Aurum Principe

Nice.

I've stayed at another Aurum before, Sabbie Bianche in Tropea, and had a really good time there two years ago. This time, after a beach holiday at Hotel Principe in Tuscany, I came away very disappointed. The hotel felt old and neglected, the air conditioning didn't work properly, and both the room cleaning and the hotel overall were poor. With four children, I found the entertainment basically nonexistent: just about an hour of baby dance in the evening with very childish music, and no beach games or tournaments. The food was awful, worse than a company cafeteria. Fries were the main course every evening, and there was no dessert despite what had been advertised. It was hard to communicate with the waiters, who were all foreigners and understood our language. I asked for an umbrella near the sea so I could keep an eye on my four children, but they said they were all taken, though I never saw anyone using them. I even paid €80 for at least two extra loungers. It was a terrible holiday, and I WILL NEVER RETURN!

The beach and its service were the one bright spot: the people there were always smiling and kind. My boyfriend and I have just come back from five days at this property, and the food was very poor. We couldn't even stand the potatoes, though the waiters were kind and polite. The place is very old and needs renovation. In our room, the old TV wouldn't change channels properly, the pillows were too low, and the shower water kept switching suddenly from hot to cold. Sorry about the rating, but I can't help it.

The staff were friendly throughout, and Enzo the bartender deserves special thanks for keeping guests happy and smiling. Francesco at the Kids' Club was also very kind and patient with the children. The hotel is 350 meters from the beach with a special agreement, but there's no parking. Some rooms, including the family room, are lovely and renovated, while others I've seen get too hot and have faulty air conditioning. There isn't entertainment apart from the Kids' Club, which is only at the hotel, not the beach. The outdoor areas are small but pleasant, and the hotel pool is small and clean. The restaurant is simple but functional, like all Aurum hotels. Keeping the quality-to-price ratio in mind, and remembering we're in Tuscany, I found the experience satisfying and would repeat it. I've enjoyed myself more at other Aurum hotels, especially in Calabria, where there were more options like entertainment staff, shows, and sports facilities. Some people might prefer the Principe without those extras.