N9 in Europe – Page 2 – The Wknd Travel

Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE MILAN – Hidden Hostel Gem in Milan’s Porta Romana District

After spending 4 full days in the beautiful city of Florence, my friend and I moved to another famous Italian city in the north – Milan. We stayed and explored the city for another 4 days and decided to stay with YellowSquare Milan.

This hostel is a sister of YellowSquare Florence – the hostel we stayed with in Florence. This hostel will be featured in today’s hostel of the day. Join me as I share with you details of this hidden hostel gem in Milan’s Porta Romana District.

YellowSquare Milan

YellowSquare Milan is a sister hostel of YellowSquare Florence; it is one of the 3 YellowSquare properties in Italy. According to the property’s website, the hostel started in 1999 when the founders decided to buy a small apartment and rent out a few beds. 20 years later, the hostel now has 3 high-rated branches in Rome, Milan (this property) and the latest addition to the chain, Florence.

This branch is in the quiet Porta Romana neighborhood in Milan. It has 2 buildings – 6 storey front building and a rear 2 storey building with an open area piazza in the between. Both buildings stand above a common basement level. The hostel caters to hundreds of guests at the same time.

Location & Access

YellowSquare Milan is located at Via Serviliano Lattuada, 14, 20135 Milan MI, Italy. It is located near the old city gate of Milan – Porta Romana. The hostel is a little over 2 kilometers away from the famous Duomo di Milano. It is 350 meters away from Porta Romana Station of Milan Metro Line 3 (Red Line) – 3 stops away from Duomo Station on the same line.

As mentioned above, the hostel is nestled in a quiet neighborhood. It is near to numerous restaurants, shops and supermarkets. It is 10 minutes away by subway (Line 3) to Flixbus’ San Donato pick-up and drop-off points, also 10 minutes away by subway (Line 3) to Milan Central Station, around 15 to 18 minutes by subway (Lines 2 and 3) to Porta Garibaldi Station and about 40 minutes by subway (Lines 1 and 3) to Milan Lampugnano Bus Terminal.

The hostel is 1 hour and 10 to 15 minutes away by train (Line 3 and Malpensa Express) to Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) and about the same time by subway (Line 3) and bus to Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) – also known as Milan Bergamo Airport.

Room Options

Like YellowSquare Florence, YellowSquare Milan also has dormitory rooms and private rooms.

The hostel’s dormitory room configurations are limited to as follows: 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 8-bed female dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room and 4-bed female dormitory room. All these dormitory rooms feature in-room shower and ensuite, air conditioning and heating systems, a table and chair (per room), lockers, daily housekeeping and free Wi-Fi connection. All dormitory beds have a pillow, blanket, individual lights and personal security locker. Towels are not included and are available for rent from reception.

The private rooms have the following configurations: single private room, double private room, quadruple private room with 2 bunk beds and sextuple private room with 3 bunk beds. These private rooms have the same features as that of the dormitory rooms except for towels which are already included in these rooms. Rates per nights of these rooms depend on where you are booking your stay. From experience, booking directly with YellowSquare provides the most affordable nightly rates.

My friend and I booked our stay directly with YellowSquare Milan and got 2 beds in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid €101.24 each for 4 nights. On top of this, we also paid €2 per person per night (rate back in November 2022) for the city tax. In total, we paid €109.24 each during check-in. We were charged by our bank ₱6,644.92 including foreign currency transaction conversion fee – roughly ₱1,661.23 per night. It is still not bad for an expensive city like Milan!

We were assigned the 2 lower bunk beds at Room A505 on the 5^th floor of the main building. We got a smaller room compared to the room we got at the Florence property; we also got a room with a nice bathroom and toilet layout. We enjoyed the views of Milan from this upper room.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

YellowSquare Milan has a long list of facilities and amenities that hostel guests can enjoy.

Free Wi-Fi Access – All guests have an access to a stable and fast open Wi-Fi connection.

In-House Bar & Restaurant – The hostel has an in-house bar and restaurant called The Baretto. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Breakfast is available from 8:00am to 11:00am. Lunch is served from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm. Dinner options are available from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. The bar is open every day from 8:00am to 2:00am.

Free Beer Upon Check-In – Hostel guests get a beer voucher upon check-in. This free beer can be redeemed anytime during the guest’s stay.

