Terrace Vibes in the Italian Sun

A good spot for a family getaway near Piombino, Tuscany. The resort has decent facilities for recreation, including a tennis court, swimming pool, basketball court, and cycling tracks. It worked well for a long weekend, and prices vary by season but are quite affordable.

There’s a huge enclosed, secure garden and lots of useful services on site, including a restaurant, bar, ice cream shop, meeting room for smart working, and bike rental. The location is handy for beaches in the area, and the swimming pool is fantastic. Our accommodation was comfortable and clean, and there’s covered parking inside. The 24/7 reception team was attentive and quick to respond. Prices were OK. We’d definitely come back, and I’d especially recommend it for holidays with children and pets.

There’s plenty of potential here, and some small changes could make it a four-star place, though it might not stay as affordable. It seems good for families who want a getaway and the option to cook for themselves. Most rooms have a balcony or patio, and the pools are nice, but bring a cap to use them. There aren’t any pool towels. The summer program for kids looks nice too. A few things let us down. The on-site market was closed for Covid, and a big bottle of water cost 2€ and wasn’t even cold. Our room had no toilet paper, dusty curtains and floor, and a bloody booger stuck in plain sight on the bathroom wall. After walking barefoot following my shower, the bottoms of my feet were black. Breakfast costs 8€ and was mostly picked over by 9am. Dinner had some appealing choices, but the meal we picked was just OK.

The location is top, and I think it’s a nice place to stay, though there’s room to improve. The kitchen team and the people in the restaurant were outstanding, and the staff who clean the rooms were very kind. The bike shop staff were also lovely. The man who rented me the bikes, wearing a green Patagonia jacket and a hat, was especially kind and made me rent bikes again. I can’t remember his name. Some reception staff were a little aggressive when asked for favors or even services they should provide without hesitation. I asked for the gym keys, and while some people were kind and gave them to me, others questioned me first. For a hotel that calls itself a sport hotel, the gym really needs work. I’ve stayed on holiday at hotels with better equipment. The few machines available are very old and need maintenance or replacement, and it’s always difficult to find weights because they’re in a mess. I also don’t understand why we had to pay for an extra towel. At Holiday Inn they give you as many towels as you want and do room service once a day, but this hotel doesn’t. It was my first time being asked to pay 10€ for another towel. As we Germans would say, that’s a “Frechheit”, impudence, considering what we paid. The hotel should also let guests know when groups of 40 people are coming to train, so they can consider changing their travel dates.