Plus Florence
There's a Renaissance happening again in Florence.
Plus Florence - the new luxury hostel in the centre of Florence. Michelangelo did it in the 15th Century and now PLUS have done it in the 21st. Discover for yourself the art of backpacking accommodation in Florence's newest and most cutting edge hostel.
PLUS Florence sets the bar for budget accommodation in providing value for money and outstanding customer service as standard, top facilities and total comfort for every backpacker.
After a long day queuing to see David there is a swimming pool to cool off in, how about a refreshing beer, chilled gelato or tasty snack from the café, a flat screen TV in every room, the awesome terrace bar to soak up the view of the rooftops of Florence, and of course colourful spacious dorm rooms with cosy beds, all only a few minutes walk from the main train station.
Continuing Plus' quest to provide the ultimate in budget accommodation plus Florence offers PLUS GIRLS. This ‘girls-only' space gives you the opportunity be a girl again. There are big bathrooms, cosmetic tables with large mirrors and hairdryers to get you looking like the locals. When you check in you'll receive a nice fluffy towel to use and a complimentary cosmetics bag stuffed with goodies for you to take along. See what we mean by luxury?
Pull up at the Plus Port and the fabulously hard working staff can sort out your tours, trips, tickets, timetables, travel plans and anything else beginning with T (even a T-bone steak) for your stay in the Renaissance city.
Plan your day over a hot frothy cappuccino in our onsite café, or get online with the WiFi and internet terminals, the bar will be open when you get back for the evening warm-up session before going off with the best after-sightseeing-all-day party.
If you find there is no availability and you would like to book a private room, we have another great site in the centre of Florence called Plus Camping Michelangelo that has a great view of the whole city which you can book right here!
Accomodation
SHARED/MIXED DORMS
Light and open spaced rooms that sleep 4,5,6,7 or 8 people. All beds come with private reading lamp, crisp white bed linens, cosy fleece blankets and pillows. Each bed has its own storage locker that can be locked. Flat screen TV, ensuite WC and shower. A/C is also available.
PRIVATE TWIN/DOUBLE/TRIPLE (2 beds)
Stylish and airy rooms that sleep 2 people. Beds come with crisp white bed linens, cosy fleece blankets and pillows. Flat screen TV, ensuite WC and shower. Triple has one double bed and one single. A/C is also available.
PLUS GIRLS
PLUS GIRLS ONLY Designed with women in mind, all rooms are ensuite, bright, airy and stylishly decorated and sleep 4,5,6,7 or 8 ladies.Flat screen TV, ensuite WC and shower. For those little extra home comforts you get larger bathrooms, vanity table with mirror, big fluffy towels for use during your stay, hair-dryers, and complimentary welcome cosmetic pack. A/C is also available.
Facilities
24HR RECEPTION
The reception staff at Plus Florence were born ready. Check in is all day and check out is by 10am. We reserve the right to bang pasta pots and drop coffee cups next to your head if you're not out by then. For any other issue you might have the desk is open 24-7. You can also collect your linens and buy laundry tokens.
INTERNET/WIFI
Get connected in the reception area on one of the PC's or if you have your own laptop you will find we are totally wired with WiFi (not just by the espresso's) all over the hostel.
BAR & RESTAURANT
Not your average ordinary watering hole but a Plus one. A buffet breakfast is available in the morning (if it's after 11am it becomes lunch) and you can even get a fantastic meal in the evening at our onsite restaurant. The panoramic terrace bar has the best 360 view of Florence and overlooks the Duomo, just perfect for that sundowner at the end of the day.
PLUS PORT - TRAVEL DESK
Pull up at the Plus Port and the fabulously hard working staff can sort out your tours, trips, tickets, timetables, travel plans and anything else beginning with T (even a T-bone steak!) for your stay in the Renaissance city.
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
Large 8kg washing and drying machines ready to take the meanest loads. Just ask at reception for details/tokens.
MONEY MATTERS
We accept all major credit cards, travellers cheques and can exchange foreign currencies.
GYM AREA
Open daily all year round. Our gym area is available for those wishing to expend a bit more energy and get their body to look more like David's.
SWIMMING POOL
Take the plunge-Cool off in the summer, or relax after a long day walking around town. Our indoor pool is open all year round.
TURKISH STEAM ROOM
There's no better way to flush out the excesses than with a little steam cleaning. Very handy for the day after the night before.
PLUS GROUPS
Whether it's an educational visit, business meeting, team building exercise, family reunion or cultural excursion Plus Florence has the latest in group facilities.
We can accommodate up to any group size in a fun safe and clean environment, with full or partly catered options, a spacious group meeting area and secure off street bus parking. We also have the ability to seal off and secure floors to further guarantee your group's safety.
