Academy HostelvsVilla San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence
Both Academy Hostel and Belmond Villa San Michele are rated highly by professional reviewers. On balance, Academy Hostel is preferred by most reviewers compared to Belmond Villa San Michele. Academy Hostel comes in at 80 with positive reviews from 5 sources including Let's Go, oyster.com and Frommer's.
Academy Hostel
Via Ricasoli 9, 50122 Florence
From $33/night
- Free Internet
- Free Breakfast
- Laundry Service
- Laundy Room
- Multilingual
- Air Conditioning
Rough Guide
"Since opening in 2008, this modern hostel has won awards for its service and excellent facilities."
Frommer's
"If a gated courtyard right in the center appears rather a grand address for a hostel, that is because this is no ordinary student traveler dive." Full review
Let's Go
"Don’t wait another minute to make a reservation at this hostel—with only 30 beds and the best value in the neighborhood, it’s no surprise that Academy doesn’t have many last-minute vacancies." Full review
Oyster
Budget
"The 10-room Academy Hostel is a budget property close to the Duomo that's ideal for young travelers looking for a clean, affordable spot for exploring the city." Full review
The Telegraph
8.0
"Wedged between Florence’s two most iconic monuments – David and the Duomo – the Academy Hostel’s location could hardly be better." Full review
Lonely Planet
Top choice
"This classy 10-room hostel sits on the 1st floor of Baron Ricasoli's 17th-century palazzo." Full review
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence
Via Doccia 4, 50014 Fiesole
From $534/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Free Breakfast
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
Michelin Guide
"Relax in the tranquil grounds of this elegant 15C building and enjoy the superb views of the city below."
Fodor's
"The cypress-lined driveway provides an elegant preamble to this incredibly gorgeous (and very expensive) hotel nestled in the hills of Fiesole." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"Once a monastery, the design of this hotel’s façade is attributed to Michelangelo."
Condé Nast Traveler
""You cannot beat the ambience" at this former monastery on a cliffside amid trees and terraced gardens just outside Florence." Full review
Afar Magazine
"The hotel’s expansive rooms are already decked out in the most tasteful, almost understated interpretation of Renaissance luxury." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"From its hillside perch just below the village of Fiesole, a northern suburb of Florence, the Villa San Michele overlooks the wide sprawl of the city." Full review
The Telegraph
9.0
"Villa San Michele — one of Florence’s most expensive hotels — is housed in an ancient former monastery, and combines Renaissance atmosphere with 21st-century comforts galore." Full review
Hideaway Report
96.0
"Sumptuously restored hilltop hotel (15 minutes by shuttle from city center) housed by a 15th-century Franciscan monastery commanding a glorious panoramic view of Florence." Full review
Independent
"This luxury hotel really knows how to look after its guests. It combines a historical atmosphere with 21st-century comforts; think rooms with rich fabrics and marble bathrooms."
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Michelin Guide
"Carved chests, austerely shaped chairs, glazed terracotta floors. None of that clutter that you find in your run-of-the-mill 18th-century palace hotel. The decor, in fact, almost looks minimalist." Full review
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Please note: Hotel Villa San Michele is a seasonal property open annually from the end of March through November.