We warned you that the Florence hotel scene is pricey, whatever you do and wherever you stay. Blame the tourists and the forces of economics.
Your best bet for a budget stay in style and comfort near the centre of town is probably a residenza, a B&B-style hotel run by private owners. Don't sniff - it's a great way (the only way) to get a friendly welcome, super service and a reasonable bill at the end of the trip.
One of the best, or rather five of the best, of the residenze is the Johanna & Johlea chain of mini-hotels owned by Lea Gulmanelli and Johanan Vitta, a Florentine couple who've been in the business since 1994.
It's not just celebrity chefs that are getting in on the hotel scene. Fashion designers, too and they've been doing it a lot longer than the chefs.
Like in the fashion capital of Italy, Florence. The Gallery Hotel Art, one of Florence's first real design boutique hotels, is owned by the son of the Italian fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo. If you like the hotel and have a lot of money, you can buy the clothes to match, in the Salvatore Ferragamo shop on via Tornabuoni (aka shopping street).
Florence attracts two types of tourist and both tend to have money to spend: a) middle-aged lovers of history, churches and dusty nth-century religious art; b) fashionistas after the designer outlets and exclusive boutiques. It also attracts tourist type c - those who visit Florence simply because everyone else does.
As we know, hotels follow demand and an ample supply of money, and the Florence hotel scene is no exception. Here are the essential issues to look out for:
