I’ll make a wild guess here that most, if not all, of the Virtuoso Preferred Properties would cringe if they heard me call them “nice“. They’re the best of the best and work hard to keep that title and provide our clients with the level of service they expect year after year.
Extraordinary… Breathtaking… Luxurious…
These are words our favorite hotels are used to hearing. But, nice? That sounds little underwhelming.
But that’s the exact word we used to describe the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol after we experienced it earlier this year and honestly, I can’t think of any higher praise.
The Hotel Helvetia & Bristol is a beautiful hotel. Every room is unique – different sizes, shapes and furnishings. There is one thing they all have in common – they’re all individually designed and decorated with beautiful antiques. This isn’t an old, stuffy hotel, though. The rooms are fresh, cozy and comfortable. The goal at this hotel is to make you feel at home, and they absolutely do that. This where you stay if you want to feel like you’re in the Florence of old, but with every modern amenity.
But that is NOT what sets this hotel apart and that is certainly not why the girls nicknamed it the nice hotel. What makes this hotel shine, and the reason it holds such a special place in our hearts is the staff. They were so friendly and helpful and… nice. If they recommended a restaurant, they asked us how we liked it when we returned. And we were always greeted with a warm smile. We felt like they really liked us and cared that we were comfortable and had a great time in their city. It felt sincere and not like they were just being nice because it was their job. I’ve been to a lot of hotels with great service. This went beyond that. I don’t know how else to describe it except to say that the staff at the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol were all just… nice.
“Remember when we were staying at the nice hotel and…” That phrase was repeated several times throughout our trip. Even today, if I say something about “The Nice Hotel” the girls know what I’m talking about.
But wait, there’s more!
The hotel is in a GREAT location – right in the middle of the best shopping in Florence and within walking distance of the Duomo, The Acadamia and other top Florence attractions.
You can schedule a private or group cooking class in the kitchen of their restaurant, Hostaria Bibendm with their chef, Enzo Pettè, who has been voted one of the top 20 chefs in Italy. Even better than that (in my opinion) is that you can join him in the morning as he chooses fresh produce at Mercato Centrale in San Lorenzo. Can you imagine a better way to experience Italian cuisine? (And yes, you do get to eat your creation at the end of the lesson AND wear a chef’s hat.)
Seriously, what’s not to love? Call us if you’d like us to arrange your stay. Guests who book with Hager’s Journeys receive:
- Room upgrade on arrival (subject to availability)
- Daily buffet breakfast for up to two in-room guests
- A unique Tuscan Gift
- Fresh Fruit plate in room on arrival
If you stay 4 or more nights you’ll also receive a 50 Euro credit to use for dinner in the Restaurant Hostaria.
Have you stayed at a hotel that made you feel completely at home like this? Leave a comment and let us know, we’d love to check it out.
PS
I did cheat and use the hotels photos. I have a really nice camera and took a lot of pictures but most of them look like this:
