The Relais & Maison Grand Tour was birthed in 2001 through the passion and entrepreneurial skills of a couple from Florence who discovered this place rich in history and tradition. Later on, the new owner perfected it even more through further renovations into what you see today, by i.e. converting a unique aspect of the Relais, a small private theater, into a suite and a unique space for organizing tailor-made events.
Tripadvisor
A place of history with a personal touch.... At a perfect location right next to the busy streets of Florence, still being able to provide a calm and quiet atmosphere when you enter. It is a historic building with memories from the past and a story to tell. The host and owner is friendly and welcoming and she takes joy in giving the customer the experience they are after!
Benjamin A
Tripadvisor
Excellent Bed and Breakfast The Grand Tour was in a perfect location to walk to lots of the highlights of Florence. We had a charming room that was so comfortable. Ulrike Essex was a wonderful hostess with lot of great suggestions for sight seeing and eating. There was a self service laundry right down the street which was great.
Nancy Cox
Website
We stayed in the beautiful Diva room, and found it elegant, comfortable, quiet and just what we needed after long days of visiting museums, churches, eating and shopping in fabulous Florence. The location is great, not too much traffic and yet still close to everything. Ulrike met us on arrival and spent some time with us giving us tips on how to get the most from our visit. I especially enjoyed the electric hot water kettle and selection of tea and coffee that was provided for a morning wake me up or a nighttime slow me down treat. We stayed two weeks in Italy, but sadly, only three nights in Florence. I wish we could have spent more time in this lovely B&B as it was a highlight of our trip.
CTucker (Austin, Texas)
Tripadvisor
Our experience in this beautiful, perfectly located hotel could not have been more enjoyable. Ulrika was so warm, helpful and welcoming that we wish we could have stayed for more than the two days we had planned on our 3 week vacation to Italy. We had access to the rooftop terrace, two bedrooms with private baths and a sitting area to eat a quick bite. Beds were comfortable, linens luxurious and the quiet location provided a cozy place to relax before we headed out to the Accademia and the Uffizzi. Immaculately clean, tastefully decorated and the highlight was a sitdown visit with Ulrika to learn about the history of the building, the renovations that were required and the future plans being considered. Our amazing hostess, Ulrika, made us feel like we had been friends for years. Since we stayed in the upper appartment the stairs were narrow and a bit challenging for one of our party. Taking the stairs with caution it was the perfect setting for our short exploration of Florence. We highly recommend staying here and using all the recommendations that Ulrika so generously provided. Our meal down the street on the corner of her street was superb. Treat yourself to this lovely place on your next visit to Florence,
kimf672019
Tripadvisor
Abbiamo soggiornato in 5 in una bellissima suite molto spaziosa con 2camere, 2bagni e un terrazzo molto carino peccato non averlo potuto sfruttare per la stagione. Proprietaria molto gentile e sempre disponibile. Super-consigliato!!!
eli_boh
Tripadvisor
If you are going to Florence, look no further - you simply cannot do better than this marvelous B&B, 5 minutes walk from anything you want to visit, and down the block from several nice restaurants and cafes. The building is a beautifully restored 18th century theatre. The beds and linens are top quality, the place is spotless, the lovely owner lives on site and is very knowledgable and helpful about anything you would want to do. Unhesitating recommendation!
zitizitipianopiano
Tripadvisor
Ulrike, the owner, was in contact via email with us before we arrived in Florence. She was quick to respond to questions that we had about location, easiest way to get to the BB from the central train station, and renting s car in Florence. She had great suggestions about what to do in Florence as well. She greeted us and took time to get to know us. We stayed in the two room suite which was clean and beautifully decorated. The rooms had a great AC system which was greatly appreciated after a long hot day of sightseeing in Florence. Showers were recently remodeled and were very spacious. The location is central to all Florence attractions and easy to get to the city center or Duomo area. We highly recommend this BB to families or couples.
Nilsson Family
Website
Unser Aufenthalt in Relais Grand Tour in Florenz war sehr schön und wir würden jederzeit wieder kommen! Die Zimmer sind sehr geschmackvoll eingerichtet und sie sind die perfekte Kombination aus antik & modern. Alles war sehr sauber und wir haben uns sehr wohlgefühlt.