BY TRAIN
As you exit Santa Maria Novella through the exit next to the pharmacy and change bureau cross at the traffic lights and turn right. Walk towards the McDonald’s, turn left at that street with Mcdonalds on the corner, Largo continue up Via Nazionale, straight on up Piazza Indipendenza onto Via di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, we are numbers 13-17 on the left hand side. The hostel is 900m from Firenze SMN station.
BY BUS
Exit the bus station onto the main road that passes in front of the train station, into Piazza della Stazione. Walk up towards the McDonalds, , cross the two sets of traffic lights towards the McDonald's, take the first street on your left, Largo Fratelli Alinari, continue up Via Nazionale, straight on up Piazza Inpdipendenza onto Via di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, we are numbers 13-17 on the left hand side.
BY PLANE
-from Firenze Airport (Peretola)
The smaller of the two airports. Closer to the city at 5km but only takes internal Italian flights and a small number of European ones. Connections to the city are only by taxi or bus- Vola in Bus, every half hour 6am-11pm.
-from Pisa Airport (Galileo Gallilei)
A bigger domestic and international airport located on the coast, takes all the European budget airlines. City connections are by train (approx 1hr to Florence), taxi, public bus or Terravison bus. The main bus terminal is in Piazza della Stazione next to the train station.
Our PLUS PORT gives you all the information you need without having to leave the hostel. With the best tours available at un-beatable prices, maps and information, bike hire, tickets, events, timetables plus much more.
The PLUS PORT was opened with the philosophy of giving backpackers the best experience possible. All the tours and day trips are designed personally for backpackers by our wonderful PLUS PORT staff, so not only are they great value but they are carefully put together with your best interests in mind.
We know that most people travel with that “once in a life-time” frame of mind, so we want everybody to come to our properties with the opportunity to see and do everything they physically can. Tours are available throughout Summer and Winter and include: famous wine and food tours, scooter tours, pub crawls, and sporting events.
Check out the awesome tours on offer in 2010:
THE CHIANTIPSY DAY TRIP
Drive through the rolling green hills of the famous Chianti Classico region and be enchanted by the colours and the perfumes of the Tuscan countryside. The first stop will be at a 12th century castle wine cellar where you will be able to sample some of the exclusive wine and extra virgin olive oil on toasted bread that is produced in house. The second stop will be in the Chianti’s charming capital Greve where beneath the covered walkways around the central square, there are many coffee shops, typical Trattorie and shops selling everything from local crafts to fresh foods and farm products.
Here you will get an extra taste of wine and truffle oil olive in the largest wine shop in the Chianti area with 140 different types of wines and 20 olive oils available to taste.
The third and last stop will be just 20 minutes away from Greve in a 15Th century villa located in the heart of Tuscany surrounded by breathtaking views of the rolling hills of Chianti for a delicious lunch and wine tasting.
Every Monday
From 10am to 5pm
Included in Price: Transport, guide, wine tasting at winery, stop in Greve, wine tasting in wine shop, lunch and wine tasting at historical villa.
Cost: €38
THE GRAPE ESCAPE DAY TRIP
Join our fun day trip to the Chianti countryside and discover why the area is famous for its scenery as well as its wine.
The first stop will be in a wine tasting school where you will learn about wine and extra virgin olive oil from a wine passionate producer. At the end of the day you will be able to recognize the flavors, the bouquet and the age of the wine.
The second stop will be at a local winery located in a stunning area well known for the production of the D.O.C.G. Vernaccia white wine facing the famous towers of San Gimignano. The wine makers will guide you through the vineyards and they will share the secrets of the wine and oil production as well as the best wine and food combinations.
Finally we will enjoy a home-style lunch at the winery based on Typical Tuscan fresh dishes made with local ingredients. In the afternoon you will be free to visit and spend time wandering though the narrow streets shopping in the local shops in the most beautiful medieval town of Tuscany, San Gimignano and check out the tower filled skyline while eating the ice cream from the world champion ice cream making gelateria.
Every Wednesday
From 10am to 5pm
Included in Price: Transport, guide, wine tasting at the wine tasting school, lunch and wine tasting at winery, stop in San Gimignano.
Cost: €38
THE TASTE OF TUSCANY DAY TRIP
If you forget to have breakfast in the morning, don’t worry about it and join this tour. The first stop of the day is at an authentic Tuscan farm in the heart of the famous Chianti Classico region. Here begins the serious task of tasting locally produced Tuscan products, including pecorino cheese accompanied by various tasty jams, home made cured meats and fresh olive oil on bread all washed down with a house red and white wine from the winery. After brunch we are heading to a family run winery immersed between cypresses and olive trees with breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside. You will be visiting the cellars with useful explanations given by an expert and you will discover the tradition of wine making art followed by wine tasting at the end. You will spend a relaxing afternoon in Monteriggioni, a 13th century medieval town, admiring the wonderful view of the area from the ancient walls with a gelato in your hand.
