Locanda Orchidea — Hotel in Florence

This is not an easy review to write. When I booked this, I read the positive reviews and felt I had made a good choice. I was looking at: location, wifi, if it had AC, and how comfortable it seemed. When I arrived, I was put in a room with a twin bed. As I travel solo frequently, I did not have an issue with that, especially because it was clean and the AC was working. The bed was not comfortable, but I also was able to over look that. The issue was the WIFI. It did not work in that room. I contacted the owner, Luciano, and he initially ignored my message. I called him over whatsapp, informing him that I needed WIFI for work. He stated that since it is an 800-year-old building, WIFI may not always work properly, but I could go into the main common areas (where there is a fridge for water and a coffee machine--pay per use). This was not suitable for me, as it was incredibly hot (no AC in that area), and no place to properly sit and work. The next day, I spoke politely to Luciano, asking about the WIFI issue. He proceeded to speak in a very loud tone, kept interrupting me. He almost yelled, stating that "WIFI is a gift". I asked what he meant, and he said that WIFI was not guaranteed but could be provided. I showed him the listing, which clearly states "free WIFI", and he said that it is not guaranteed in all the areas. I again told him that I booked this according to what I saw on the site. He stated that I should have emailed him privately to request a room with WIFI, like others have emailed him asking for a cot for a baby and other specific requests. I told him that there was no reason for me to privately email him about a WIFI request, if it is stated in the listing that it is provided. He continued to speak loudly, which was quite embarrassing, as there were people eating breakfast in the adjoining room. He then said that he would switch me to another room. Thankfully this room had better WIFI status. I recognize and understand that this is an older building (and it is really a lovely building in a lovely area), but my issue is the listing should not indicate that something will be provided if it is not. POSITIVES: great location, good WIFI, water/coffee available (for a nominal price, honour system), an elevator in the building that is handy for luggage, ability to store luggage (Luciano definitely became nicer for the 2nd day/night of my stay). There was a simple breakfast offered as well. Overall, I can see that Luciano is a proud owner of his B&B, and he should be, but the interaction I had with him was uncomfortable and abrasive. I contacted the B&B website I booked off of, and they stated they would be in contact with Luciano to ensure that the listing should not say "free wifi" if it is not available in all of the rooms, and/or should stipulate that only some rooms have "free wifi". I think most solo travelers get the rooms in hotels and other such places, so I am sure those traveling in as a couple or larger group may have a better stay (if wifi is something you...

Ho alloggiato in questo BB due notti nel mese di febbraio 2024. Luciano, il proprietario del BB, di cui altri utenti hanno elogiato la disponibilità e la gentilezza, si è rivelata una persona che non considera la persona come tale con le proprie emozione, i propri bisogni ecc., bensì "turista", in tutti i sensi. Da questo si può dedurre che si vi aspettate di recarvi in questo BB trovando ospitalità, non la troverete, perché è concentrato sul turismo di massa. Sono rimasta molto delusa perché, i BB essendo gestiti personalmente dai proprietari, mi aspettavo di trovare un ambiente confortevole. Non è stato così. Fin dal principio il Sign. Luciano non ha accolta la mia richiesta, o meglio, il mio problema di salute, cioè il diabete, cercando di facilitarmi la colazione. La colazione è vasta è vero, ma offre solo ed esclusivamente prodotti con zucchero, nessuno di questi integrale. Questo mi ha fatto rimanere molto male perché credo che sia totalmente l'opposto di nutrire del riguardo nei confronti di una persona, a maggior ragione ospite; la stessa mancanza mi ha obbligata a spendere ulteriori soldi per prodotti colazione. Posso assicurarvi che, fino ad ora, tutti i BB in cui ho soggiornato, in diverse città italiane, mi sono sentita accolta. Riflettiamo su questo. Allego foto. Simile è il caso del pagamento delle capsule per la macchina del caffè e delle bottigliette d'acqua. Un'ospite arriva da un lungo viaggio e neppure trova un omaggio. Infine, il Sign. Luciano mi ha minacciata verbalmente (posso dimostrarlo con registrazione audio) di denunciarmi, tramite il suo avvocato, di calunnia. Sottolineo di non aver mentito, tanto ché ho le prove. Mi sono sentita molto umiliata. Non mi aspettavo di trovare tanta cattiveria durante il mio soggiorno a Firenze. ||||🇬🇧I stayed in this BB for two nights in February 2024. Luciano, the owner of the BB, whose helpfulness and kindness has been praised by other users, turned out to be a person who does not consider people as such with their own emotions, needs etc., but rather a 'tourist', in every sense. From this you can deduce that if you expect to go to this BB and find hospitality, you will not find it, because it is focused on mass tourism. I was very disappointed because, the BB being run personally by the owners, I expected to find a comfortable environment. This was not the case. From the very beginning Mr. Luciano did not accept my request. Luciano did not accommodate my request, or rather my health problem, namely diabetes, by trying to make breakfast easier for me. The breakfast is extensive it is true, but it only and exclusively offers products with sugar, none of them wholemeal. This made me very unhappy because I think it is totally the opposite of showing consideration towards a person, all the more so a guest; the same lack forced me to spend more money on breakfast products. I can assure you that, so far, all the BBs I have stayed in, in different Italian cities, have felt welcome. Let us reflect on this. I enclose photos. Similar is the case with paying for coffee machine capsules and water bottles. A guest arrives from a long journey and does not even find a free gift. Finally, Mr. Luciano threatened me verbally (I can prove this with an audio recording) to sue me, through his lawyer, for slander. I emphasise that I did not lie, as I have proof. I felt very humiliated. I did not expect to find such nastiness during my stay...

