Hotel Pensione Rinascente (Pisa, Italy)

The delightful Italian family who run this guesthouse seem to become quickly adored by the guests who stay here. It's the kind of place you can expect a truly warm and homely welcome, and it's a real taste of traditional Italian life.

Some hotels quickly seem outdated and in need of refurbishment, but Rinascente has an authenticity which means that it wears its centuries of history with charm and ease. If you like characterful properties, you'll love this place.

For a city break in Pisa, you won't find a much better location than this. It's just metres from the central piazza, while the Leaning Tower is just a short walk away. Plus, the train station is in easy walking distance too.

There are no facilities for breakfast, or indeed any meals, at the guesthouse itself, which may be an annoyance for some. However, the staff are able to give recommendations of places nearby to eat at.

The bathrooms are mostly shared, with separate toilet and shower rooms. Guests have said that the facilities are also old, and the space rather cramped. If this bothers you, it's worth booking a room with its own bathroom.

If you struggle with stairs, or you're going to be lugging a lot of luggage around, this may not be the place for you, since there's no lift in the building, and there are up to four flights of old, steep stairs to climb to get to the rooms.