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Hostel Santa Monaca Reviews
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Not a bad place to stay
The pros -- Safe, relatively clean hostel, kitchen, large common area; located right next to a supermarket and laundry washing place (cheaper than washing laundry in the hostel), friendly and helpful staff. The cons -- Opera right next to the 16 bed girl dorm, long way from our dorm to the bathroom and showers, only one plug for a room with 16 beds (!!), the two computers in the common area were always occupied. Don't forget to bring your own padlocks for the lockers!
Hostel Santa Monaca is quite large, and thus run like a big hostel. It isn't very personal but it is a good hostel with a nice setup.
The Location
Location-wise, the Santa Monaca Hostel is a little removed from the city and set in a quiet area of town. It is south of the river, whereas almost all of the tourist sites are on the north side. It's only at most thirty minutes' walk though, which is quite nice in Florence. The benefits of being a bit removed from the tourist areas are quaint coffee shops, little groceries, and a lot better prices.
Rooms and Bathrooms
They have a large eating area and a very spacious kitchen for your use. There are also computers with internet available, but they charge for their use. They offer a variety of sizes of dorm rooms -- up to sixteen beds. This might result in louder nights, so be careful. However, they do have smaller rooms available so just book ahead.
Summary
The Santa Monaca Hostel is recommended to anyone who prefers an ordinary, run-of-the-mill hostel. It makes for a convenient base to come back to during your stay in Florence. Be warned though, as it does have a strictly enforced lockout -- otherwise, it is a fine hostel.
Good location, but dirty
This hostel is in a good location. I'm a single female traveler, and I felt fairly safe walking to and from the hostel at night. It's near a few good bars, and there's a small supermarket really nearby, which helps if you're on a budget and want to eat in the hostel kitchen. Be aware that the kitchen is small, and you have to queue to use the hotplates (oh and you want to wash everything before you use it!). It has a big communal area with benches and tables, which is good for meeting people, although it doesn't seem to be a party hostel. However, it was so dirty. I usually trot around hostels with bare feet, yet this is the first place that I really felt that it wasn't safe. I ended up buying some cheap slippers at the markets. There were dustballs taking over the dorm, and mould parties in the showers. Also, in the large dorm, there were no ladders to get to the top bunks -- you had to step on a stool, which was invariably moved after you got up to the bunk, leaving you stranded on the very very high beds. Plus, the lockout is a bit of a shock if you've been out the night before or if you're not a morning person.
Ok
Avoid the twenty-two-bed dorm at all costs! We were there in mid-July and it was incredibly hot and sticky there on the top floor, and one fan doesn't really cut it. Bathrooms were clean, and at least there was a kitchen, location was pretty good.
Like a prison
i would never in my life stay here again. i felt like i was in a prison. I had a fifty-pound bag I had to lug up five staircases. The staff at the front desk watched me do this and did not offer to even help. I had to go up cement steps to a room that resembled solitary confinement. the bathrooms are not clean. they turn the lights off in the bathroom at around 11:30 pm so if you wake up to go then you must go in the dark and i mean complete pitch black which is real awkward. they also play terrible music and an italian radio station from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. to get you awake. some of us do not need an hour to get ready. the music and talking is so irritable it forces you to get up and out because you'll want to throw a hard object at the loud speaker. there were children running rampant in this hostel at all hours. there is no breakfast. they had no English maps. i had to use a german map. i would never stay at this hostel again and I traveled to about ten different hostels -- this is the only one i would not return to.
Nice place, clean, staff helpful, lots of hot water. They don't have many pots and hot plates (two), so sometimes you have to wait until someone else finishes cooking, but I'll come back if i can.
I thought the hostel was pretty good. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The hostel was very clean and within a walking distance to the train station and all the major attractions while it's in a quiet area across the river. Plus, regarding reservations, I made mine the night before. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because the bed was too soft for my taste. If you're looking for a quiet hostel, this is your place.
I really liked the hostel a lot! It's very clean, and in a beautiful and quiet part of Florence. It has a kitchen, an cooking utensils are available at the reception. Some dorms are really big, but others only have six to eight beds. The showers are good! They changed some of the rules, they are less strict now, although you can't be in the bedrooms between ten and two. The kitchen and common room is always open. It's not far from the city center!
Hostel Santa Monaca Reviews from the Web
It was roasting hot in Florence and the very noisy air con unit didnt really cut it.
For the price this is a decent hostel. Dont expect anything amazing, I thought it would have been worse
The employees were very nice! And location and prize good. However if u want a good night sleep you should have eye mask and earplugs! If you are looking for a hostel to just sleep and leave ur stuff i would recomend it.
What makes it worth it is the location and the super friendly staff. However, I stayed in a 8 beds room, the AC wasnt enough to all of us. You share one bathroom with all women at the hostel (its like a gym bathroom with 3 showers and 4 toilets).