Events Place – YellowSquare Milan has an in-house events place called Salone14. This events place hosts both internal and external events. It is also available for rent / outsider use. Please reach out to the hostel team to know more about the rates.

In-House Club – La Chapel, the hostel’s in-house club, is in the basement level of the hostel building.

Outdoor Courtyard – The hostel has an outdoor courtyard named The Piazzetta. This courtyard is found between the front and rear buildings. It is where some of the hostel activities are held.

Hair Salon – The hostel has a hair salon, named Contesta Rock Hair, in the basement level. Guests can come here for a haircut or a hair treatment at the guest’s expense.

Co-Working Space – Need to work while in Milan? No need to worry. YellowSquare Milan has a co-working space called SmartSquare Milan. A part of the co-working space, The Fixed Spot, is complimentary to hostel guests with prior request at reception. The other areas are open to the public subject to daily or monthly rates.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – Each hostel room (private or dormitory) has an in-room shower and toilet.

Communal Areas – The hostel has communal areas where guests can just sit down, chill and meet with other travelers / guests.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – Guests have access to a shared kitchen and dining area at the rear building. The kitchen has complete cooking materials which guests can use to cook food.

Daily Hostel Activities – Just like YellowSquare Florence, this Milan property also hosts daily activities for guests to join and enjoy. These activities can range from walking tours, cooking classes to karaoke sessions, art classes and comedy shows. Please look for the updated schedule near the reception.

Schedule of Hostel Activities back in November 2022

Games Room – The hostel has a dedicated games room where guests can play or have fun with other people. The games room is in the basement level.

Communal Toilets & Changing Rooms – The hostel has available communal toilets and changing rooms near the common areas. Guests do not need to go back to their respective rooms to just use the toilet.

Laundromat Service – Running out of clean clothes to wear? The hostel has a laundromat service which guests can avail for a fee.

Luggage Storage – The property offers luggage storage services for guests who arrived hours before check-in and for guests who are leaving the city in the afternoon or evening after check-out. Please reach out to reception if you want to leave your stuff before check-in or after check-out.

24-Hour Reception – Arriving past midnight or leaving before sunrise? No need to worry about getting in / out. Reception is manned every single time. It is open 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.

Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – YellowSquare Milan’s staff speak different languages. They are also friendly and hospitable.

Secured Room Access – Rooms can only be accessed using the key cards provided during check-in.

Lift Access – Travelling with a big luggage? No need to carry it up using the stairs. The hostel has a lift which can be used by all guests. Please note that the lift only works with a hostel key card.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel premises are equipped with 24/7 surveillance system. Also, entry to the room areas require an access / key card. It cannot not open to visitors and outsiders.

Hostel Experience

Our stay at YellowSquare Milan was almost the same as our stay at YellowSquare Florence. We may be out most of the day but we managed to stay longer in the hostel this time.

We liked the following about the hostel. First, YellowSquare Milan had the best rates for an expensive city like Milan. On top of these value rates, the hostel also offered a flexible cancellation policy where guests can cancel for free up to 24 hours before the intended stay. Second, the hostel was in a quiet Porta Romana neighborhood away from the busy streets of the city.

Third, the free beer coupon was an added perk. The hostel did not just provide a small beer glass but a big one. Fourth, the hostel had a long list of activities which guests can join. We did not have the time to join these activities but we hope we can in our next stay. Fifth, the YellowSquare Milan staff were nice, friendly and hospitable. They were more welcoming than those from the Florence property. Lastly, we noticed the consistency in the service and product provided by the YellowSquare hostel brand.

The hostel also had some drawbacks. First, I mentioned above that I liked the hostel being in a quiet neighborhood. At the same time, this quiet neighborhood meant that the hostel is located a bit far from the city center. Guests need to take the metro or tram to go and visit the Duomo area.

Second, we got a smaller 4-bed mixed dormitory room in Milan compared to the room we had in Florence. We think the room size was alright but we also cannot help but compare. Third and lastly, we hope the hostel can expand the free drink coupon options to include water, juices and sodas to cater to those who do not drink beer. My friend gave up her free beer and gave it to me simply because she does not drink beer.

These drawbacks did not really affect our stay at YellowSquare Milan. My friend and I enjoyed our time at the hostel. We will surely book our stay again with them in our next trip to Milan.

