CINQUE TERRE, ITALY LA TORRETTA LODGE - MANOROLA…read more UP FRONT: When you visit Cinque Terre in Italy, (literally "five lands"), you have five choices on where to stay out of the five fishing villages. If you're like most tourists, you're going to visit all of them, but one has to be your "home base". After visiting all of them, I think your best bet is either Manorola or Monterosso. The scenery in both places is astounding. Manorola is small and quiet and has some cliffs you can dive off at the bottom of the hill. Monterosso is a bit more sprawling and has a good stretch of beach. We stayed in Manorola two nights. Got the tip about La Torretta on Trip Advisor. This hotel is a dream. From start to finish, it felt too good to be true. Check in was a breeze - it was only us in the lobby - and we sipped Prosecco on the patio while the front desk copied our passports and finished up the paper work. Our room #7 was at the very top with the most breathtaking view (see photo). Bed was very comfortable, and the bathtub (we didn't use it) is literally the biggest I've ever seen - HUGE. No problems with the room - temperature control was good, mini-bar was complimentary. Be aware there is no phone in the room, and if you need something, you need to go down the steps to the office or call down from the window as you see the hotel staff moving about the property. lol. I did that once, we needed towels for the room, but no phone, so I just called out to the maid while I was standing on the balcony. It worked. The hotel sits on top of the hill. You walk down the hill to all the shops and restaurants. There's everything you need, ATM machine, train station, pharmacy, and more. At the bottom of the hill is the ocean, no beach, but there are places where you can lay out and many people do. There's also swimming allowed and the water is so cold and refreshing. You can dive in from many areas, and climb to the cliffs where you will be afraid to jump, but do it, it's so much fun. It took me 15 minutes to get enough courage to get off the cliff, but with the encouragement of fellow cliff divers, I was able to do it. Kept going back up to the top to do it again. There's breakfast in the mornings, all kinds of goodies - meats and cheeses, croissants, pastries and of course coffee. The hotel staff work hard to make sure you have everything you need. But keep in mind, they are not at the front desk 24/7. They close at 9:30 PM and they weren't clear about that when we checked in - neither did they say there was no phone in room. When we left, we were taking a train at the bottom of the hill, and they brought our luggage down with a golf cart. All the good things that have been said in the reviews are true - nothing hyped up about this place. Worth every dollar we spent on the room. Recommended restaurant around the corner: TRATTORIA DAL BILLY

La Toretta was a diamond in the rough for us, as we had started to plan our trip towards the Cinque…read moreTerra area, a friend recommended this hotel to us. Coming in on the offseason, we were still greated by a concierge who met us at the bottom of the mountain, and drove us up to the wonderful views that Manarolla had to offer. We checked in, but before that, we were given gifts of food and champagne to celebrate our arrival there. The view was outstanding, and the hosts were more than generous. They talked with us about where we had been, where we were coming from in the United States, and also about what else we had planned. To top off how great of a stay we had... they gave us an upgrade to the honeymoon suite for free! The room was absolutely gorgeous! A giant tub in the room, fiberoptic lights in the ceiling, and a gorgeous breakfast spread for nothing?!? It was amazing. To truly make it, what it was... as much as everyone always wants to be connected to the world... I was glad that I could not get any wifi at the hotel. It was nice to finally be away from everything, and not to be bothered by anything or anyone. We were left alone... to be alone. Waking up and taking in the view from our hotel room left us enjoying the beautiful views of the sea. Not to mention a nice little gift of bottle of champagne that was waiting for us once we got back from visiting the rest of Cinque Terra area.... as the concierge said... "Just because" I would recommend this place to ANYONE visiting the area... it is a little pricey, however I can tell you that the service is top notch, and well worth the euro's in my book.

We stayed 5 nights here on an independent Gate 1 tour, and I loved it! It's classic Europe with…read moresmall rooms, tiny elevator, and probably not great heat/ac. But it's the perfect middle of Tuscany spot for access to day trips. It's in the perfect location to walk anywhere worth seeing/doing/eating/drinking in Montecatini. Easy parking all around pretty close too. I highly recommend. And the temperature in the rooms was great in the fall weather. I never did eat breakfast, but it looked great!

Definitely would recommend. The hotel itself is conveniently located in the city and there are…read moreplenty of eating options in walking distance. The train station is two blocks away. The rooms are comfortable and the bathroom in our room was recently remodeled and upgraded. Breakfast was a very nice selection of typical European breads, cold cuts, fruit, yogurt and eggs. The staff is truly outstanding. They went out of their was to be accommodating and all were very friendly. Our original room was across from the plaza and there was a band playing for a party late, they immediately moved us to an inside room, no questions. Breakfast staff likewise was very helpful. Only reason the hotel didn't get 5 stars is you could feel the faded elegance, like it was once a destination for the upper crust that was now more middle class. Did nothing to detract from the comfort, value, or the staff, just something to be aware of if you are expecting a brand new hotel experience. If traveling to Tuscany and staying in Montecatini, I would stay again without hesitation. BTW, park in any of the blue street parking locations around the hotel and then get the parking pass from the hotel when you check in. The pass let's you park in those spots unlimited.

