We looked forward to staying at the Hotel Cardinal in Florence as it was recommended in a prominent guide book. We knew that it was a three flight walk up but when we got there the stairs were very steep and narrow...quite a burden if you have a heavy bag. After climbing the stairs we were shown the breakfast room but then told that our room was "somewhere else". We were taken back down the three flights of stairs across the street and into another building where "our room" was off a very dark hallway. We objected and after some discussion were given a room close to the breakfast room on the third floor. We never understood what they were trying to do.
The room we did get was not very nice. Although the A/C was working it was very weak and never cooled down the room. Sleeping was very uncomfortable. the bathroom was not very clean and had a shower curtain hanging on by one hook. There was no bath mat and the floor was very slick. The breakfast was just ok...nothing special!

All in all it was a very disappointing stay in an uncomfortable room and with this initial impression of "bait and switch"....had trouble trusting management after that. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone...stay away no matter what the guide book says.

This hotel was very nice. The rooms were a nice size and very clean. They had a nice continental breakfast and the woman at the front desk was extremely helpful. She booked tours for us, made restaurant reservations, and made recommendations for places to eat. The location was great-just a short walk to the Duomo and train station. The only down side were the several flights of stairs to get to the hotel (but we found that that's very common in Italy).

My friend and I booked a room online at Hotel Cardinal. We booked a double room by mistake, while we actually wanted one with 2 twin beds. We asked to change when we got there. The lady at the hotel was extremely helpful and tried really hard to find us one without success, since everything else is taken, and called the other family-owned hotel downstairs and have us stay there instead. Even though we ended up not staying at Hotel Cardinal, we much appreciated the owner's help and friendliness! The location is excellent!

Hotel Cardinal of Florence is all about your expectations. If you're looking for a quiet and comfortable place to lay your head at night, in the middle of the city, convenient to good bars and restaurants, and with few amenities, you'll leave very happy. If instead you're looking for freebies in the bathroom, a home-cooked breakfast, top-to-bottom cleanings every day, and an elevator up the three flights of stairs, you'll be disappointed. I was looking for the former, mostly because it fits the price -- what I paid for four nights at this very pleasant hotel wouldn't have covered two nights at most other places in town. Plus, its location embeds you in the middle of a Florentine neighborhood just far enough from the tourist mobs that you can imagine that you can imagine you belong in this beautiful city. Just be aware of what you want - if you want budget quality, this is a solid choice. Really would appreciate an internet option, though.