YellowSquare Milan’s Outdoor Courtyard – The Piazzetta

Do you have questions about YellowSquare Milan? If yes, you may reach out to them on the following platforms:

YellowSquare Milan
Address: Via Serviliano Lattuada,1420135 Milano MI, Italy
Phone Number: +39 028 239 6603
E-mail address: questions@yellowsquare.it / lattuada@bc-hospitality.com
Website: www.yellowsquare.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yellowsquaremilan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yellowsquarehostel

Have you stayed with YellowSquare Milan in the past? Care to share your hostel experience in the comments section below? Do you have any questions about the hostel or my experience? Feel free comment down below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

P’s List: 7 Food Places to Check Out in Florence

Hello and welcome to another P’s List! It has been a while since I shared a travel-related list. In case you missed it in the past, I shared with you some of my favorites: 5 must-try Belgian treats, 6 budget-friendly and personal favorite to-do’s when in Japan, 6 Dutch delis I enjoyed, 4 Czech food I enjoyed, 12 Taiwanese treats worth lining-up for and 7 Danish delicacies not to miss.

You will notice that most of them are about food. Yes – I love to eat and explore the local cuisine while traveling! Today’s list is not an exception. My friend and I explored the beautiful Italian city of Florence back in November 2022 and we want to recommend the following food places.

Pizza Napoli 1955

Pizza Napoli 1955 is an authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurant in the center of Florence. The pizza parlor is located along the famous Via del Neri and is open from 12 noon to around 10:30 in the evening. It serves great pizza for an affordable price.

I got a Margherita Pizza for myself and only paid less than €10. Please note that they only accepted cash during our visit in November 2022.

Osteria e Vinaino Cicalone

My friend randomly came across Osteria e Vinaino Cicalone in our search for a nice place to have lunch. We just arrived from Rome; we were so hungry and we decided to eat at the first restaurant we find appealing.

Little did we know that this small, cozy and authentic restaurant served one of the best local dishes we had during our time in Florence. I ordered Peposo – a local red wine beef stew and a glass of house wine for drink. We also had tiramisu for dessert and oh boy, we had one of the best tiramisus of our trip.

The beef stew, glass of house red wine, tiramisu (shared) cost around €25 including the table charge. The food prices are usual – not affordable and not too expensive. The restaurant is worth a try!

Trattoria dall’Oste

A trip to Florence is incomplete without trying the world-famous Florentine steak. We had our first Florentine steak experience at a popular steak place – Trattoria Osteria dall’Oste Santa Maria Novella Branch.

We met with our friends for dinner and we ordered the grilled Florentine T-Bone steak (Italian: Bistecca alla Fiorentina “scottona”), Homemade pappardelle pasta with wild boar sauce (Italian: Pappardelle al sugo di cinghiale), Pasta with sausage, burrata cheese and fresh truffle (Italian: Pasta salsiccia, burrata e tartufo) and a bottle of red wine. We paid a little over €120 for all dishes including table charge for 4 people.

It was not a cheap dinner but it was good for the experience. The restaurants under this group can get busy at times. Be sure to arrive early for dinner to immediately get a seat.

La Fettunta

La Fettunta was hands-down the best Tuscan restaurant we have been to in this trip. This authentic and rustic restaurant was recommended to us by our walking tour guide. It served the best Florentine steak for an affordable price. Located along Via del Neri, the restaurant also served other Italian dishes and traditional Tuscan food.

My friend and I ordered 1.2-kilograms of rare Florentine steak and a bottle of in-house wine and paid only €70; we paid €35 each. Affordable, isn’t it?

La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Artigianale

After having dinner at Pizza Napoli 1955, my friend and I walked to La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Artigianale between Duomo & Accademia for our gelato fix. We ordered their signature flavors and enjoyed the gelato’s rich taste.

Gelateria Edoardo il Gelato Biologico

After our steak lunch at La Fettunta, we walked to Gelateria Edoardo il Gelato Biologico for dessert. We ordered their signature organic flavors (sorry – I totally forgot the specifics) and enjoyed the fresh and creamy taste.

This gelateria is located near Duomo di Firenze and has beautiful views of the duomo as the background. They also serve vegan gelato.

All’Antico Vinaio

I refused to fall in line for this panini shop but I thought I will include this in the list for you to check out.

