Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection — Hotel in Florence

FORTY ONE!! The number of mosquitoes infesting our top-floor suite when we checked in, most gorged with blood of the prior occupants! 27 I killed one by one the night we checked in, 13 the next day and 1 the second night when it bit up my face while sleeping.

Beyond exhausted after traveling since the previous morning to get to Florence, we arrived to find our room not available due to the current occupant doing a late check out at FIVE PM (normally latest checkout is 4PM even for Marriott top members, which we are for 22 years! We are also top chairman's club members with Marriott!)

We were told that the hotel could give us a room to freshen up while we waited or even better we could just go out for a walk, see the sights, have dinner and return to our room which would be ready. We opted for a room to freshen up, went out to dinner and came back to find the room not quite ready at almost 7PM!

After finally getting into the room, we discovered the mosquito infestation when we opened the drapes wider and a literal cloud of mosquitoes came flying out. Why we didn't run away you wonder?

We wonder as well... We prepaid in full and nonrefundable, one reason.. but the real reason was we were exhausted and had been awake for a day and a half. Also, this was supposedly the last suite available, hence why we had to wait.

Turns out that the hotel has a sunny side and a shade side. We unluckily got the shade side. Unluckily due to the mosquito infestation, because we otherwise prefer the shade to sun.

There's the ugly, more ugly continues. We also lost a bag during the check-in process. We thought we left it in the car which we valet parked at €40 a night, but the hotel staff checked the car and stated no bag was found. Not sure how a bag goes missing between checking in and parking lot in a few hours but understand a common experience in Italy. What was taken? Fortunately only a few jackets but €500 worth. Not new, but we must spend €500 to replace them now.

So that's how our €800 a night suite (with taxes) was... Thanks but no thanks. We hope to hear from Marriott corporate about all of this but expect complete silence.

The hotel is otherwise well located and recently renovated (or at least in appearance). The breakfast was very good. See two nice things after the horror. I seriously doubt we are the first or last to experience a horrible mosquito infestation here (AND NO we are NOT believing the mosquito infestation is a strange first time experience for the hotel as the staff states - NOT believing that for a second!!!!!!! Staff needs to be alert and attentive and not have excuses about how we should have asked for mosquito spray. SERIOUSLY? For SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on you for lying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We never, NEVER left the balcony doors open, the mosquitoes were present upon check-in. Again, don't blame guests for a problem you know exists, as per multiple prior reviews!!!!!!!

These very serious issues aside, Sina villa Medici is a nice, historic hotel (formerly the Sant'Anna sul Prato monastery built in the 19th century) in an ideal location close to the best sites in all directions. Perhaps, this idyllic location is why the hotel has lost it's focus on the high standards expected of a 4-star hotel, even though completely renovated in 2017, sort of like the celebrity restaurant with the million dollar views that phones it in and serves mediocre meals.

Speaking of meals, again, the breakfast was a clear bright spot of the day. Friendly staff at the breakfast, good cappuccinos, good selection, plenty of seating choices. In true Italian style no rushing us in and out. We appreciated this as the breakfasts along the way during our stays are highlights we look forward to.

And yes, I do know that the hotel is supposed to be 5-star luxury, but simply not the case at the moment. Not sure if it meets the 4-star...

What a gem! Our impressions of the Sina Villa Medici had begun to form even way before our arrival. Pablo Nencini (Concierge) was in constant communication with us regarding our tours and daily plans. He was very thoughtful with his inquiries and therefore his recommendations.

Once we arrived, we were cheerfully greeted by smiling staff who asked to get our luggage and put it safely aside inside the hotel. When we walked into the hotel, we were greeted by a wonderful, pleasant, professional, smiling staff.

The lobby is so beautiful. Gold mirrors and marble. The smell of Acqua di Elba wafted throughout the lobby. The lobby is just perfect and beautiful.

Matteo at the front desk checked us in quickly. As he was getting us checked in Georgia Belletta (Guest Relations Manager) stepped up and said, “I am aware that you are celebrating a special event!” We were there as an early anniversary.

