Mercure Petriolo Siena Terme Spa Hotel

Check-in was quick, but things went downhill from there. The hotel feels dated in its decor, rooms, and bathrooms. Our first room had a strong sewage smell, so we had to change rooms right away. The Wi-Fi didn't work for the whole stay. The €30 spa charge felt unjustifiable with such limited hours: check-in at 3pm, and the spa closes at 6:30pm. Breakfast was very limited and poorly managed. Displays were empty and there were no hot options shortly after it opened. Because the hotel is remote, the restaurant is the only place to eat, yet there's no vending machine and the minibar has only complimentary water. There was no recognition at all of ALL Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status, not even a welcome note, drink, or acknowledgment. This was far below Mercure standards.

Breakfast had plenty to choose from, and the room itself was lovely. The price for the stay also seemed low. Still, the hotel could use some upgrades: the TV in my room didn’t work, and there wasn’t much staff around who spoke good English. The receptionist was the only one I found who could. I stayed three nights and liked the facilities, including the indoor pool, steam room, outdoor pool with a nice view, and thermal bath. The sauna was open but barely warm enough and wasn’t working properly. The location is pleasant, with little Vila Pari nearby for good local food, and Siena and other hidden gems about a 25-minute drive away. Without a car, it may not be a good choice. There was no water fountain for guests to refill bottles. I asked at the restaurant, and the woman there couldn’t speak English and was very rude. I speak four languages, three of them Latin, so I understood a lot of her Italian. When she went to get the bottle, she started insulting me and my partner to another staff member. She said the water cost €1.50, but at checkout I was told it was €3. For a four-star hotel with so many facilities, why not have a filter where guests can help themselves? Even hostels offer one.

The spa was a highlight, especially the thermal water, and access is included with the hotel stay. The rooms feel very luxurious, though in a slightly dated way. The pools close around 18:30, so arrive early on your first day and leave late on the last if you want time to enjoy the spa on both days. We’d highly recommend it for an overnight stay.

Spent three nights here, with trips around the area in between. The spa was a nice place to wind down in the afternoons. Service was great and the rooms were really nice. The spa itself could use some maintenance, but it’s still a lovely feature.