julieann

Is the quad large enough for 4 adults? Is it a "nice room" - with balcony, location etc. or would we be better off with two double rooms? Thanks.

Flame123

That depends on which quad room you get. We stayed in a quad room (3 adults and one teenager) which consisted of one large room with a queen bed and 2 singles. It was small and somewhat crowded for all of us.

We switched to a much larger room which had a sort of alcove where the two single beds were located and a sort of separate area where the queen bed was. It was much better and afforded more room.

If you are 2 couples, I would suggest two separate rooms, I don't think it is private enough for that. If you are a couple with two grown kids like we were, it was fine.

It is not a "nice" room in the sense that it is not fancy, no balcony, etc. But it is super clean, centrally excellent located, fantastic family that run the place and a very nice breakfast. Let me know if I can help you with anything else. I have been there 4 times, just returned last week from my last trip!!

MaureenB

Regardless of balcony, location, size of room, etc. one bathroom for four adults would be pushing it IMHO. Unless it's all you can afford and people will be especially considerate regarding use of the bathroom. Otherwise, I suggest two rooms with two baths.

MaureenB

I forgot to recommend the Relais Cavalcanti in Florence. It's a small hotel, on one floor of a centrally located building near the Uffizi. The prices are very reasonable, and it has a nice dining room/kitchen open 24/7, which would make a pleasant gathering room for your four adults. We stayed there this past May, in a twin room. It's fairly new inside. Here's my description:

"We took a short cab ride from the train station to the Relais Cavalcanti. a very charming little 'hotel', at Via Pellicceria, 2. It occupies one floor of a building located near the Uffizi gallery, in a very good central location. Because my daughter had just finished her semester in Florence, she was able to recommend her favorite location in town for lodging.

The Relais Cavalcanti building has been in the same family's ownership for 100+ years, the owner/manager of the new-ish Relais is Francesca. She said she inherited this one floor of the building, so she recently renovated it to create a little hotel. It's relatively new, with beautiful tile bathrooms, showers, etc. The rooms are very charming, and good-sized. Our rate for a double/twin was 120EUR, which included an extra 10EUR/day for the better view. Francesca also offered a 5 percent discount for payment in cash.

You have the feeling of entering a very nice, private Italian home, when you unlock the Relais door and smell the potpourri set out on the beautiful tables in the hallway and entry way. It has a small elevator and a/c, too. No breakfast is served, but even better I think is that they have a beautiful little dining room/kitchen that is open 24/7 for guests. You have always available the makings for coffee, hot chocolate and tea, plus containers of pre-wrapped pastries and dessert cakes. That's about as much as you get in any Italian B&B for breakfast, and this way you can serve yourself whenever. One evening we bought wine, cheese, bread, and fruit and enjoyed our own private time in this beautiful room.

The only thing to be aware of at Relais Cavalcanti is that the first floor of the building is the Old Stove Irish pub. The good news is that it's a decent little place for panini, and has free wi-fi. However, it attracts a lot of students and young people, so it is quite noisy into the early morning hours. Our room window was directly above the pub's patio, with a nice view of adjoining rooftops. The double windows, plus the wooden shutters, can block out about 90 percent of the noise from the pub below. I found that I could also turn on the a/c fan in our room, which would then totally cover any outside noise.

Francesca also cautions her prospective guests that she does not staff a 24/7 front desk. She is there during posted hours, mostly till 6 p.m., and has an emergency number on the door. But she is careful to tell guests that hers is not a hotel with full-services at night-time. I highly recommend the Relais Cavalcanti."
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julieann

Thanks for the information. Just was able to recheck this posting. It would be 4 sisters sharing the quad. We have traveled together in the U.S. and always have stayed in one room - we are a "tightly bonded" group! I don't believe the one bathroom would be a problem but maybe so. Thanks for the info. and I will "check-out" the only place you mentioned.