If the Hotel Bretagna, housed in a 17th-century palazzo on the Arno River, was good enough for the King of Holland, Louis Bonaparte, gosh darn it, it’s good enough for us Cheapos! Centrally located between the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Maria Novella, the building that houses the 18-room Bretagna has been converted from a glorious palazzo. Half of the palazzo is still intact, and you can gaze at it from the breakfast room (careful not to drool into your muesli).
Get your fill of luxury in the reception hall and parlor, which boast chandeliers and river views. The Bretagna's rooms are simpler, with antique furniture and metal bed frames. Bright-colored walls and ornate headboards are a reminder of the palazzo's glory days. Bedding comes in pretty brocade, and the floors are either parquet or carpet. Rooms are equipped with AC, heat, and satellite TV. (Ask ahead if you want a balcony). Some of the Bretagna's bathrooms are furnished with sand-colored marble tiles, while others are older and a bit run down. Room sizes and rates vary, though nothing goes far past the €100 mark.
The Hotel Bretagna wins points for its central location and royal trappings. If you play your cards right and ask in advance, you might even score a room with a river view.
» Annie Shapero
Note: This hotel was visited by a EuroCheapo editor and is recommended based on cleanliness, location, price and overall quality. EuroCheapo did not charge this hotel to be listed.
About the Bretagna neighborhood
Across the street from the train station, the area around Piazza Santa Maria Novella is perhaps the most varied neighborhood in the city. The, dingier, urban streets leading to the station get a lot of traffic (both automobile and human) while the other side of the grassy Piazza is formed by narrow, serpentine little streets, characterful buildings, and top-notch shopping. The piazza itself is crowded with picnicking tourists and pick pockets preying on them. The 'hood is bordered by the river, the train station, shopping street Via Tornabuoni, this area suffers a bit of an identity crisis. One thing is for sure: once you're here, you're no more than ten minutes away from anything else.
more about Santa Maria Novella