I had the great pleasure of staying a night just south of the Arno River at Florence, Italy's Riva Lofts. These posh, modern lofts were renovated from a nineteenth century factory and are a great place to spend your next vacation in Florence.

I checked into the Riva Lofts and a very nice hotel clerk helped me plan my entire day. Everything she recommended was great and I suggest to have Riva Lofts help you plan your day in Florence. The lovely clerk even drew a great bicycle route out for me on a map, which was tremendously helpful. This made it much easier to navigate throughout the city on a bike path. All the restaurants they recommended were fantastic such as Obika where I had an amazing pizza.

I really recommend to use their vintage bikes to travel around Florence. I believe cycling around Florence is the best way to feel like a true Florentine. I really felt alive while cycling throughout this amazing city full of art, gourmet food, and culture.

The rooms in Riva Lofts are spacious with high ceilings, modern furniture, and a flat screen TV with a dvd player. The rooms also have free wifi internet service.  Your loved one will be truly impressed when they see how much great cosmopolitan style, taste, and international culture you have when you open the door to your loft. Its almost like you are a Florence native and are staying in your own chic artist loft.

You should venture off to the lounge for some delicious Italian pastries throughout the day. Take a gander through the CD and DVD collection and listen to some great music or watch a good film in your loft. The lounge is also where you will have a fine breakfast in the morning. There was a nice selection of pastries, jams, eggs, and more. Wake up with a aromatic espresso and you will be riding your bike throughout Florence faster then a vespa!

The summer’s in Italy can be hot and humid, so you should enjoy the pool for a delightful dip. You can also take advantage of a nice day anytime of the year and relax with a coffee or tea on the patio. Your next stay at the Riva Lofts will impress your mate and make you feel like a Florentine native.

• Carey Steinberg

Riva Lofts Via Baccio Bandinelli, 98  50142 Florence, Italy +39 055 7130272