Marc
Website
Ce B&B est remarquablement ditué pres du marché San Lorenzo, dans une rue calme. Chambre "attore", en fait une suite (photo), liberté totale, accueil et bon conseils de Giuseppe ; il y a un garage à 50m via Sant'Orsola tres pratique. compte tenu de ses prestations, c'est bien moins cher qu'un hôtel de même classe. je recommande ce B&B sans réserves.
ulyssee
Für 4 Tage habe ich einen Ausflug nach Florenz gemacht und im B & B Grand Tour von Ulrike übernachtet. Es war eine wunderbare Zeit, das B & B liegt in der Nähe aller Sehenswürdigkeiten, Restaurants und Cafés, ich konnte alles zu Fuß erreichen. Durch die besonders schöne Ausstattung, eine gelungene Mischung aus Antike und Moderne, Renaissance und Neuzeit, habe ich mich hier sehr wohl gefühlt. Ulrike ist eine liebevolle Gastgeberin, die in drei Sprachen (englisch, italienisch, deutsch) besonders gute Tipps für Ausflüge, Sehenswürdigkeiten und auch Restaurants gibt und sich um alles kümmert. Das B & B ist sehr sauber und großräumig, ich habe sehr gut geschlafen (gute Betten) und es war schön ruhig. Auf der mit Pflanzen ausgeschmückten Terrasse habe ich in den lauen Nächten bei einem Glas Wein oder Bier den Tag ausklingen lassen. Ich komme bestimmt wieder und kann das B & B Relais & Maison Grand Tour sehr empfehlen. Liebe Grüße von Beate aus Deutschland
Beate
Tripadvisor
Great room! We booked the I do it myself with Rick Steves/Rough Guide - The MOST convenient! It combines the "I do it myself" special and the additional 10% discount for Rick Steves/Rough Guide users. The offer "I do it myself" means you skip daily cleanings and linen change. At your arrival you have your room done and clean, with fresh bed linen and fresh towels (big, medium, small, and a shower mat) and keep them until check-out. This made our stay very convenient and with the large room and excellent bathroom, we were quite comfortable. Ulrike our hostess lived in the U.S. for over 30 years and speaks English perfectly. Our reservation included breakfast which was provided by a restaurant on the corner just a short walk (<2min.) away. The Florence Cathedral-The Duomo is about a 10-15min walk through town and the Uffizi is another 5min. from there. Great restaurants in the area as well.
Jim A.
Tripadvisor
We loved staying here, we were lucky to have the spacious upstairs apartment and fell in love with the place instantly. Ulrike has decorated it beautifully and retained many original features of this historic old theatre. The location is perfect for sightseeing and we were able to walk out the door in the morning stroll past the many cafes and restaurants on our way to all the amazing sights of Florence.
Lizzie P
Tripadvisor
Unexpected value and old world charm... Just spent a fantastic week in and around Florence and have absolute positive things to say about hostess/owner Ulrike and her hotel. The room was charming. Modern bath and air conditioning blended with old wooden ceilings and salvaged frescos to make a comfortable oasis just 5 minutes from the main train station at Santa Maria Novella and the Mercato Centrale. Of course access to the Duomo and historic district was incredible. The patio was a nice no view feature but brought the outdoors in after a long day of touring, or for morning coffee or tea. The price was right and the hotel was a great value. Although breakfast was not offered it was not necessary due to the proximity to in-town restaurants. Ulrike was beyond friendly. She speaks perfect English, German and Italian. Her 30+ years spent in the US gave us great comfort regarding her recommendations. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Brian W
Tripadvisor
Lovely stay We stayed a few days at this beautiful B&B. Conveniently located a few minutes from the train station. Main attractions within walking distance. We stayed in the Golden Suite. Beautifully decorated, clean and plenty of space for our family. A nice little restaurant just steps away for breakfast. Ulrike, the owner was amazing; giving us plenty of restaurant recommendations and helping us navigate the city. She even went out of her way to help us find allergy friendly restaurant for our child with multiple food allergies. Overall a fantastic experience.
