Florence, Italy – Day 1

Our Italian adventure was one we will never forget. To quote Lizzie McGuire, “This is what dreams are made of.”

We arrived in Florence mid to late afternoon (3 or 4 p.m.). And, let me say, I truly believe this may be one of the best ways to acclimate yourself to a different time zone. We got off the plane, hopped in a cab, and headed straight for our hotel.

OHHHH, the Hotel

We stayed at Mercure Firenze Centro. Let me clarify, we have no affiliation with this hotel. We simply loved staying here. So, we are sharing the link so that you are able to see what the hotel looks like and where it is located. (Link: Hotel Link )

This hotel was literally minutes (walking distance) away from many of Florence’s major attractions. It made our days so easy to plan.

The staff was absolutely amazing! They were always ready with quick directions, recommendations, and even an umbrella to prevent us from getting drenched on our way to the cab.

The rooms were modern and comfortable.

Time to Eat

After a quick shower to get the plane smell off (eww!), we felt refreshed and headed out in search of dinner. We strolled toward the Duomo and enjoyed the sights along the way.

As we walked, we stumbled upon a security guard who was directing people to the front of a building and stopped to chat. We asked for a gluten free restaurant recommendation. He pointed us across the road to a restaurant called Ginori. (Link: Restaurant Link )   Again, we have no affiliation with this business, we simply enjoyed our dining experience. While their gluten free options were limited to pasta, it was really good.

The restaurant was absolutely charming inside. And, the staff was very welcoming.

Evening Stroll in Florence

There is nothing better than strolling through the streets of historic Florence. The city is absolutely stunning. Every time you turn a corner another beautiful surprise awaits. As we turned a corner walking back to our hotel we happened upon the Medici Chapels. Wow!

It was too late to tour that night, but we have added it to our “Next Visit” list.

Lesson Learned

We arrived back at our hotel before 10 p.m. that night. This allowed us enough time to get a good night’s sleep and be ready to head out early the next morning.

We have decided that whenever possible we will try to arrive at our destinations mid to late afternoon, go for a stroll, grab dinner and return to our hotel. This was a great way to beat jet lag!

The fresh air, exercise, relaxed evening (no agenda), and a reasonable bedtime really seemed to help us acclimate to the change in time zones.

Be sure to check out our video about our first day in Italy!   Link here.

Want to know more about saving on international adventures? Check out our post We Tried These International Money-Saving Travel Hacks So You Don’t Have To

And remember, break the monotony, not the bank.

–Marnie and Jeff