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| Plus Florence Hostel Italy, Review
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Plus Florence Hostel
Via Santa Caterina Alessandra 15, Florence, Italy
www.plusted.com
The Plus Florence Hostel is a newly opened Youth Hostel, a 15 minute walk from the main train station. It has 450 beds, and you will feel the amount of guests starting when you wait for check in or information at the reception.
When I called midday, I was told that they have plenty of room and I was offered an 8-bed dorm for 22 Euro. Arriving there 15 minutes later, there was no space at all, just one bed left in a 4-bed dorm for 28 Euro (so I was told). One way to bring backpackers into the hostel, most will not turn around, because they are tired and don´t want to carry their packs one more meter.
I took the bed and that night we were 5 in the room (one of the lower bunks was like a double bed, so the couple started their mating routines at 2am). Next morning I wanted a 2Euro refund for sleeping in a 5 bed dorm, which wasn´t received to happily, but paid.
One reason I wanted to stay there was that Plus Florence offers wifi on websites and flyers. But there is none. Instead the lady at the reception said they have a pool (which doesn´t work for a connection on a laptop!!) There is a pool, a sauna and three workout machineries (if you still haven´t had enough exercise carrying your backpack around Europe).
The rooms are new and clean, bathrooms inside. Each has a flat screen TV, which is nice that the hostel is spending money on that, but not on enough lockers for each traveler (two were in the room, but only one was working).
Internet is a scary 5Euro an hour, so guests are better off at one of the Internet Points in Florence where the price is mostly 1.50Euro for one hour. Washing and dryer tokens are 3.50Euro each, plus 1Euro for soap. There is a kitchen, vending machines (prices ok), the usual offers for bike rental, walking tours and so on. Breakfast is not included; all you can eat basic will cost you 3.50Euro.
What makes the place special is the rooftop terrace, with a great view over Florence, there is a bar and they also serve food.
But if you think that you buy your drinks at the supermarket to save money and then sit on the terrace, it´s a no go! Policy=no outside food and drinks on terrace! Signs are everywhere. (Hotel resort feeling!)
Summary!
Plus Florence is one more new hostel in Europe going away from the traditional backpacker places. Offering services like in-room TV, sauna and fitness machines and charging too much for internet and else doesn´t make sense for budget orientated travelers already spending much money in an expensive country. Plus Florence is more a 450 bed resort, the place for young students and their parties (which you will experience while staying)
There are better and cheaper places in Florence offering services like breakfast, internet, wifi and walking tour for free and charge reasonable prices for dorm beds, laundry and dinner.
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Posted by backpackernews on 2008-06-26 07:08:48 | Rating: | Views: 94
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| Blog Comments
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Dear backpacker,
Firstly i would like to apologise for any inconveniences that you may have incurred while staying at our hostel PLUS Florence. I would like to take this opportunity to provide an explaination as to why you may have been dissatisfied.
In regards to your room and paying extra.
As much as we would love to offer everyone a room, 450 beds is our limit unfortunately. I did not hear your conversation when you called so i do not know what was said or discussed. I would like to apologise for any misleading information that was given. I'm sure there may have been beds available upon making your call but as you have seen yourself there are always 101 people waiting to get in and beds fill up instantly. My best advice to avoid these situations is to book your beds in advance so as to be sure to get the bed and price you want. Especially now in high season, you would be lucky to get beds in most places at the cheapest price when walking in off the street. However as i said if the receptionists gave you the idea that your bed would be held then i apologise for the fact that this was not followed through.
You were charged €28 because the 4 bed dorm was the only option available and a 4 bed dorm costs more than an 8 bed. If there was 5 people in the room it was because there were 5 places available. They were a couple and asked for a double bed that is all. There was no alterior motive. I apologise again that you did not manage to get the room you were wanting.
Dorms can be noisy, this i know, however this is all part of the hostel environment and why you pay less than a hotel. When you are sharing rooms with another 4 even 40 other individuals, there will be noise. I myself have stayed in 40 bed dorms and i understand your frustration. We do try to give out ear plugs where possible as a little extra as we understand how much better we are to travel after a good nights sleep.
In regards to the internet, as you may or may not know, the hostel is brand new. It opened in the end of March 2008 and work and adjustments are constantly occuring. WiFi is meant to be in place already. Having lived in Italy for over 3 years now, it is a matter of accepting the culture and the differneces in this case. Everything is very slow here and while they say it will be done in a couple of weeks the months continue to go by. Believe me it is very frustrating and this is one cultural aspect that i find hard to adjust to but it's a matter of going with the flow. It is the only way to fit in with the italian way of life. However in saying that i apologise for this being misleading and was not done so intentionally. Upon making our new marketing material we intended on this service already being in place and for this it was included in our overviews. I do believe it should be up and running within the next week.
The pool, sauna and gym area are all just little extras that we would like to offer our travellers who stay with us. Those who like a work out in the morning or a nice relaxing swim or sauna after a long day sightseeing, we offer this service as an extra. There is no charge for these and was just something we thought we would offer over and above a standard hostel.