Ho alloggiato in questo BB due notti nel mese di febbraio 2024. Luciano, il proprietario del BB, di cui altri utenti hanno elogiato la disponibilità e la gentilezza, si è rivelata una persona che non considera la persona come tale con le proprie emozione, i propri bisogni ecc., bensì "turista", in tutti i sensi. Da questo si può dedurre che si vi aspettate di recarvi in questo BB trovando ospitalità, non la troverete, perché è concentrato sul turismo di massa. Sono rimasta molto delusa perché, i BB essendo gestiti personalmente dai proprietari, mi aspettavo di trovare un ambiente confortevole. Non è stato così. Fin dal principio il Sign. Luciano non ha accolta la mia richiesta, o meglio, il mio problema di salute, cioè il diabete, cercando di facilitarmi la colazione. La colazione è vasta è vero, ma offre solo ed esclusivamente prodotti con zucchero, nessuno di questi integrale. Questo mi ha fatto rimanere molto male perché credo che sia totalmente l'opposto di nutrire del riguardo nei confronti di una persona, a maggior ragione ospite; la stessa mancanza mi ha obbligata a spendere ulteriori soldi per prodotti colazione. Posso assicurarvi che, fino ad ora, tutti i BB in cui ho soggiornato, in diverse città italiane, mi sono sentita accolta. Riflettiamo su questo. Allego foto. Simile è il caso del pagamento delle capsule per la macchina del caffè e delle bottigliette d'acqua. Un'ospite arriva da un lungo viaggio e neppure trova un omaggio. Infine, il Sign. Luciano mi ha minacciata verbalmente (posso dimostrarlo con registrazione audio) di denunciarmi, tramite il suo avvocato, di calunnia. Sottolineo di non aver mentito, tanto ché ho le prove. Mi sono sentita molto umiliata. Non mi aspettavo di trovare tanta cattiveria durante il mio soggiorno a Firenze.

🇬🇧I stayed in this BB for two nights in February 2024. Luciano, the owner of the BB, whose helpfulness and kindness has been praised by other users, turned out to be a person who does not consider people as such with their own emotions, needs etc., but rather a 'tourist', in every sense. From this you can deduce that if you expect to go to this BB and find hospitality, you will not find it, because it is focused on mass tourism. I was very disappointed because, the BB being run personally by the owners, I expected to find a comfortable environment. This was not the case. From the very beginning Mr. Luciano did not accept my request. Luciano did not accommodate my request, or rather my health problem, namely diabetes, by trying to make breakfast easier for me. The breakfast is extensive it is true, but it only and exclusively offers products with sugar, none of them wholemeal. This made me very unhappy because I think it is totally the opposite of showing consideration towards a person, all the more so a guest; the same lack forced me to spend more money on breakfast products. I can assure you that, so far, all the BBs I have stayed in, in different Italian cities, have felt welcome. Let us reflect on this. I enclose photos. Similar is the case with paying for coffee machine capsules and water bottles. A guest arrives from a long journey and does not even find a free gift. Finally, Mr. Luciano threatened me verbally (I can prove this with an audio recording) to sue me, through his lawyer, for slander. I emphasise that I did not lie, as I have proof. I felt very humiliated. I did not expect to find such nastiness during my stay...