We traveled around Tuscany without making any hotel reservations and this hotel was recommended to us by a stranger who also made a call to the hotel to check if anything was available. We stayed in the apartment at the top floor with a beautiful view. The whole hotel had a medieval charm to it so we had the feeling of experiencing "true" Tuscany.

Hotel San Michele was one of the most pleasant surprises of our trip to Tuscany. I booked the room because I felt it was a good value and had some relatively good reviews. Every expectation I had was greatly exceeded. Our room was wonderful and very spacious. It was an oasis in which we enjoyed daily afternoon naps and reveled in the antique furniture, wall decorations and rugs. The entire room was spotless. Breakfast was very good. We did not upgrade to the English breakfast and were very satisfied with the options presented. Good yogurt to which we added muesli, wonderful rustic breads, assorted pastries and fresh fruits. Although they had a large pot of Café Americano, I opted for fantastic handmade espresso. Every staff member I met was friendly and helpful. The location could not have been better…just a quick 1 minute walk to Piazza Republica. All in all, Hotel San Michele will be remembered as one of the most enchanting hotels at which we have ever stayed. I can only hope to return one day soon.

The hotel told us they had free parking but neglected to tell us that is was several blocks away and that there was an incredibly steep incline to get to their hotel. When we arrived in our room, the water stopped working so we couldn't take a shower or wash up. We were also promised free Wi-Fi in our rooms but it turned out that there was only Wi-Fi available in the lobby. Our air conditioner turned on but never cooled the room. Our "flexible" reservation cost extra but turned out to be inflexible. When we checked out after one day (due to all of the problems), we were told that we'd still be billed for an extra day in spite of paying extra for a cancellable reservation. The hotel appeared to have been last remodeled in 1950. Finally, when we checked in, we were told that the "included" complete breakfast was actually just croissants and coffee. If we really wanted the "complete" breakfast, it would cost $8 Euros additional. I was very disappointed with the Hotel San Michele.

We paid a higher rate for a "flexible" reservation which we made from an albergo where we were staying in Tuscany. To avoid confusion we had a bilingual Italian help us with the reservation. We were told there was a "full buffet" breakfast included, free wi-fi in the rooms, and free parking 200M from the hotel. When we arrived there were no parking spaces. We wanted to take a shower but there was no water at all. Also no wi-fi. And their idea of a "full buffet" was a croissant and coffee. This would have been fine if they were rated a one or two star hotel but they are allegedly a 4 star hotel.

They wanted an additional 8 euros per person per day for the true buffet breakfast. The downstairs where one had to go to use internet smelled like an open sewer and the lounge where one got wi-fi was often filled with smoke from the adjacent courtyard. They finally got the water going and then our toilet and shower both leaked all over the bathroom floor.

If you think a hotel that hasn't been remodeled since 1940 with old filthy rugs and bedspreads is "charming" then go for it. We opted to check out and go to a better place, which was also 35 euros/night cheaper. By the way the "flexible" reservation wasn't that at all- it was just a higher rate. Even though we only stayed one night, Hotel San Michele said we were obligated to pay for 4 nights...