Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence

We're trying to choose between Four Seasons Florence and the newly reopened Villa San Michele before heading to Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

I'm weighing the decision between staying in the city at Four Seasons versus being about 20 minutes outside at Belmond. The location question is key - do we want immediate city access or the peaceful hilltop setting? I've heard great things about both properties, but Villa San Michele's recent renovation has me intrigued.

This truly remarkable hotel offers spectacular views of Florence from its hilltop setting, about 20-30 minutes from the city center.

The historical building creates an unforgettable atmosphere with classic Italian decor in spacious, elegant rooms. Breakfast was outstanding in both quality and presentation, with incredibly friendly staff providing detailed explanations. The complimentary shuttle service worked perfectly for us every day, making city access convenient despite needing to plan around their schedule. I could easily spend an entire day just exploring the beautiful gardens and admiring the architecture.

We were enchanted by spectacular Florence views, terrace drinks, pool lounging, and dinners under the stars on the loggia.

The wonderful staff struck the perfect balance - always there when we needed them but respectful of our privacy when we didn't. The jazz concert on the terrace was a magical touch that elevated our stay beyond typical luxury hotel experiences. Everything about the atmosphere and service created an enchanting experience we'll remember for years.

Villa San Michele embodies excellence and provided the highest level of service and attention to detail we've ever experienced at any hotel.

My wife and I have stayed at many high-level hotel brand properties, but this surpassed them all in service quality. Beyond the exceptional attention to detail, the beauty of the property is simply stunning. If you're visiting Florence, this really is the most exceptional option available. The level of care and precision in everything they do sets a new standard.

I've stayed at five Florence hotels, and after two visits to Villa San Michele, it's number one for me despite prices doubling in five years.

We've experienced Four Seasons, Il Salvatino, Lungarno, Villa Cora, and Villa San Michele across multiple Florence trips. The location and views are spectacular, with restaurant quality that's top-notch for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our pool apartment with garden was perfectly designed and spacious, offering the privacy and intimacy we wanted. This place creates a feeling - if you have the budget, don't consider anything else.

As seasoned luxury travelers, we were shocked by the unprofessional reception that made us feel unwelcome, like a scene from Pretty Woman.

One of the three entrance staff questioned our presence with an obtuse attitude, despite explaining we were local guests exploring the possibility of dining or staying. After some discussion, we were begrudgingly shown to a garden terrace, but the staff's lingering stares and shocking initial greeting prompted us to leave prematurely. For true five-star treatment, I recommend Villa Fiesole instead - their staff sets a standard leagues above what we encountered here.

We had an incredible two-night stay - everything was beyond expectation with top-tier facilities, dining, service, and accommodations.

My family experienced something truly unforgettable here, with the facility, breakfast, pool, and transportation all exceeding what we hoped for. The entire staff showed such dedication to outstanding service that I'm already recommending the resort to all my friends and family. Every detail was handled with care, making this one of those rare hotels that delivers on every promise.

We stayed for our anniversary and it was perfect in every way - the Villa's beauty is something pictures can't capture.

The staff provided exceptional service and even left a sweet flower arrangement on our bed for our anniversary, making our stay incredibly memorable. Having a free shuttle to Florence's city center plus parking for our rental car made exploring both the city and surrounding Tuscan countryside effortless. The hotel's location puts you an hour and a half from Pisa and close to vineyards for wine tasting. This was our first Italy trip, and Villa San Michele set the bar impossibly high.

This is by far one of the nicest hotels I've stayed in - everything was perfect and meticulously maintained.

The hotel grounds create the perfect mix of quiet exclusivity while being just a short drive from city fun. Villa San Michele offers an absolutely stunning escape from Florence that doesn't feel far at all. Mateo from the pool bar and Elenda from pool grill both took great care of us and made the experience special. I'm already planning our return visit.

This majestic hotel offers an idyllic refuge from the city's hustle and bustle, perched on a hill with magnificent Florence views.

The staff is exceptionally efficient, courteous, and attentive throughout the stay. The restaurants serve great cuisine while the bar features the best wines from Tuscany and other regions. During prime tourist season, the property becomes a perfect escape from crowded Florence. The walks around the property are wonderful, and you can even walk to the nearby village of Fiesole for additional exploration.

Our stay for our 10th wedding anniversary was unforgettable - we can't recommend this hotel highly enough for breathtaking views and exceptional service.

From arrival to departure, the service maintained a truly exceptional standard that impressed us throughout. Every staff member was attentive and knowledgeable, supported by what I'm sure is an equally capable team behind the scenes. The outstanding food and breathtaking views made our anniversary celebration perfect. Sofia and her team gave us a truly memorable time that we'll treasure forever.

Terrible service experience - we asked for cups for room coffee twice, our birthday cake disappeared, and there was no hot water without any apology.

The room had coffee and tea but no cups, and despite asking twice, cups only appeared when I personally requested them again. Sofia Medina knew it was my mother's birthday and promised a cake, but no staff congratulated her and the cake never appeared. The restaurant staff was very rude, clearing plates before everyone finished eating. When we paid in cash, the waiter asked if he could keep the rest - extremely disrespectful for a restaurant like this.

Beautiful hotel with spectacular views, but the restaurant experience was hugely disappointing with rude staff and service failures.

They couldn't place our table where I made the reservation, moving us to a different restaurant entirely. Despite Sofia Medina knowing it was my mother's birthday and promising a cake, no staff congratulated her and no cake appeared. The restaurant staff was very rude, clearing plates before everyone finished eating. When we paid cash, the waiter asked 'Is it OK, can I keep the rest?' - extremely disrespectful behavior I've never experienced, especially at this level of restaurant.

I lost my phone during our stay and they found it - this place makes dreams come true with gorgeous rooms and personal terrace gardens.

The food, property, and staff are all top-tier quality that exceeded every expectation. My room had a spacious bathroom and a personal terrace garden overlooking the city, which felt like living in a dream. When my crush lost his phone somewhere on the property, the staff actually found it, which shows their incredible attention to guest needs. I definitely recommend this place for any romantic Tuscan holiday.