Besides that, everything ok :)
Nice and cheap
Super friendly staff who give great tips on what to see in Florence and pointed us in the direction of a nearby lively bar where we drank good cocktails. Clean rooms in a building with loads on character. Our room had a much needed aircon and screens on the windows that keep the mosquitos and flies out.
Very nice little hostel. Everything you need during a city trip to florence.
Amazing location! Fully functioning kitchen with hob, microwave, fridges, crockery, cutlery and one sink. However, all facilities (bathroom and kitchen) were overcrowded. Overall, it had everything we needed but was overpriced.
Pretty nice hostel. Not much going on but very clean and nice stay.
Really enjoyed our stay here. Stayed in an 18 bed dorm with adequate air conditioning and lots of lockers and everybody in our room was respectful and quiet. Kitchen and bathrooms are spacious and clean. Location of the hostel is great and the opera next door was special. Would stay here again!
Kind staff and a nice atmosphere, although curfew was a bit restrictive. Rooms were really clean. Good location and overall decent value for money.
The building is cool, staff friendly, I only stayed 1 night but the stay was good. Its expensive but a good price for Florence!
overall a good hostel and nice staff, however because so many people where staying there n out very good to socialize.
Good place, not a bad location. AC in the room was nice and I managed to sleep pretty well for the middle of July. No complaints
Really really hot in the summer. Would not recommend because they have one small AC for the room of 18 people, and it doesnt help. Rooms were dirty, showers were dirty. What more can I say, probably wouldnt stay here again
Safe and reasonably clean, good value for money and near a supermarket and laundromat so decent facilities with a big kitchen. No real social atmosphere for backpackers, but a comfortable stay for a very good price.
Good location. Very good price. No terribly dirty, but not as clean as other places. Needs a better air conditioner Pronto. Felt like I was literally cooking in my bed. Kitchen facilities were nice.
Great location! Lovely staff! Luggage storage great! , aircon was great! But we were in an 18 dorm hostel and were not close to it so it was pretty hot no one slept with a sheet. It was clean, wifi worked fine! A tiny bit overpriced for an 18 dorm room but overall our stay was great would definitely come back!
Really nice hostel, with super friendly staff!!!
It was a really pretty hostel, everything was very decent except that there is bedbugs in the bed and I ended up all bitten
Description
The hostel is located in an ancient convent of the 15th century in the historical centre of florence in the quarter of Santo Spirito. The main museums and monuments are within a few minutes walking distance, as is the city's main railway station. As this is an independent youth hostel there is no age limit and a YHA card is not required.
Florence City Tax
Starting from the 1st of July 2011, the Florence city tax is not included in the price of your bed. The amount is 2,00 euro per person per night and its payable directly in cash at the reception during check-in.
Hostel facilities and services:
- full guest kitchen available
- free internet access
- free wi-fi internet connection
- free bed linen
- free city maps
- credit cards accepted
- towels and padlocks for free
- historical city centre location
- outdoor terrace
- security guard at night
The reservation can be cancelled or changed directly through Hostelworld.com or by e-mail at least 48 hiours before the day of arrival (by 12am of 2 days before). In any case after that time the cost of the first night will be charged on the credit card for “no-show”.
Check-in can be done between 6am and 2am.
Rooms are available at 1:30pm. For arrivals prior to 1:30pm it's possible to use luggage room, kitchen and common room.
Bathrooms upstairs are closed between 11:30am and 1:30pm for cleaning, but are available downstairs by the reception.
Check-out is at 10:30am.
Location and Contact
Location
• From the main train station you can walk here in 15/20 minutes or simply get bus N 36, 37 or 11, second stop after the bridge.• By walk, you have to locate Piazza Santa Maria Novella next to the main train station. From there you should walk down to the river ARNO going through Via de Fossi.
• Cross the bridge "CARRAIA" and go stright ahead to the second traffic light (about 200 mt from the bridge) and then turn right into via S. Monaca. We are on number 6.
• Check also for the signs indicating "OSTELLO" after the bridge.
Map
Address: Via Santa Monaca 6, Bellosguardo, Florence (Firenze), Tuscany, Italy
Hostel Santa Monaca is listed on the following booking sites:
Hostelworld Booking.com HostelsClubWebsite
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Facilities and Amenities
Groups (10+ people)
Solo Traveller
Bedsheets
Towels
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Bike Rental
Lockers in Lobby
Luggage Storage
Parking
24 Hour Security
Air Conditioning
Cable TV
Clothes Dryer
Credit Card Payments
Currency Exchange
Food/Restaurant
Hair Dryers
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Meeting/Banquet facilities
Movie Library/Rental
Swimming Pool
Walking Tours
Max. Age: All Ages
Curfew: 02:00 (2 AM)
Minimum Stay: 1 night
Open Dates: All Year
Reception Hours: 6 AM - 2 AM (06:00-02:00)
Size: Very Large (100+ beds)
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