Via de' Calzaiuoli, Florence Hotel Rooms at the Independent

This hotel is a 5-7 minute walk (even when dragging luggage) from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. It was not a difficult walk even for mature travelers, like ourselves. It is in a nice old neighborhood of hotels, shops and diverse restaurants. The surrounding neighborhood seems very safe, except for the ubiquitous seedy characters that you always encounter within a block of a major city train station. It is difficult to find the small sign for Tourist House Duomo on Via Cerretani until you realize that THD is actually inside Hotel Perseo. There is a convenient elevator and the manager, Michele, is pleasant enough and helpful. He is often absent, however, and several times I had to admit arriving guests at odd hours who were knocking on the door and then explain to them how to reach Michele by phone in order to check in. I assume that these guests may not have been specific enough with Michele about their arrival time. The WiFi did not work in my room. I had to use the hotel's front desk computer at times, which they do make available to guests, but this was not always convenient. The hotel appears to be an older Palazzo, and not modern in appearance or personal conveniences. The rooms are large but dingy and poorly lit. The furniture is older and not the most comfortable. My mattress was a bit lumpy but adequate if you get tired enough. Breakfast was not served in the hotel, but rather you are given a voucher which you must take (Continued in the next text box)