We were taken upstairs. Our room was a Junior Suite (Room 543). It was very, very nice. It had very high ceilings— maybe 10 feet. I’m not sure. It added to the feeling of grandeur. After everyone had left, we noticed a beautiful handwritten note. Congratulating us on our anniversary and thanking us for spending with at the Sina Villa Medici. There were chocolates, a delicious small cake, and non alcoholic champagne to help us celebrate the occasion. In one of my email exchanges with the concierge, I mentioned that we did not drink alcohol. I told you Paolo listens!

Every morning when we stepped out of the elevator, Paolo greeted us with such a welcome I looked forward to seeing him everyday. He has an amazing personality that immediately starts your day off in the right directions. He is certainly the star of the show. He is one of the most kind people I have met. Paolo arranged for us to have a golf cart tour AND our own tour guide to to go with us to explain the different sights and artwork around the city. He told us it was nothing, but I know better. He had to arrange and coordinate two different tours and guides to come together for us. Paolo is just perfection!

If you can pull yourself away from the wonderful concierge desk, breakfast at the Sina Villa Medici should not be missed! They have a great buffet style breakfast. The service is fantastic. The pool area is BEAUTIFUL. The pool are looks like a beautiful backyard. It’s perfect. It really looks like a movie set.

Then, there is Harry’s Garden Bar. It is sparkling perfection in a martini glass!

I want not thank the entire staff at Sina Villa Medici for providing us with an anniversary (early) that we will never forget.

Georgi, Matteo and of course Paolo… we cannot thank you enough for your hospitality, charm and professionalism.

Georgia Belleta was so pleasant, helpful and professional. She gave us her business and asked us to return. We will!

If you read this, please accept our warmest regards.

Grazie...

I had rented this hotel through AMEX Travel Services and expected it to be an amazing stay in Florence. That was absolutely an incorrect assumption. We could not check into our room until past 530pm. The beds are about as hard as you can imagine and the sheets feel like they are about the cheapest sheets you can procure. The tub is not large enough for a normal sized human to soak in. For some reason there were these weird flying bugs in my room and I spent a good portion of my night trying to kill them. Room service is terrible and the breakfast buffet is OK at best. Definitely do not order anything a la carte because they will push you towards the buffet.

The hotel looks beautiful though and its situated about 15-20 minutes walking distance from the city center. I would caution anyone against staying here.

Update to review after response from owner (08/10/2018):

Point 1: Your hotel is located in an oasis of tranquility and calm because as admitted by your own concierge it is a 15-20 minute walk to the city center. I would recommend the walk to anybody staying at this hotel because you can explore the city but it does not change the fact that it is a 20 minute walk. The walk is 25-30 minutes if you are near the statue of David. As mentioned by another reviewer it is in fact very close to the train station.

Point 2: For room service we ordered the Club sandwich, Pasta with Beef Ragu, and tiramisu. The sandwich disintegrated in my hands and I ended up eating a grilled chicken platter rather than a sandwich. The beef ragu was not what I would expect in Italy and the tiramisu was good. At the buffet area water pours down from the ceiling in multiple areas where they have set up buckets to collect them right near the food.

Point 3: Whether or not your bed linens are up to Marriott standards is unknown to me because I am not privy to those specifications. I can tell you two things: The bed was harder I have stayed in and the bed linens were rougher than any high class hotel I've stayed in.

Point 4: The room I stayed in had two items left over from the previous occupant. If that's deeply inspected then we have differing concepts of what that means. As far the bugs, our luggage went from London to your hotel where they remained for the ridiculous amount of hours it took between our arrival and receiving the key. The only shopping we did that day was two bottles of olive oil that I carried in my hand from Zaza. The bags stayed in the room the remainder of the visit and the windows were not left open during the night since it was so hot.

Marco - Thank you for taking the time to respond. I guarantee that I will not be staying in this specific hotel again but I will be back to Florence. My partner and I are extensive travelers and certified reviewers for multiple platforms. We will continue to escalate this situation with Marriott and AMEX until we receive a resolution.

Best...