Villa Cora

“Once in a lifetime. Pricey but worth it!”

While this hotel was a splurge for us it could not have been a more lovely stay. It’s unlike any property I’ve ever stayed at before and we were so happy to have experienced it. The location—it is only about a 7 min ride to the city. So you’re not really giving up convenience or your ability to e… more

While this hotel was a splurge for us it could not have been a more lovely stay. It’s unlike any property I’ve ever stayed at before and we were so happy to have experienced it. The location—it is only about a 7 min ride to the city. So you’re not really giving up convenience or your ability to enjoy Firenze. They also have a courtesy shuttle van, which we used both days of our stay so it’s very easy to get there and back. The rooms—we booked a specific room, which had a large king bed and a loft with two twins. It was on the royal floor and had 20 fort ceilings and really felt grand and like something from the set of Bridgerton or like a room at Versailles or something. I considered booking a smaller room at a lower price point and I would have probably been disappointed. Try to be on the “royal floor.” I think it’s technically the second floor. -the pool. This was what made our trip so fun. It was hot in July and the pool made it fun to play during the heat of the day and explore Florence in the evening. The food is great. The BLT was so amazing (hard boiled eggs in a BLT-yum). The drinks at the pool are amazing too. The pool decor is so picturesque as well. A good mix of families and older adults and everyone co existed. There is also a cold plunge by the pool that my husband and kids enjoyed. The only drawback are the hours. 7-7. This is because the restaurant shares the space with the pool and so the pool is closed for dinner service. -the property. I’ve never stayed at a luxury hotel before that was so upscale but made me feel so comfortable. Because it’s small you can wander the rooms and the cool underground speakeasy as if you’re a guest of the owners rather than feeling like things are inaccessible and corporate or you’re under foot. Like in the lobby is an amazing ballroom and we sat for hours talking while my kids signed the guest book and drew a picture of the duomo. Nothing was locked or off limits or “closed,” which made it feel like a truly luxury experience. -the last thing is the staff and personal touches. Other than an occasional amazing person at a hotel that makes your stay I’ve never had an experience where the entire staff of the hotel were so impactful. The concierge is larger than life (see him on their IG), the GM was friendly and warm at check in and the best was the departure gift. As we left the woman handed us gift bags with water and snacks for our roadtrip. I’ve had a welcome gift at a hotel but never a departure gift. Also there were balloons and kids slippers and robes in the room for our kids. -price. It’s spendy. No doubt. But we got a lot of value out of our stay as it was more of an experience. For a family of four we were entertained for two days at the pool and had a once in a lifetime experience at a villa once owned by napoleon iii’s widow and Tchaikovsky.

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“Heaven on earth”

Beauty, relaxation, kindness and attention beyond compare. From the moment we arrived, the staff was welcoming, professional and warm. From the bell hops, to concierge, to the drivers and housekeeping staff, the servers at breakfast, Allesandro, Marco, EVERYONE was kind and smiling. The history of … more

Beauty, relaxation, kindness and attention beyond compare. From the moment we arrived, the staff was welcoming, professional and warm. From the bell hops, to concierge, to the drivers and housekeeping staff, the servers at breakfast, Allesandro, Marco, EVERYONE was kind and smiling. The history of the Villa, the beautiful restorations, the pool, the breakfast, and the people were beyond compare. It was heaven on earth and we can’t wait to return again in the future!

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“Perfect Honeymoon Getaway”

This was the first leg of our honeymoon and we couldn't have asked for a better place to stay. The property is absolutely stunning, service is impeccable, and the food and drinks for breakfast, at the pool, etc. were amazing!

“A beautiful and memorable hotel not living up to its potential”

Villa Cora was an interesting and pleasant stay with a nice pool, lovely staff, and a beautiful setting. We enjoyed our stay but likely will not return. Strengths: - Well-kept stately villa and grounds - Attractive, beautifully-designed room and indoor common areas - Helpful, kind, and capable st… more

Villa Cora was an interesting and pleasant stay with a nice pool, lovely staff, and a beautiful setting. We enjoyed our stay but likely will not return. Strengths: - Well-kept stately villa and grounds - Attractive, beautifully-designed room and indoor common areas - Helpful, kind, and capable staff pre-arrival and during our stay - A lovely pool environment, perfect for staying cool and relaxing in summer - Excellent fresh lunch at the poolside restaurant Le Bistrot - A general sense of peace and calmness - Good shuttle service when available Areas of Improvement: - Value: at an average €1,065 / night (incl. tax), it was too expensive for what it offered - Air conditioning was weak and the room was hot throughout. I understand the summers are getting hotter but a hotel of this calibre simply must find a way, whether mechanical and/or passive. - Housekeeping was excellent the first day, but weak the next two days. - Too many expensive extras. A bottle of water: €9. An espresso: €8.A glass of wine: €22. - Pool service is weak, with piles of used towels and empty glasses everywhere, several wines on the menu unavailable, and slow service. The trainee server constantly forgot orders and dropped trays of drinks. What are we paying so much for? - Shuttle hours of 9:30 - 12:30 and 4:30 - 8:30 required us to take many expensive taxis. I am sure many guests wish to return to the hotel after lunch or after dinner, which is not possible with the current hours. - In the small Classic Room, there was very little storage space, which made unpacking and living in our room difficult. - Despite a rooftop bar and underground bar being advertised on the hotel website, neither was serviced during our stay, meaning the hotel has only a single dining venue open in high season. For a hotel somewhat removed from the City, meant to be a home away for guests, this was limiting. I debated whether to rate this property 3 or 4 out of 5, and the quality of staff broke the tie for me. A lovely complement of professionals overall

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