All’Antico Vinaio is famous for their paninis served using traditional Tuscan flat bread schiacciata. The shop has a few branches along Via del Neri. Do not forget to bring a lot of patience because lines can get crazy long for all these branches.

One more thing – please do not forget to spoil yourself with Tuscan wines while in Florence. The region is known for producing Sangiovese-based dry red wines. The usual recommendations include Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

In my opinion, La Fettunta is one that should not be missed from the list above. The Florentine steak they served was one of the best steaks I have had in my entire life. I would not hesitate to visit Florence again and dine at La Fettunta!

The list above may only be a handful compared to thousands of restaurants and food options in Florence but I hope you can check out those listed above. I checked the ratings of all these restaurants and shops and I can tell you that all of them are rated between 4.4 to 5 stars with thousands of reviews each from Google Reviews and TripAdvisor. I can guarantee you will enjoy the quality of food served in these restaurants and shops.

Have you been to one of these restaurants and shops? How was your experience and how did you find the food? Which one is your favorite? Share your experiences below in the comments section. Do you have any questions about anything above? You may also send your questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s P’s List. Please watch out for more lists and recommendations in the future. You can check out other Europe-related content under the N9 in Europe category.

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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City

After spending almost 2 weeks around Paris and Rome, my friend and I moved to a new Italian city where the Renaissance period started – Florence (Italian: Firenze). We explored the Tuscan capital and the nearby cities (and towns) for 4 full days and 4 nights.

Allow me to share with you what we did on these 4 full days and know why this beautiful city became our favorite of all the cities we visited in this trip.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris and Rome. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2 & Rome Part 3!

Florence

Florence (Italian: Firenze) is a city located in the center of Italy. It is the capital of the Tuscan Region and is known for its architecture, culture and iconic monuments and buildings. The city is known as the Cradle of Renaissance. The Florentines had a strong influence in the world’s transition from the Middle Ages to the period of rebirth or renaissance. Influential people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Dante Alighieri all came from Florence.

Accommodation

Florence is a popular Italian destination to millions of people from all over the world. This popularity led to high accommodation costs – even higher than Rome’s. My friend and I were travelling on a budget and decided to book with a high-rated but affordable shared accommodation.

We booked our 4-night stay with a recently-opened, lively and social hostel named YellowSquare Florence. We got a bed each in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room and were able to rest well after long walks during the day.

I wrote about our YellowSquare Florence hostel experience and posted it in the recent Hostel of the Day Feature. I hope you can check that out.

Going Around Florence

Going around Florence is easy. Most of the spots to visit are all within the city center. The best way to explore the city center is by foot. There are no trains or trams within the center; the nearest tram stop to the city center is Unità on the Tram Line 2 Vespucci.

The city’s main train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (Italian: Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Stazione di Santa Maria Novella), is 1 stop away from Unità. It is 10 minutes away by foot (850 meters) from the Duomo, 13 minutes away by foot (1.1 kilometers) from the Accademia Gallery and 15 minutes away by foot (1.3 kilometers) from the Uffizi Gallery.

La Bussola Free Walking Tours

To get to know the city and its history more, my friend and I joined 2 free (tip-based) walking tours with a local company called La Bussola. We joined the morning Medici Free Tour with Katerina; we learned about the Medici Family, how they came into power and how Florence developed under their rule. We also joined the afternoon Genius Free Tour with Giachomo; we learned about the Florence icons named Dante, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Da Vinci and Galileo and how they influenced the people and the society during their time.

We had fun in these 2 tours. We knew a lot about the city and its influences and we even got local food recommendations. We encourage you to join these free tours during your visit to Florence. Please check out their website and book your tour slots with them.

Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour

During our stay in Florence, my friend and I went on a day tour to check out a few places in the Tuscan Region. We joined Sightseeing Experience’ Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour; we visited Pisa, the Pietraserena Wine Estate, San Gimignano and Siena. We paid €71.10 each for this 11.5-hour tour.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts. Check out the Tuscany Experience Classic Tour post here.

Places Visited in Florence

There are a lot of museums and places to visit in Florence. We spent 3 full days (not including the Tuscany Experience Day Tour) around the city and we still have not been to all. We chose the places we wanted to visit and took our time in each place.

Gallery of the Academy of Florence (Italian: Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze) – The Accademia Gallery is famous for Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the statue of David. Aside from this, the gallery also has paintings and sculptures of other great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Del Sarto. Another section that stood out to me is Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery.