The satellite TV is also merely an option for those who want it. There alot of people who have been travelling for months, their feet hurt, perhaps it is pouring with rain, it may be winter and travellers may much rather just chill out and watch a little television. Once again, we would like to offer our guests this option.
Our prices at our restaurant and bar you will find better than anywhere in Florence. You can by a bottle of wine for €5, have a pizza or pasta in our restaurant for 5-7€. Florence is and expensive city so we try to offer entertainment and a cheaper rate. However once again, it is not compulsary to stay and eat and drink here, there is always the option to go out and about in Florence.
In regards to the terrace bar also, one can still go up and enjoy the views company and fun to be had up there. If you would like to eat or drink, we offer this. If not, just enjoy the atmosphere and meet some new people, play some games or get a sun tan.
Backpackers are changing and hostels are changing with them. I find it interesting to see the change in backpackers. It seems more and more difficult to please everyone. Yes, this is a luxury hostel at back packer prices. We have gone over and above the norm to try to provide all these little extra comforts for backpackers and young travellers alike.
Being travellers and backpackers ourselves we have people like yourself in mind. PLUS - "People Like US". As i said it is still new and we are constantly working on it and making adjustments where necessary. YOur feedback is greatly appreciated and we will definately take your comments on board. IF anyone else has any feedback we are more that happy to hear from you as it is the only way we can improve.
As i said earlier, i am terribly sorry on behalf of all of the PLUS crew for any inconvenience you incountered. If you will be staying at any other of our properties throughout Italy or Prague please contact me and let me know and we will be more than happy to accommodate you.
Regards
Kas
PLUS Crew
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Posted by PLUSTED
on 2008-06-30 09:24:46
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Dear Plus Team,
Thank you for responding so quickly to my blog.
Like you, I have traveled and backpacked the world many times, staying at hostels all over the world and sharing the noise of dormitories. Believe me; I do know the rules and expectations of travelers. Managing a backpacker in San Diego I also know the responsibility and challenges coming long side running a place like you do.
To give you some more inside of the happenings while experiencing the Plus Florence, let me write the following:
The phone conversation I had with one of your employees at midday was unmistakable. “We have plenty room in 8-bed dorms!” When the lady during the check-in handed me the receipt over 28 Euro, I asked her what happened to the 22 Euro 8-bed. She said that I am receiving the last bed the Plus Florence has for that day, while at the same moment the other lady (obviously the one I spoke to at the phone) said that you have bed available in an 8-bed dorm. My surprise was the look and reply she received then, “NO, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE AVAILABLE!”
Asking to store my backpack in a secure room, I was directed to the luggage storage at the entrance of the hostel which wide open door I remembered when walking into the building. 15 minutes later and looking at the same door, it still was invitingly open and nobody around. Telling the reception that I have camera equipment in my pack, she stored it behind the reception area, which I am very thankful for. The responsibility of securing this door lies in the hands of the hostel, not of the people using it and not closing it. There is no real security at the front desk so nobody would be able to control who is walking into the storage room and, if ever something would be missing, the recording might be useless, but the trouble great.
Knowing that rooms with fewer beds are more expensive I understand that I had to pay more. Paying 28 Euro for a 4-bed dorm and ending up in a room with 5 people while you have a pricelist placed at the check –in desk which indicates 26 Euro for 5-6 bed dorms, well.
New to me is the fact, that couples can ask for double beds in dorms nowadays. Guess private rooms are old fashion for couples wanting to exchange hugs and kisses in the afternoon or the middle of the night. By the way, the other two travelers, brother and sister, were very annoyed by that as well.
How many travelers keep their not so good experiences to themselves, until they sit in a common room and talk to others about places they stayed? Even in times of online reviews and booking, the so called “Word of mouth” recommendation is still a big part in the backpacking community.
Opening a hostel with 450 beds is a challenge. But not only reviews of guests on websites, also travelers one meets all over Italy talk about the long waiting lines when you need something from the reception. One statement was “I spent so much time at the reception that I had to skip some sightseeing.” Same for the check-in promise of 2pm. Waiting again.
Your comment about having the best prices for meals and drinks; do research and you will find cheaper. Your comment “However once again, it is not compulsory to stay and eat and drink here, there is always the option to go out and about in Florence.” Regarding the no outside food and drinks policy, I´d like to copy in one of the comments found on Hostelworld.
“They do have a lovely dining room and kitchen, unfortunately reserved for their restaurant, so everyone who cooks their own food has to sit on the 2 piddly tables in the kitchen. The theme nights were pathetic with no one attending, luckily we smuggled our own alcohol in so we didn't have to deal with their lousy card system.”
We both agreed, backpackers and hostels are changing and it is interesting to see that change. The reviews I am writing are aimed to find the travelers doing long term trips, not 4 day party fly in students with the budget air lines who are actually changing the hostels and giving the reason to open massive accommodations. Having a pool and workout options, TV in room and all is great, of course, but one should focus first on the basic services and their prices.
Wanting to be a serious challenge to other hostels in the city and the country, one should not forget, that no matter being a restaurant, a 300€ a night hotel or a hostel, most times you have only one shot to amaze your guest.
Wishing you all the best and always satisfied guests
Opb.travel
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Posted by backpackernews
on 2008-07-01 04:51:20
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