I have stayed at the Hotel Albion twice now, once in winter and once in summer. The hotel is a quirky, art-filled delight, with rooms named after famous female artists and visitors to Florence. The family that runs the hotel (and their staff!) go above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
In an older building on the edge of historic Florence (but within easy walking distance), each room is unique, but offers a comfortable bed, bedside tables, wardrobe, hooks for hanging clothes, television, A/C and heat, mini refrigerator, and a desk with hot pot and assorted teas and coffees to enjoy after a day visiting Florence. One of the larger rooms I stayed in also included a sitting area.
The breakfasts at the Albion are wonderful, with warm croissants and assorted bakery treats, protein options (like yogurt, ham and cheese, or boiled eggs), and coffees and teas to suit your mood. The dining room is a symphony of colorful artworks to tickle the imagination while you eat and plan your day's activities.
If you are expecting brand-new, state-of-the-art facilities, this is not the place for you. But if you want to be transported back to an era of the family-run pensione, I highly recommend the Albion as a perfect spot. It is just a short walk from the Arno and the historic center of Florence, and it is also in a growing neighborhood with an international flair. I hope to stay again soon!
Very nice people. Old hotel. Good location. Large room. Very quiet. Good breakfast. Our room had two rooms and beds for four
It is a 10 min walk to puente Vecchio. Close to the train station. Easy access by car with many garage nearby
This hotel is in a very good location, I think this is one of - if not the main reason to stay here if you are visiting Florence. Everywhere was clean. The hotel is indeed quirky. The lady wearing glasses who welcomed us was lovely. Although a huge negative is the safe in our room would not stop beeping and even after the battery was “replaced” it STILL would not stop making noise at night. This meant we had a poor quality of sleep throughout our stay.
The welcome from the owners at this family hotel was very friendly and the staff were always unfailing polite and keen to help. On arrival we were allocated a room on the top floor. However, the access point to that annex was through an unappealing set of stone stairs, which were dirty and out of keeping with the rest of the hotel, which was old-fashioned but classy. Although perfectly safe, it clearly needed a lick of paint and didn't create the best impression. The room itself was very spacious if a little spartan, and the bathroom was clean and modern. It was a little noisy at night. We had breakfast most days which was the standard continental offering. The location was good, within walking distance of the main train station, so a good base for those exploring the city and surrounds.
We came with a large school group. Most of our students do not speak Italian and most have limited experience of international travel. With that in mind, it was such a relief to be greeted with such warmth and courtesy. Nothing was too much hassle, and the staff went well out of their way to make our visit a good one.
The property itself is quirky to say the least. Each room is a little bit different, both in terms of layout and in terms of decor. All were large and airy in a way that few hotel rooms are these days.
Next time I am in Florence, either with students or on my own, I'll be calling in on the Albion again.