Entry tickets cost €16 (including online convenience fee) per person during our visit. These have been increased to €17 as per my recent check. Tip: Book your tickets in advance and get the earliest timeslot to have the statue of David to yourself.

Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery

The Church of Orsanmichele – This church is one of the oldest in Florence. It was built by the guilds in the kitchen garden of Saint Michele Monastery.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian: Duomo di Firenze) – This cathedral is the city’s cathedral built in the 1200s to the 1400s and is one of the largest in the world. Designed by di Cambio, this Catholic church is known for its striking green, pink and white marble panels. A part of the cathedral is open to the public and is free to visit.

Cathedral Plaza (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The is a vibrant retail area outside the cathedral. Shops, restaurants and cafes mainly comprise this plaza.

The Bargello – Also known as Palazzo del Popolo, this old building was once the office of the city’s captain. It also served as barracks and a prison. The building has been converted to an art museum. Museum tickets cost €11 per person.

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence (Italian: Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze) – Dubbed as the Pantheon of Florence, this gothic minor cathedral has 16 chapels, tombs and funerary monuments of famous people such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Bartolini and Vasari. Entry tickets cost €8 per person.

Piazza Santa Croce – This plaza is in front of the Basilica of the Holy Cross. During our visit last November 2022, this plaza hosted Florence’ Christmas Market.

Republic Square (Italian: Piazza della Repubblica) – Piazza della Repubblica is one of the city squares in Florence. It is believed to be the site of the city’s forum back in the days.

Palazzo Vecchio – Also known as Palazzo della Signoria, this building was and is still Florence’ town hall. A part of this medieval building was converted into a museum.

Signoria Square (Italian: Piazza della Signoria) – This square, located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, is the city’s main political square since the 14^th century. The square has notable sculptures and figures that are believed to be contradictory to what has happened in the area. These include the following: a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune and Giambologna’s Statue of Cosimo I.

Loggia dei Lanzi – Found on the corner of Piazza della Signoria and beside Palazzo Vecchiio, this building is a public art gallery that houses statues such as Perseus and Medusa and The Rape of the Sabine Women.

Via del Neri – Via del Neri is a famous small street near Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio that is full of cafes, shops, galeterias and restaurants.

Uffizi Gallery (Italian: Galleria degli Uffizi) – The Uffizi Gallery is a gallery and museum that houses artworks from the Renaissance period. It has masterpieces of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafaello, Botticelli, Giotto and a lot more.

Some notable artworks include ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Annunciation’ and ‘Adoration of the Magi‘ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Medusa’ by Caravaggio, ‘Doni Tondo’ by Michelangelo, ‘Laocoön’ by Baccio Bandinelli and ‘The Venus of Urbino’ by Titian.

We bought our tickets on site and paid €12 each. Tickets are also available for purchase online.

Arno River – The Arno River divides Florence into 2 parts. The river originates from the Apennine Mountains and flows to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the old times, the river became an important instrument for trade. It also became the transit or passageway for wood and all other materials needed during the Renaissance period.

Ponte Vecchio – This is a medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River during the 1300s. This bridge was used to be occupied by shops of farmers, butchers and businessmen. In the present time, the bridge is still occupied by shops selling artworks, jewelry and souvenirs.

Pitti Palace (Italian: Palazzo Pitti) – Previously owned by Florentine banker Lucca Pitti, the palace was bought by the Medici Family in 1549 and became the official residence of the family. This palace is located at the southern banks of the Arno River.

My friend and I only visited the palace from the outside. We did not have time to go in and explore the museum. Entry tickets cost €17 per person if purchased online.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit (Italian: Basilica di Santo Spirito) – This basilica is a Catholic church found in the Oltarno Quarter, south of the Arno River.

We missed one spot which we did not have time to visit – Michelangelo Square (Italian: Piazzale Michelangelo). It is a square that offers a beautiful and stunning panoramic view of Florence. I hope we can go back to visit this place in the future.

Have you been to Florence in Italy? If yes, which one is your favorite place to visit and why? If you have not been, which are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your experiences or plans in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Florence easily became our favorite. The city is so beautiful and is something that should not be missed. We stayed for 4 full days and we still have not been to all places. We hope that people visit and stay in the city longer than most people usually do.