Cosmopolitan641475
Tripadvisor
Beautiful suite in a great location! My wife and I stayed with our two young daughters in the Suite d'Oro at the Relais and Maison Grand Tour in late November, 2018. Our host Ulrike was gracious, helpful, and a wonderful conversationalist. She made our stay easy and pleasant, and offered useful tips for seeing and enjoying Florence. We unexpectedly arrived late to Florence from our previous stop and her welcoming smile immediately put us all at ease. The Suite d'Oro is exquisitely decorated in a style fitting of Florence. The beds are comfortable, the rooms are spacious, and the bathroom is modern. The bathroom is actually gigantic! A nice change after the miniscule showers of other places that we stayed. The suite is perfect for a couple that wants space or for a family with children. We had our two young (ages 1 and 5) daughters with us and the suite perfectly suited our needs. There is room to spread out with all of the stuff that usually comes with traveling with children. It was nice to not feel cramped. The inn is located only a few blocks from the heart of Florence. The immediate neighborhood is teeming with restaurants and stores. It feels like you are in a real neighborhood of locals, Florentines going about their daily lives, even though you are only 5-10 minutes walk away from the tourist center of the city. It was just a short easy walk to the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella, and other attractions. We greatly enjoyed our stay at the Relais and Maison Grand Tour. We will gladly stay there again when we return to Florence.
MMZEH
Expedia
This place is AMAZING! It is so cozy and clean and comfortable located in a safe neighborhood. All the major attractions in Florence are within walking distance which is a huge plus. The staff is so kind and helpful . She let us leave our luggage there because we got in earlier than check in time and they let us leave the luggage there after checking out. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone going to Florence.
Krista
Booking
Perfetto... Le camere e la cordialità delle signore americane. Nulla, non cambierei nulla.
Michele
Booking
Consigliato! La suite con 2camere e 2bagni assolutamente da consigliare per famiglie numerose. Grande disponibilità della proprietaria. Comodo sia per raggiungere il centro che la stazione dei treni a piedi.
Elisa
Booking
Hotel molto carino ed accogliente... In generale la camera, molto pulita e molto curata nei dettagli. Un’ottima soluzione
Marcello
Booking
Struttura deliziosa ed accogliente nel cuore della città. Ottima posizione: vicinissima a stazione dei treni e centro città. Ideale per famiglie: noi avevamo una super suite familiare Grazie per l'accoglienza !! Se ci fosse anche breakfast a casa sarebbe il top!!
Expedia
We absolutely loved the property with its ancient history, authentic atmosphere and very warm welcome we received! located centrally, easy to reach, beautiful...5 out of 5
anonymous
Expedia
Literally on the doorstep of all you need. Owner was lovely and overall decor of the rooms makes you feel like your in a room in Florence and not just another hotel room. Parking is at the end of the road and the owner can point you to all the places you want to see
Joe
Expedia
It was a really pleasant stay. The place was managed with a memorable color and taste of Ulrike. She was very helpful and I had no difficulty getting to the unknown place for a tour bus. I'll definitely come back to the Relais Grand Tour when I visit Florence next time. I already miss it. 10 of 10
Misun
Expedia
This property has a very cool style, and the service Ulrike provided was great. She provided help with anything needed. I liked the proximity to all the main sights, and it was a quick walk to the central market for a great variety of food at good prices, as well as anything you would want to buy. I would stay here again.
Tod
Tripadvisor
Bellissimo!! Abbiamo soggiornato in 5 in una bellissima suite molto spaziosa con 2camere, 2bagni e un terrazzo molto carino peccato non averlo potuto sfruttare per la stagione. Proprietaria molto gentile e sempre disponibile. Super-consigliato!!!
eli_boh
Tripadvisor
Beautiful and unusual apartment in central Florence We loved staying here, we were lucky to have the spacious upstairs apartment and fell in love with the place instantly. Ulrike has decorated it beautifully and retained many original features of this historic old theatre. The location is perfect for sightseeing and we were able to walk out the door in the morning stroll past the many cafes and restaurants on our way to all the amazing sights of Florence.
Daphne