Fonteverde Thermal Spa Resort | Tuscany

We finished our two-week European honeymoon with three nights at Fonteverde, and it was just what we needed. I loved starting a relaxed day by going to breakfast in my robe and slippers. The thermal water, sunshine by the pool, and a good book were wonderful, and the facial left my skin glowing. We had dinner at the restaurant one night. It wasn’t the best meal, mostly because our Italian was limited, though the food was still delicious. The front desk staff were kind and helped arrange taxis to and from another evening out, which made a big difference in a small town when we don’t speak the language. Thanks for making our honeymoon unforgettable. We can’t wait to return.

I left feeling irritated after a long drive and a lot of money spent for an experience that was mediocre at best. I’d been looking at spas around Florence and chose this one for a relaxing visit in a beautiful setting. The prices were high, though not at the very top end. At arrival, the facilities already felt worn: reception and changing rooms reminded me of a municipal sports centre, not a spa attached to a five-star hotel. My towel was thin, faded, and clearly well used. Access cost around 50 euros for the lower pool or 75 for both levels, so I chose the lower one. That pool area also felt dated, with shabby deck chairs and little charm. Most disappointing, there was no view, and it didn’t look like the online photos. I raised this at reception and showed the pictures I’d seen. The staff member explained the view was from the upper pool and, since I was disappointed and had two treatments booked that afternoon, kindly let me go up without paying extra. The staff were nice. The upper reception was more updated, but its deck-chair area also had no view. A third pool with a view, which looked much more like the website photos, was reserved for hotel guests. I went up anyway and fortunately nobody stopped me, though I wasn’t supposed to be there. The cafe was indoors in a sports-centre-like space and so uninviting that I skipped lunch. My 70-minute massage for 140 euros was fine. During my 50-minute facial, also 140 euros, the therapist was out of the room for at least 15-20 minutes. That wasn’t good.

I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to friends. The spa itself was excellent, with heated pools, towels and robes, and courteous staff, but the rest of the stay was disappointing. The hotel feels very outdated, from the rooms to breakfast, and the prices often seemed hard to justify. An Aperol Spritz at the bar was 20 euros, more than I’ve seen at luxury hotels and restaurants around Italy. The restaurant was expensive for fairly average food. Even a bottle of soda cost 10 euros, adding to the feeling that the hotel was trying to get as much money from guests as possible without offering enough in return.

I only visited the common areas, not the hotel rooms. They were clean and well maintained, and the staff clearly try hard. It’s a lovely, relaxing place, and the price seemed fair for the experience. Everything went well overall.