Just back from a weekend in Florence and stayed at the Hotel Laurus, couldn't fault the hotel, rooms were very modern with excellent bathroom with complimentary shampoo, soap, shower hat etc replenished every day, tea and coffee making facilty(just call reception and porter will bring it up for you) also replenished with chocholate coffee milk cappuchino sugars etc every day.Hotel staff were very helpful and the roof top terrace was lovely for breakfast to be able to sit outside weather permitting.
We were very lucky with the weather and sun shone everyday, this hotel is within walking distance of all the attractions and within walking distance of railway station (5-10 minutes walk).
Depending on what you want to see and do I would reccomend Boboli Gardens and the Palace lots to see and do.I would reccomend this hotel for reasonable money and locality to everything.

First off let me say that the location was very good - almost right next to the Duomo and the room sizes were fairly good ..... They were the positives.

Negatives (you may want to get some popcorn)

The view we had from room 507 / 508 (can't exactly remember which number now) was that of a wall, and not of a particulary exciting wall at that either. I think it was yellow. The view from the roof terrace was not that much better, unless you happen to break the 8 foot barrier height wise which niether myself or my 5 foot girlfriend did or had in your possesion a step ladder, which she forgot to pack.

The staff ....... Mmm, very average at best. Not very chatty, a bit weird looking maybe, didn't ask us about our stay or any of that malarky. We even got told off for drinking Champagne on the roof terrace when no other person was around. The reason. Health and Safety!!! .... This is Italy, they don't do Health and Safety, there's probably not even a word for it in Italian!!! - They just wanted us to buy their own Champagne me thinks, but I'm just guessing.

Word of advice overall, don't pay for anything by credit card in Florence (or in Italy in general) if you can help it. I only used my card twice. Once at the cash point almost next to the Hotel (near the knickers and bra shop) and at a crappy rather expensive restuarant in the middle of the one of the squares (can't remember which one) and between them, I managed to get my card cloned . I cried like a little girl, it wasn't a pretty sight.

If you have a choice of Hotel, then find somewhere else. If how ever you're like me and it was a present from your girlfriend / misstress what ever, then just smile, pretend you liked it and pat her on the head for making such an excellent and informed choice.

Rant over.

My husband and I stayed at the Best Western Premier Hotel Laurus in November 2007 for two days. We loved the hotel and highly recommend it to anyone thinking of staying there. The location is great, we didn't have to use public transport at all, and could easily cover all the main attractions in Florence by foot. It is literally steps away from the Duomo, and makes you feel in the thick of all the action in the city.
The rooms were clean and spacious. The staff was efficient. They also had a decent continental breakfast. In summer you can make use of the outdoor seating on the terrace which has a great view of the Duomo.
It is also at a walkable distance from the train station.

Just perfect for a city break when , in my view, you need comfort, convenience, value above other needs. We stayed 3 days over a long weekend. Great location between train/bus station and Duomo/shopping centre. 5 mins walk from station, 2 mins to Duomo, 10 mins walk to river.

Spotless room in recently refurbished modern hotel. Comfy kingsize bed (2 singles). Decent breakfast - avoid the scrambled egg for sure but plenty of other choices and again very clean. We had breakfast on the roof top in February!

Staff were very helpful - printing off details of train times from internet.

We would stay again. We paid about GBP70 per night, double including breakfast, booking some months in advance, but I noticed it for about GBP50 a few days before we travelled. Fantastic value at 70.