Plus Florence – A Luxury Hostel For Budget Travellers

Review of Plus Florence | Via Santa Caterina D'Alessandria 15
budget travel
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Ben
Ben 
Updated
| 3 min read

When you think of hostels, indoor pools, a gym and a sauna are not the first things that usually spring to mind, but Plus Florence is not your average hostel. Florence is a notoriously expensive holiday destination, and finding budget accommodation can be a challenge, so naturally when I found this I jumped at the opportunity to stay at a hostel, with a pool, sauna and good location for less than 35 EUR (approx 38 USD) a night. For my fellow budget travellers, who may be used to ‘living it rough’ in cheap and dingy hostels, it will come as a great pleasure to have clean linen, a working shower, and finally a towel which is actually white - and not a dilapidated shade of mouldy yellow.

Rejuvenate your travel weariness in the pool, sauna and gym

plus florence – a luxury hostel for budget travellers | rejuvenate your travel weariness in the pool, sauna and gym

Pool, sauna and gymnasium are three nouns which are almost never used in tandem with the word hostel, but at Florence Plus they come as standard. There is both an indoor pool as well as an outdoor pool (in the summer), and whilst the indoor facilities are small and aimed at primarily for people to bathe in, it is still big enough to do some lengths in peace, and a great place to unwind after a long day sightseeing. The hostel also offers a sauna and gym, which although they may not be the most spacious in size are still extraordinary luxuries for the price of this superb budget hostel.

A bathroom which smells of chlorine, free soap, shampoo, and a shower that actually works

plus florence – a luxury hostel for budget travellers | a bathroom which smells of chlorine, free soap, shampoo, and a shower that actually works

Living in hostels can often leave you rather below par in both the realms of hygiene and cleanliness, however Plus Florence has a first class solution. With showers which remain hot and powerful all day long, and complimentary shampoo and soap you will be able to revitalise your personal hygiene to a state of pre-travelling cleanliness and simply bask in the enjoyment of everything working as it should do. The toilets are immaculate, and give off an overwhelming scent of chlorine which although peculiar is a surprisingly nice change, and it somewhat encapsulates the hostel overriding sentiment of cleanliness and functionality.

Get a great night’s rest in a room that is just for you

plus florence – a luxury hostel for budget travellers | get a great night’s rest in a room that is just for you

Once again, when thinking of hostels the image that comes to mind is crowded bunk beds, and sweaty roommates, however, in Plus Florence this is very much not the case. Primarily, the layout of the rooms is different to that of most hostels and you will find two single beds alongside two bunk beds. I was fortunate enough to be given my own private suite at no extra charge and although this is by no means a guarantee it just shows you the kind of quality of service Plus Florence are so readily disposed to offer. Again the hostel excels with the basics and from safe and secure lockers, to reading lamps, light switches and plug sockets by your bed this really is a place where you will easily find yourself feeling at home.

A great place for socialising

plus florence – a luxury hostel for budget travellers | a great place for socialising

Given the sheer size of this hostel, there are obviously loads of opportunities for socialising, and the hostel helps to facilitate this with a bar, restaurant and a rooftop terrace. As in any hostels you cannot predict just how good the ‘vibe’ will be as it depends on who is staying there at any given time, but the opportunity of 3 different locations to socialise in means that if you do not like one you can simply go to the other.

Florence Tour Guide

Sara Pallabazzer

Sara Pallabazzer

<p>I am a lively well-spoken tour guide and tour leader from Florence, and a person who has the ability to motivate different sets of audience; to communicate effectively and possesses a high degree of energy and enthusiasm.</p><p>I am able to manage multiple tasks, self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills. I am proficient in Italian, English and Norwegian and possess a strong love for art and culture and enjoy passing on this passion for our land to my guests in an exciting and educational manner which will leave them not only with a lasting memory of the country that they have visited but also of myself and the company I am working for.</p><p>Come with me and explore the best Florence has to offer. From world class museums and galleries to famous sites such as Santa Maria del Fiore, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella and the Palazzo Vecchio! I will ensure guests get the most out of their visit. I can show off Florence and Tuscany&#39;s hidden treasures such as narrow medieval street, hidden gardens, unique shops, and the quirky details that make a tour memorable while discovering Florence&#39;s past, present and future.</p><p>I am very adaptable and flexible with guests&#39; interests and taking into account any special events or the weather. With me as a private guide, guests will have the time to fully experience Florence - stopping to take the perfect photo or popping into one of the shops, cafes or pubs.</p><p>I am also an enthusiastic well-spoken language teacher who has the ability to motivate different student ranges and a freelance translator for English and Scandinavian languages! I have a great passion for art and cooking, and consider cooking to be a high art form, so I suggest how to pair food and wine, while also looking for the right setting, as eating should be an all-around experience. I love cooking and make my own pasta, bread and pizza!</p>

Tours by Sara

Florence Tour Guide

Joanna

Joanna

Hello, my name is Joanna. I was born and raised in Poland but then I fell hopelessly in love with Tuscany and have been living in Florence for 20 years. Wisely enough, I decided to turn my passion into work and became a tour guide. Now I can share with you my immense love for the beauty, history and art of these enchanted places. I am particularly passionate about the Middle Ages, history, sculpture, nature and sports. In my spare time, I travel, read, go to concerts, play sports and do a lot of hiking. I work mainly in Florence and Siena but I love going to Lucca, less known Tuscan beauty and Pisa. I can also organize a food tour, a wine tasting or a day trip in Tuscany.

Tours by Joanna

Florence Tour Guide

Irina Willmer

Irina Willmer

Florence Tour Guide

Dina

Dina

Florence Tour Guide

Francesca Boldrini

Francesca Boldrini

<p>Linguist specializing in art history. I am a licensed tour guide with natural communicating skills and a big passion for Tuscany and<br>Rinascimento. I speak five languages: Russian at B2 TRKI level, German at B1 level, English, Italian and French at the mother tongue level.<br>I’ve got a great problem solving skills and the ability to work under pressure gained thanks to my experience in hospitality. I Believe in the<br>power of creativity. I offer tourists a unique, memorable experience involving them in what is going on around them. I love leading visitors<br>through sites of historical and cultural interest sharing my passions for history of art, especially the period of Renaissance. Optimistic and<br>open-minded and meeting diverse people from all over the world, I have got a real genuine interest for Guest satisfaction.</p>

Tours by Francesca

Make your stay a "plus one"

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I need not waste my time on selling it to you, but rather than staying in some dark dingy hostel which won’t do your stay justice, or paying over the odds for a mediocre hotel, why not pay a little bit extra (or less) to get the Plus Florence experience? Situated just out of the hustle and bustle of the tourist city centre this is a great location as you get an insight into the more local city life. It is also within walking distance of both the city centre and the train station, and thus the only mode of transport you will need is your own two feet.

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