Thanks for joining me in sharing our Florence experience with you. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles and Rome before we visited Florence. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to Milan!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: TUSCANY EXPERIENCE CLASSIC TOUR Photoblog – A Day Trip to Pisa, San Gimignano & Siena

In the middle of our visit to Florence, my friend and I took a day tour to visit some famous medieval Tuscan cities and towns. Tuscany is a famous Italian region characterized by stunning landscapes, peaked mountains and rolling hills. The region is also known for producing quality Italian products such as olive oil, wine (in Chianti District) and wheat.

My friend and I did not have the time to go around many cities and towns within the region. Instead, we decided to join Sightseeing Experience, the official operator of City Sightseeing Italy, in their 11.5-hour Tuscany Experience Classic Tour. The whole day tour took us to Pisa, San Gimignano and Siena. Allow me to share with you the details of and photos from this memorable day tour.

Tour Cost & Inclusions

My friend and I booked our tour directly with Sightseeing Experience. We chose our tour date and paid €71.10 each for the classic tour. Please note that there is a low-cost option which is around €55-€65 depending on the available promotion. Our bank charged us ₱4,235.29 each including the foreign currency conversion charges.

The 11.5-hour tour cost included a comfortable air-conditioned bus ride from start to finish, an English-speaking guide (Barbara), a guided walking tour in Siena and a typical light lunch plus wine tasting in a Tuscan winery. This day tour is a bit expensive but it is worth the rate considering the itinerary, its inclusions and the comfort included in it.

Check-in & Departure

The tour started by checking-in at the Sightseeing Experience Visitor Center inside the Santa Maria Novella Train Station. The visitor center is located inside the ticket hall and beside a convenience store. Check-in started at 7:30am which is also the meeting time indicated in the day tour voucher.

After check-in, our guide, Barbara, introduced herself, asked where everybody is from and then walked us to the bus parking area at the other end of the train station. We left Florence a few minutes after 8:00am and headed to Pisa.

Pisa

We arrived at Pisa after an hour and a half bus trip.. We immediately went to the Miracle Square and appreciated the beautiful buildings such as the Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Pisa), the Baptistry (Italian: Battistero di San Giovanni) and of course, the Leaning Tower (Italian: Torre di Pisa).

My friend and I took photos with the leaning tower and got a snack in one of the cafes nearby. We also walked around the Miracle Square and enjoyed our time in the city. We, the tour group, were given 45 minutes to explore the city center on our own.

Pietraserena Estate Lunch

After Pisa, we headed to Chianti District for lunch and wine-tasting experience. We had this at Pietraserena Estate owned by the Arrigioni Family.

They served us extra virgin olive oil bruschetta, fresh tomato bruschetta, olives, Pecorino cheese, prosciutto and salami. While having lunch, the staff introduced one wine at a time. They started with the rosé wine (Rosato di Canaiolo), followed by the white wine (Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG) and finished the wine-tasting experience with Chianti red wine (Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG Selezione “Poggio al Vento”). All these wines and the olive oil were produced in the estate and were available for purchase in the estate gift shop.

After lunch, we enjoyed our time at the terrace overlooking the beautiful Tuscan hills.

San Gimignano

From Pietraserena Estate, we took a 20-minute bus ride to the beautiful San Gimignano town center. Known as “The Medieval Manhattan”, San Gimignano is a walled town characterized by cobblestone streets, local artisan shops, a small town square and beautifully-preserved medieval buildings and towers. We were given an hour to explore the town center.

My friend and I took this free time to try a Gelato World Champion – Gelateria Dondoli. We also walked around the town center and explored the different local artisan shops. We ended up buying truffle cream for our loved ones in the Philippines.

Siena

After San Gimignano, we headed to another beautiful medieval city – Siena, Italy. The tour group was split into 2 groups – those who availed the low-cost package got an hour free time to roam around while those who got the classic tour (including my friend and I) were endorsed to Ms. Sonia, a local guide, for the guided walking tour.

Ms. Sonia took us around the city center, she showed us the Siena Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Siena), other small churches and chapels, the old hospital and the main public square – Piazza del Campo. She told us that Siena is famous for the Palio horse race – a traditional horse race between different Sienese ‘contradas’ or neighborhoods that happens twice a year at Piazza del Campo.

After the guided tour, we walked to our meeting point and headed back to the bus.

Drop-Off

From Siena, we took a 1.5-hour ride back to Florence and were dropped off at the same place where we embarked the bus in the morning.

