ISH Florence Guesthouse

ISH Florence Guesthouse (which stands for International Student House) offers simple, basic accommodations in four private rooms -- some with private (non-ensuite) bathroom and some with shared bathroom. Located just 200 meters from Santa Maria Novella train station, the guesthouse is in a very convenient location, both to the trains and buses, as well as being easily walkable from the historic center of Florence. ISH is on the first floor (no elevator) of a historic building, and the rooms have been restored, leaving the original frescoes on the walls and/or ceilings, and the original wood-framed windows. The floors are all stone tile and the furniture is handcrafted. There is a communal kitchen that guests are free to use if they wish, and guests are offered the possibility of air-conditioning for an extra 5 euro a day. The staff greets guests with a map, pointing out historical locations and tourist sights, and can offer discounts for a nearby restaurant, pub, and discobar. With a youthful hostel-like atmosphere, ISH is a good place to meet other travelers from all over the world.

The main things to make sure of though is that you have a way to phone on arrival because they don't have a 24 hour reception and will need to be notified when you're arriving. Since there isn't 24 hour staff, anything like towels, which are given on request, have to be done during the day when a staff member is there.