Lost in the foothills of Lucca lays a beautiful gem of a restaurant. Views are forever of Tuscany…read morewhile you dine on wonderful food presented like an artist. I had their clams and zucchini pasta with a rich broth of clams and it was excellent.

We booked the hotel at Bookings.com At that website the hotel is called "luxury hotel" this is…read morenot what it is, it's an Italian 3/4 star hotel, it is good but not "luxury"! If you call yourself "luxury" than service should be better, no mess should be in sight of hotel guests and furniture should be more comfortable. Have a good look around, train your staff and maybe take them out to a "luxury" hotel / restaurant to learn from others! We enjoyed the surrounding, the bed and pillows were very comfortable. Hope you will do something with this review. Thanks, Mark

We decided to stay in a hotel in Livorno vs an airBNB, bc we wanted a change of pace. Apts in…read moreItaly tend to be small, and the showers are tiny. The Palazzo is the nicest hotel in Livorno, and has been in biz for over 100 yrs. It has great views of the water fr the rooftop bar & restaurant. Single rooms were about €150,00 including taxes & fees. The rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were good sized and inc a tub. We indulged in the bar & apps, bfast buffet and dinner during our stay. The service was excellent, but the pricing is high. For an example, an Americano cocktail was €18,00 vs elsewhere the drink would have been €8,00. Secondarily, the buffet is €22,00, but did not have made to order items. The scrambled eggs were runny, and the sausage were like hot dogs. I stuck to the charcuterie, boiled eggs, fresh fruit and croissants. I also grabbed take away for mija & ITC, that dropped the actual cost closer to €7,00/person. Lastly, dinner was +€100,00 for two entrees, a salad, a dessert and one glass of wine. All in all, a positive stay bc of the rooms, the location and excellent service. Apparently the Palazzo is popular for weddings and bachelorette parties too. I'm glad the Italian version of the latter are more tame vs the crap you see in Vegas - LOL!

I know I'm rating hotel, but I have to start with the food. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow…read moremorning of the breakfast buffet. It was beautiful - inside and out. Yes, inside of my belly. They have these small pizza bites (for breakfast - it's like college, I know) that were so amazing. The hotel is clean, the prices reasonable, the Internet fast and free and the parking is absolutely easy and free as well. If you pay for a small upgrade, you get a beach view. There's also a fitness studio with technogym equipment and a spa (spa I haven't tried). The TV has a few international channels. Everything fancy shmancy, you could say. My boyfriend wants me to add: the toilet paper roll isn't properly attached to the wall and there is some mold along the bathtub.

We had the most amazing stay!!! Every single staff member was wonderful. We ate most of our meals…read moreon the premises, and our meals were excellent! Even our driver Marian, our driver for two days, was unbelievable. All of the places he suggested to us were perfect for our group. He was on time and went above and beyond in every way. I would highly recommend Castello Di Casole. You will not be disappointed!!!!

There are certain places in this world that deserve a visit. Not because they have beautiful…read morearchitecture or fantastic gastronomy or the perfect example of nature. But because they are a bit of everything that is represented in what I consider "life well lived". I stole that line from Montage hotels by the way. Anyway, Casole is one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Located in the center of Tuscany just minutes from Siena, Florence, Volterra , Montalcino etc. it not only provides a convenient spot to home base your exploration of Tuscany but it does it with a beauty and experience that you will never forget. The grounds are made up of gardens, olive trees and vibrant colorful flowers. The stone work on the grounds and buildings is old world Italy mixed with a modern day burst of colors. The pool is stunning and overlooks the rolling hills. The restaurants are amazing and food is fantastic. And not to forget the service. Unbelievable. It's like the staff should be dining with you. They are your family but never loose sight of there mission. Memorable experience. Note. This is not a resort you experience on a budget. It is pricey, but value for the experience is well worth it. I must make one comment hopefully for the Belmond executives and directors to read. I struggled between 4 and 5 stars. Now based on my review, there is no question that 5 stars should be in order. Here's my only issue and someone needs to address this at the management level. I have been coming to Casole for years. It is again one of my favorite spots on earth. Recently the timbers company sold the resort to Belmond who is owned by LVNH. This is good to me because I am a big fan of the company. Now the issue. There seams to be a disconnect between the timbers resorts and Belmond. Timbers is still in control of the farm houses from my understanding. Those Of us that have fractional access through Timbers use the hotels services and grounds while we stay in farmhouses it villas. This process in the past was always seamless and without issue. But upon arrival we were greeted very differently. The hotel reception was very indifferent and acted as though we could not use the facility's because and I quote, "we were staying with a different company then Belmond and things like room service may not be possible". Now obviously I got this issue fixed quickly but just the separation feeling between the two company's is apparent. Needs to be fixed. I kept my 5 stars anyway because I think the place deserves it even with this issue. Castello di Casole. A must visit in Tuscany.