Every Friday
From 10am to 5pm
Included in Price: Transport, guide, brunch at local farm, wine tasting at winery, stop in Monteriggioni and gelato.
Cost: €38
1 DAY IN TUSCANY
Visit the major attractions of Tuscany in this one day trip and find out about the art, the history, the landscape, the traditions, the wine and food this wonderful region is reknown for.
The first stop will be in San Gimignano, the famous walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, where you will have free time to wander through the narrow and characteristic streets and check out the local shops selling the delicacies of Tuscany.
The second stop will be in a local winery located in a stunning area of the Tuscan countryside well known for the production of the D.O.C.G Vernaccia white wine. It faces the famous towers of San Gimignano and surrounded by rolling hills, vines and olive grooves. Here you will learn about the production of wine and olive oil from the wine maker, you’ll taste some of the best wines produced in the Chianti region and you’ll enjoy a home style lunch based on local Tuscan ingredients. At the winery you’ll be given the opportunity to buy their products at advantageous prices.
After lunch we’ll stop in a second winery, 20 minutes from Siena, for a chianti wine sampling. This is a perfect location in the Chianti area to admire the walls of Monteriggioni, one of the most preserved medieval towns of Tuscany.
Last but not least we’ll be heading to the historic city of Siena where you’ll be enchanted during our orientation walk of the city by the architectural styles of the Cathedral and the Palazzo Comunale in Piazza del Campo, the stage of the famous Palio horse race held twice a year.
Every Sunday
From 8.30am to 6.30pm
Included in Price: Transport, guide, stop in San Gimignano, wine tasting and lunch at winery, chianti wine tasting in a second winery, stop in Siena.
Cost: €52
FOOD & WINE GASTRONOMIC TOUR
Come and join us for a very special tour about the history and tradition of Italian food and wine. Meld among locals picking up their specialty foods. Meet the butchers, the bakers, and the farmers selling vegetables from their gardens and you will learn how to distinguish the highest quality ingredients. We’ll guide you through a tasting path of the most important products this land has to offer and teach you traditions and little tricks for preparing local specialties. Lunch is made of:
Starters based on:
- Cheese of different ages with balsamic
- Vinegar and jams
- Tuscan olives
- Parma Ham & Salami
- Extra virgin olive oil on bread
First course: Traditional pasta & lots of wine from local producers
From 10am to 1pm
Included in Price: guide and lunch
Cost: €20
BIKE TOUR & WINE TASTING
Join our fun and informative 3h bike tour to see the city in a short amount of time without missing out on any of the major sites and attractions. We will travel the winding streets of Florence cycling past all its famous monuments.
After a 2hour ride before returning to the hostel, we will stop in an enoteca just a few steps from Piazza Santa Croce to rest and taste, together with a wine expert, some of the best olive oil and Italian wines combined with cheese.
If you want to know more about the town and its monuments and if you love wine and want to discover the interesting Tuscan and Italian vintages, join this tour!!!
From 5.00pm to 8.00pm
From 10am to 1pm
Included in price: guide, bike hire and wine tasting
Cost: €20
PUBCRAWL
All you can eat and all the wine you can drink in the first place
3-4 Bars on the road
Free Shots in each bar
Discounts in the bars, drink specials & shot specials
Admission into a club open till late.
From 8pm until you crawl!
Wednesdays and Fridays
Cost: €20
DAY TRIP TO PALIO HORSE RACE
INCLUDED IN PRICE: you'll get the pick up/drop off at the hostel, a video presentation, a drink, a T-shirt of the event, a fun guide on board and last but not least the opportunity to continue celebrating after the horse race into the evening long after all public transportation back to Florence has finished.
Date: 2 July and 16 August
Time: from 1pm to 11pm
Cost: €40
SPECIAL OFFER:
2 nights accommodation in a 6 bed dorm + 1 continental breakfast + the palio day trip
€ 85 pp instead of € 91.50pp
SHORT BREAK IN TUSCANY
2 nights accommodation in a 6 bed dorm + 1 continental breakfast + wine tour of Tuscany
Period: May to October
Cost: €85
Just because you're carrying a backpack around doesn't mean you should have to compromise your style. PLUS GIRLS is giving girls that spring back in their step with larger bathrooms, hair dryers, a welcome pack and a big fluffy towel. You will definitely appreciate the extras before hitting the city in style for a big day of retail therapy, soaking up the culture or even a night out on the town with the girls. Enjoy your holiday within a holiday. Did you know PLUS GIRLS is also available at our PLUS PRAGUE hostel?
