St Regis Florence Honeymoon – Most Romantic Hotel in Florence

In recapping our honeymoon in Florence, I promised that our honeymoon stay at the St Regis Florence would get its own post.  That day has come. From the moment that we had to cancel our original honeymoon until the moment we checked out, the St. Regis ensured that our honeymoon was AMAZING.  It was so good that we’ve been back (at least once) every year since 2015.  

While I had put a note in our reservation that we were coming for our honeymoon and interacted a little with them via instagram, we did not have extensive communication with the hotel.  The St. Regis is one of the only hotels that recognized our honeymoon in a meaningful way (and, if I’m being totally honest, our titanium status).  

If I could have stayed in Florence for the entirety of our trip, I would have (except for that whole visiting other places thing).  The staff went above and beyond to make our stay especially memorable. There are not enough words in the world to express my gratitude for how special they made our honeymoon.  They are just that good. It’s why I will always date check the STR before planning the rest of our Italy itinerary.

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We have now made 9 stays between 2015-2023. Every single stay has been perfect. And, every single one of our rooms at the St Regis Florence has been different.  Between the location, the beauty, the service, and more, it is obvious that the commitment to the guest experience remains unparalleled.  Every time we return from Florence, I update my review of the St. Regis Florence about the rooms and the property amenities because I don’t want to forget, and I don’t want anyone to miss out on this amazing hotel! There are a lot of Florence hotels to consider, but I always come back to the St. Regis.    

Getting to the St. Regis Florence

Florence was the second stop on our honeymoon in Italy.  For this particular trip, our Italian itinerary included the three major cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice.  Thus, we opted to travel entirely by train for this particular trip.    

We arrived into Florence around 12:00pm at Santa Maria Novella – quite a bit earlier than we originally planned.  We headed to the taxi line outside Florence’s main train station, even though we could have walked to the St. Regis.  The cost was less than 10 euros. If you don’t have a lot of luggage, the walk takes about 12 minutes.

In subsequent years, we have driven into Florence from Tuscany, Umbria, and the Veneto region.  There is a Hertz location two blocks away from the St. Regis, so we usually drop our bags off and then return the car.  We’ve never run into issues with the ZTL – the St Regis and Hertz have been very helpful with that.  In the event we’ve kept the car for short stays in Florence, the St. Regis offers a very efficient valet service.        

Arriving at the St Regis Florence 

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the St. Regis staff was expecting us.  They knew exactly who we were and were happy to try and accommodate our early arrival. Although our room wasn’t ready we arrived, they offered to call us when it was ready.  We took that opportunity to walk over to one of my favorite restaurants, Trattoria Sostanza, for lunch.  Bellies full, I took Tom to see the Piazza della Signoria and we enjoyed a leisurely walk back along the Arno river.

By the time we returned to the St Regis, our room was ready.  We were immediately escorted up to our room by the front office manager, Stephanie.  Despite having never stayed at the St. Regis before, there was a “Welcome back to Florence” sign on the door.  It was made of paper hearts.  That was the first sign that someone had done their research and that our St Regis Florence honeymoon would be magical.

Our St Regis Florence Honeymoon Suite

In retrospect, I cannot even tell you what category of room I booked at the St. Regis. I always try to book an Arno River view room.  I really love the view of the Arno, especially at night.  We have stayed in a deluxe city view room, and it is equally lovely.  I don’t think there is a bad room at this hotel.  

That said, the upgrade we received for our honeymoon was incredibly kind and made this stay particularly memorable.  

St Regis Florence Junior Suite Arno River View

As Stephanie opened the door, we entered into the most beautiful suite that I have ever seen.  The room was bathed in light with rich fabrics, beautiful furnishings, and sweeping views of the Piazza Ognissanti and the Arno River.  Honestly, The Plaza pales in comparison to the St. Regis Florence. From the gilded mirrors to the bathtub overlooking the Arno river, I certainly felt like a princess in this room.    

With a large bathroom including a bathtub and a stand up shower, a walk-in closet, and a large sitting area (with a second bathtub overlook the Arno!), the room was bigger than our first apartment. The interior design was ridiculously beautiful with impeccable old-world style furnishings.  The room did not feel stuffy or old – nor did it feel minimalist and modern.  It did an amazing job of blending Florentine design elements and feeling aspirational.  (Could I use this wall covering in my bedroom at home, I wondered more than once.)

Not only did the windows open to beautiful views, but our room also had a terrace and an outdoor sitting area with a balcony overlooking Piazza Ognissanti and the Arno – an amenity that we didn’t appreciate nearly enough at the time!  Seriously – grab a bottle of wine and watch the sunset from your balcony in Florence at least once.

This particular suite is on the first floor, but we did not experience any issues with noise.