Perfect location near the leaning tower and the university. Staff was so kinda and helpful…read more Allowed me to lock my bike in their garage overnight. Complimentary bar and breakfast, and what a delicious meal to start the day of exploring Tuscany.

We just stayed there and cannot say enough good things about our experience. The hotel is located…read morejust outside the medieval walls and not too far from the train station. You could walk there if you decided to take the train. The staff was very friendly and helpful (Luca, Sonia and Francesco). They provide free bicycles which made our trip really fun and made getting around the city so easy. We booked a family room which was two joined rooms with a private shared hall and bath. This meant our children (ages 15 and 11) could be in their room watching MTV while we had a bit of quiet. Free parking, wifi and breakfast. We will recommend this hotel to everyone. All around lovely stay and a great value.

From the owner: Welcome to Albergo Celide Situated on the main road in…read morefront of the old city wall surrounding the historical town of Lucca, the Celide Hotel & Spa is located 500 meters away from the main station and few steps away from the major historical monuments. It's perfect starting point to visit the town, also with our bikes (free for our guest).

The best hotel I've ever stayed in. Period. My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and hardly a…read moreday goes by when I don't think about it. The grounds are beautiful, our room was enormous and the staff paid attention to every detail during our stay. My wife and I just renovated our house and we put in a pool and landscaping that borrows from the aesthetic of Castello del Nero's pool area. We are already planning to return for my 40th birthday...3 Years from now. We spent 3 weeks in Italy at 6 different hotels and this is the only one I think about and have to return to. The restaurants are both amazing and the breakfast is the best we had on our trip. If I could give 10 stars I would, so if you're even considering a stay at Castello del Nero I'd say look no further...it's time to book a reservation.

My husband and I stayed here 4 nights of a two-week trip to Italy to celebrate our 10 year wedding…read moreanniversary. This hotel is a really high-end boutique hotel that really goes above and beyond to deliver an outstanding experience for all guests. The hotel is conveniently located in a small town about 30-40 minutes by car from Florence (between Florence and Siena). It is in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany. We stayed in a basic room, which was very nice. It was very large (one of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in that wasn't a suite). There was a welcome bottle of champagne (already chilled for us) as well as a bottle of red wine and a huge basket of fresh fruit ready for us on our coffee table. There was a hand-written note to us that was a nice personal touch. The room had a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside. The things that really stood out to me were: 1. Complimentary welcome champagne and wine 2. Abundant fruit basket that got replenished daily. 3. Complimentary bottled still and sparkling water replenished daily. 4. A pillow menu for guests! 5. Full breakfast every morning included with the room - there were 10 different kinds of milk out to suit everyone's preference (almond, soy, rice, goat, etc.) 5. The very nice spa 6. The setting of course! You literally couldn't ask for a more picturesque place! 7. Complimentary up to date movies on your TV 8. Great hiking trails right on the property My only (very small) complaints are that there was no dresser or shelves in the room - I had nowhere to unpack any of my folded clothes (there is only hanging space in the closet), and the mattress is very firm (this is just a personal issue though!). This hotel is very special and truly understands how to deliver a higher than 5-star experience to guests. I would highly recommend it for honeymooners, or anyone wanting a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place!

Ambiance is great, food and service mediocre. Very salty and heavy on sauce. We did not have…read morereservations. Not sure if that had any influenced?

The food is delicious, beautifully prepared, the service excellent and the view is a treat. We have…read moreenjoyed coming here for 15 years whenever possible and the past 3 weeks Sunday lunch has been a gift. Thank you

The pros: Service in EVERY AREA of the hotel was 5 stars. Our Maitre D' said it best "we want the…read morespirit of our service to match the manner of our service." The room was matchless, expect the normal wear and tear of a older hotel, we opted for the suite, good decision. I would visit here any time of year. Not just the summer, as I write this a thunderstorm rages in the ocean across the street. I am a steam room, (Turkish bath), aficionado, theirs is the best so far, (compare to Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara). The staff was matchless throughout the hotel. The breakfast was more than expected, They quickly learned how I liked my coffee and would bring it to me as I arrived, much to my delight. The food was more $ than I expected, however - it was less $ than it should have been, our best meal in Italy. The con: The spa needed some mild training, (I think if my Italian was better or their English was a piccolo better it would have been easier, but the facility was impressive. Expect function over form.

We stay for a week until July 20,2018 We had a one bedroom…read moresuite. Rooms are okay, service is not. I think the management have to do some changes before they have other unhappy customers. For examples , the tv on the bedroom doesn't work properly, the entrance door handle was loose for a long time until broke done completely. We went to the pool and order coffee and the biggest surprise ( never in other 5 starts hotel uraound the world) after we give the bar tender the room number we had to sign first before the coffe was serve. Just doesn't make any sense. For the car parking we were told $29 per day. On the bill was $39 per day, the explanation was that the car was inside in the parking, not outside. That's okay if we were told up front and we can deside if he have choice.