hot in a hurry.

Common Spaces

There is no common space or kitchen here but the main hallway is pretty wide and guests sometime gather here to chat. Quiet hour is definitely enforced at this hostel but there isn't a lock-out hour. It is nice if you are looking to go to bed early and get a good night's sleep. It isn't very easy to meet other travelers or make friends here because of the lack of common area. If you are lucky enough to sit in the wide hallway with a group of other visitors then you can look at all of the pictures and letters that fill the walls. There are several photos of Leo and past guests that people have mailed him or posted to the walls over the years.

Summary

Basically, this hostel is great for the location and service. It is refreshing to meet a friendly hostel owner that truly cares about their guests, not to mention knows the best route for a filled day of sightseeing. We would not recommended this hostel to you, however, if you are looking to meet new people and stay up, partying the night away.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
July 2009