Have you been to these 3 cities and towns? How was your trip? Which one is your favorite and why? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the day tour? Feel free to post them below. Alternatively, you may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com and you will surely get a reply from me.

Tuscany has so many places to explore, how I wish I can visit all these beautiful small towns and cities – perhaps in the future. This is only 1 of a few days we spent in Tuscany. Watch out for the next post about the charming city of Florence.

In case you missed it, before we explored the Tuscan region, my friend and I spent a few days around Paris and Versailles in France and Rome. You can find all Europe-related content under the N9 in Europe category.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE FLORENCE – Lively & Social Hostel Outside (But Near) Florence City Center

After spending 5 nights in Rome, my friend and I left the city and took a 3-hour bus ride to the beautiful and historic city of Florence in the famous Tuscany Region. We spent 4 nights in the city and stayed with YellowSquare Florence. This lively and social hostel will be today’s hostel of the day feature. Read on below to know more details about the property and check out if you would consider staying in for your next Florence trip.

YellowSquare Florence

YellowSquare Florence is 1 of 3 YellowSquare Hostels in Italy. According to the hostel’s website, the YellowSquare brand started out in 1999 when the founders decided to buy a small apartment and rent out a few beds. 20 years later, they now have 3 branches in Italy – Rome, Florence and Milan.

YellowSquare Florence has 2 buildings – a 6-storey main building which houses reception, common areas, bar, swimming pool and dormitory rooms and a single storey building at rear where the private rooms are mostly located. The hostel has over 200 beds in both dormitory and private rooms. This hostel branch opened its doors to guests last year.

Location & Access

YellowSquare Florence is located at Viale Francesco Redi, 19, 50144 Firenze FI, Italy. It is 1.5 to 2 kilometers away from Florence city center. It is near Redi tram stop on the Tram Line 2 – Vespucci (4^th tram stop from Unità, 3^rd tram stop from Alamanni-Stazione (Santa Maria Novella Train Station) and 8^th stop from Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (Florence Airport)). The hostel is 3 to 5 minutes away by foot (220 meters) from the Redi tram stop. Alternatively, the city center is 20 to 30 minutes away by foot from the hostel.

The hostel is in a relatively quiet neighborhood. There are supermarkets, shops and restaurants nearby but are at the rear part, not along the main road. The nearest airport, Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (Florence Airport), is a tram ride away from Redi tram stop. Flixbus’ pick-up and drop off station in Villa Constanza is 30 minutes away by tram with a change to Tram Line 1 – Leonardo at Alamanni-Stazione tram stop.

Room Options

YellowSquare Florence has rooms for all types of travelers. The property has both dormitory rooms and private rooms with different types of configurations.

The hostel’s dormitory room configurations are as follows: 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 8-bed female dormitory room, 6-bed mixed dormitory room, 6-bed female dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room and 4-bed female dormitory room. All these dormitory rooms feature in-room shower and ensuite, air conditioning and heating systems, a table and chair (per room), lockers, daily housekeeping and free Wi-Fi connection. All dormitory beds have a pillow, blanket, individual lights and personal security locker. Towels are not included and are available for rent from reception.

The private rooms have the following configurations: double or twin private room, triple private room (1 full bed and 1 bunk bed), quadruple private room (2 bunk beds) and sextuple private room with 3 bunk beds. These private rooms have the same features as that of the dormitory rooms except for towels which are already included in these rooms.

My friend and I booked our stay directly with YellowSquare Florence and paid €83.60 for 4 nights in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. On top of this, hostel visitors were asked to pay €3 city tax per person per night. This city tax has been increased to €3.50 per person per night as of 1 April 2023. Including the city tax, we paid €95.60 each. We were charged by our bank ₱5,791.09 including foreign currency transaction conversion fee – roughly ₱1,447.77 per night. It is still not bad!

We were assigned an upper and lower bunk beds at Room 304 facing the main road. The room had just the right amount of space for 4 people. The toilet and shower were clean throughout our stay.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Like any other hostel, YellowSquare Florence also has a long list of facilities and amenities to enjoy.

Free Wi-Fi Access – All guests have access to a free and fast Wi-Fi connection available throughout the property.