St. Regis Florence Room Amenities that We Love     

The water pressure in the shower is exceptional.  (This is a luxury anywhere and in any hotel, but especially in Europe.)  I am obsessed with the Acqua di Parma bath salts.  I love the strong mint scent of the Remede shampoo and conditioner, and it does an amazing job on my hair!    

Tom was particularly excited about the Bose sound system in iPod dock in the room.  It was like being at home; he loves having music when we travel, too.  (He’s been known to bring his own speaker.)

This particular suite offers dimmer switches on the lights, which adds to the romantic ambiance of the hotel. Not surprising, the St Regis beds are incredibly comfortable.  (Again, these small details contribute to an attainable luxury experience!)      

In the evenings, the hotel offers turn down service.  This means that your room is serviced twice a day.  Additionally, the St Regis also offers butler service.  Andrea was our favorite.  On every single trip, he provided with fantastic recommendations and unparalleled personal service.  He also contributed quite a bit to ensuring that our stays were extra magical and that we always felt welcomed back to Florence.  

Personalized Service at the St. Regis Florence

In addition to providing us a bottle of prosecco and assorted desserts as part of our arrival gift, the staff decorated our room with confetti hearts and vintage postcards of Florence.  

On a different day, we returned to find photoshopped pictures of us at different Florence landmarks.  (They had done some impressive research to find pictures of us!)  They also created a scroll of my study abroad semester blog post, tied it with a ribbon, and left us with paper and an envelope to write our own stories together.  Could this be any more romantic?! 

These personal touches left me humbled and amazed.  It might have been the most thoughtful and romantic hotel experience I have EVER had. It was clear that no detail was left untouched before our arrival.  Without a doubt, the St Regis team made our honeymoon so personal and special in a way that no other hotel – not even the hotel where we got married – did.

The St. Regis staff is always ready to help.  Whether it’s getting a restaurant reservation, helping cab drivers to navigate traffic, or recommending some of the lesser known things to see in Florence, everyone on their staff is proud to make your stay as memorable as possible.

Always Above and beyond:  In 2016, I forgot one of my dresses at the hotel.  They sent it back to the United States via Fedex without a problem.  I was really excited about that because it was one of my favorites at the time.

In our stays since 2015, they have continued these personal touches.  Stephanie has cultivated an amazing staff and I always look forward to returning because we always feel like valued guests at the St. Regis.

The Spa at St Regis Florence

The Iridium Spa is worth a visit.  I really like the spa because it is located in the hotel.  (My New Year’s Eve ritual is a customized massage at the St. Regis spa before we head out for the evening.)  I’ve also used them to have my make up done and was very pleased with the outcome.  They have a nice range of treatments and the quality of the treatments offered is exceptional.  

They also offer a small fitness center, but we walk so much in Florence that I don’t think it’s necessary.  You’re on your honeymoon!  Enjoy it!

Additional Benefits at the St. Regis Florence

Though we typically skip breakfast in favor of intermittent fasting, it is offered as an amenity for Marriott titanium members.  It is served on the first floor, above the Winter Garden restaurant. It’s absolutely gorgeous!  

Every evening at 7:00, the bartender (or special guest!) sabers a bottle of sparkling wine. Guests are able to enjoy a glass of Prosecco before heading to dinner. It’s worth planning your dinner reservations around this event. It’s a lovely way to kick off the evening.

The St Regis shares a piazza with the Westin Florence.  The Westin offers a rooftop bar that offers amazing sunset views of Florence.

Final Thoughts Choosing the St. Regis for our Honeymoon

Honestly, this hotel is as close to flawless as one can be.  I’ve stayed in a lot of luxury hotels but all of them pale in comparison. 

The staff personalized our stay in a way that I haven’t seen replicated anywhere.  Their attention to detail allowed me to share all the beautiful things I love about Florentine people, life, and culture with my husband.  And, they managed to do so in a way that was meaningful to us.  These thoughtful gestures helped my husband understand why Florence holds such a special place in my heart and why it will always be part of my home.  I dare say it helped him fall in love with the city, too.

If you’re looking for a stay in Florence that is absolutely unforgettable, the St. Regis is worth the splurge – even if it’s the only splurge you decide to make.  While it seems as if no stay could ever be quite as magical as our St Regis Florence honeymoon was, it’s not because of the hotel.  It is because there is just something special about that time when you are on your honeymoon.  The St Regis Florence is absolutely one of my favorite hotels in the world.  If only there was a direct flight to Florence from DFW.

We’ve made several trips to Florence since our honeymoon.  Most of our stays are at the St. Regis Florence. We’ve stayed in the premium deluxe guest rooms with Arno River views and without Arno River views.  Every room is magical though I do prefer a river view room.  Even if you can’t afford one of their premium suites, like the Bottega Veneta Suite or the Grand Deluxe Suite, I promise the “regular” room is worth it. The prices aren’t cheap, but the quality of the stay is worth it.