In-House Bar & Restaurant – YellowSquare has an in-house bar and restaurant in the ground floor called Barmezzo. It serves breakfast from 7:30am to 11:30am, lunch from 12:30pm to 2:30pm and aperitivo and dinner from 6:30pm to 11:30pm. They have a long list of food and drinks to choose from.

Basement Bar & Club – The hostel has an in-house bar and club named Bargiù Club. Weekend parties and (sometimes) events are held in this place.

Rooftop Swimming Pool – YellowSquare Florence has a rooftop swimming pool which guests can enjoy during late spring and summer.

Rooftop Deck – It also has a small lounge area in the rooftop beside the swimming pool. This deck offers a beautiful view of Florence city center.

Rooftop Bar – The hostel operates a rooftop beside the swimming pool. This bar, named Barsù, is usually open during summer and warm seasons.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – All private and dormitory rooms have showers and toilets.

Lounge Areas – The property has a communal lounge area by the reception. The tables and chairs are comfortable to sit in.

Kitchen & Dining Area – Guests who want to cook their own food can do so in the communal kitchen and dining area at Floor 0.

Orthus Garden & Terraza Zen – YellowSquare has a relaxing garden and terrace where guests can chill during their stay.

Boardgames – The hostel has boardgames which guests can borrow and play with in the lounge area.

Meeting Room – Guests who need to conduct private meetings can use the meeting room in Floor 0. Reach out to reception to know how use this room.

Music Studio – The hostel also has a music studio for those who need to use it.

Daily Hostel Activities – YellowSquare Florence hosts daily activities which guests can join and enjoy. They have walking tours, cooking classes, art activities, movie, karaoke and comedy nights. Check out the more updated schedule near reception or in the noticeboards inside the elevators.

Common Toilets & Changing Rooms – The property has common toilets and changing rooms which guests can use during their stay.

Luggage Storage – Guests who arrive before the check-in hours and guests who need to leave their bags after check-out can have their stuff stored at the luggage room at no extra cost. Please approach reception if you want to use the luggage room before check-in or after check-out.

24-Hour Reception – YellowSquare’s reception is open 24 hours every day. There will always be someone who will entertain your questions or address your concerns. Check-in starts at 3:00pm and check-out is allowed until 10:00am only.

Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – The hostel staff speak many languages – Italian, English and a few more. Guests who do not speak Italian or English can still communicate with and can ask questions to the staff at any time.

Secured Room Access – Rooms can only be opened by the access card assigned to each guest. This access card only works on the guest’s assigned room.

Lift Access – Guests travelling with large suitcases need not to worry about bringing their luggage up to the rooms and down. The hostel has a lift open to all guests.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is a safe place to stay. It is equipped with security surveillance systems that work every day of the week. It has security cameras almost everywhere.

Hostel Experience

I had a nice stay with YellowSquare Florence. My friend and I were mostly there to just rest and sleep but we still had a great time.

We liked the following during our stay. First, YellowSquare had the best and most affordable rates per night when we booked directly with them. The direct booking included a flexible cancellation term where guests can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the intended stay. Second, YellowSquare Florence’ colors and layout are aesthetic and very pleasing to the eyes. The walls, the rooms and even the common areas all had vibrant colors and interiors.

Third, the hostel’s rooftop terrace is nice and relaxing. It has a beautiful view of the Florence city center especially at night. Lastly, the hostel’s vibe is superb; the atmosphere is lively and social. All the staff and even guests are friendly and hospitable. It is easy to gain new friends once you stay in the hostel’s common areas.

Our experience was not perfect. The check-in staff forgot to give us the yellow armband which was later asked from us when we checked-in at the Milan property. Second, the shower area in Room 304 was a bit small but it was still alright. We believe it was mostly due to the building’s layout.

This sums up our stay with YellowSquare Florence. Will I go back and stay with them again in the future? I say yes! I look forward to going back and joining all the hostel’s activities and events.

Do you have questions about YellowSquare Florence? If yes, you may reach out to them on the following platforms:

YellowSquare Florence
Address: Viale Francesco Redi, 19, 50144 Firenze FI, Italy
Phone Number: +39 055 031 7718
E-mail address: questions@yellowsquare.it
Website: www.yellowsquare.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yellowsquareflorence
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yellowsquarehostel

Have you stayed with YellowSquare Florence in the past? Care to share your hostel experience in the comments section below? Do you have any questions about the hostel or my experience? Feel free comment down below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.