The Hotel Rex is situated at the furthest southern tip of Livorno in an outer suburb, with the Tuscan hills as a backdrop. These 70’s style hotels tend to be unpopular as it was the decade that style forgot and the lurid turquoise linoleum tiles in the room plus the hideous green faux marble basin in the bathroom are real eyesores to be sure. Putting these details of décor to one side though, the hotel isn’t at all bad as our room was comfortable with an excellent sea view and balcony and the facilities were actually quite good. Breakfast was first rate with a wide choice and was the only hotel I came across on this trip with the option of cooked food on the menu. The breakfast room was bright and airy and I noticed that there was also an attractive terrace available to eat on though unfortunately the high wind and threat of rain meant that everyone stayed inside. Probably more geared to sun seekers than those doing a Tuscan tour there is nevertheless a sizeable car park, but the rows of sun loungers and the dedicated children’s room on the lower level indicated that this a good place for family holidays. It’s also worth mentioning that the computer in the lobby is a bargain at one Euro for an hour’s use as the standard rate in other Italian hotels is one Euro for 20 minutes.

There is a very good seafood restaurant about five minutes walk away, nothing special to look at and adjacent to a caravan site but ignore the unpromising location as it was actually very good with the best fish I’ve eaten in a long time.

Finally a word about the reception staff: they were exceptional. On arriving at Pisa airport we experienced a problem with car hire when the car booked on line turned out to be three times the agreed price, we consequently walked out and made use of public transport but after a couple of days really needed a car. That’s where the reception staff at the Rex came in; they made several calls to local car hire firms for us translating where necessary and we wouldn’t have managed to secure a car without their help. Thanks girls! – your help was really appreciated.

To sum up, this is quite a good hotel and although perhaps at first glance not a four star, the facilities and attentive staff offset the dated look of the hotel itself and the rates here are really reasonable too, not a bad place for a stopover before heading for those Tuscan hills.

We had planned to stay at Hotel Rex for our final few days in Tuscany. It had four stars so we were expecting a certain standard. Once we arrived at hotel, we realised it wasn't what we had come to expect of four star hotels in Tuscany. It was bland, dated and in desperate need of an upgrade.
Neither is it in Livorno but quite a few miles out. We asked for a restaurant recommendation. They recommended a restaurant 30 mins away by taxi. Once there - it was in an industrial estate - the food was good. However we could not home- not one taxi could be got. One of the restaurant staff had to drive us back. It cost us 65 Euro for the taxi and lift home alone. The hotel staff just shrugged when we told them. No real customer service.
The restaurant does have a private beach!! Yeah right - you are packed in like sardines in a concrete pier type thing - you may as well sunbathe on the street. Needless to say we didnt bother.
Thankfully we got a hotel in Lucca for our final night - another four star. It was fab.
This rating system doesn't seem to be constant for hotels in Tuscany.

It is quite difficult to rate such an hotel. I visited it for a reunion of my former class mates, 40 years after we all joined the Navy (Livorno hosts the Italian Navy Academy). From 1971 to 2011, I think absolutely nothing has changed inside the hotel. But do not misunderstand, it is in excellent conditions. Except that in the room where I was, all was like it was in 1971! The floor in glass tiles, the bed very low, the bathroom tiny and with a typical 1971 shower space (thank God I have not put so much weight in 40 years, I could still - barely - fit in it. If you are overweight..... mmmmhhh.... wait for rain, it's better).
The view (I did not have a room with view) from the restaurant/balcony is amazing, right on the water. Breakfast was really standard.
So, difficult to judge. For the view alone, 5 stars. For the historical/memory point of view, this is how hotels were in 1971 and it is worth the money because if brings (and it did to me) back memories.
If you are looking for luxurious comfort, go somewhere else.

Great location just outside the large and interesting city of Livorno.Take the number 1 bus directly outside of main rail station and get off at last stop fare 1.70euro on-board takes about 20/25 mins depending on traffic.The views are spectacular from the dinning room.Staff are so pleasant and helpful.

The only downfall is the need to reserve your table for the evening meal on the lower floor situated at sea level as it is so popular with local Italian residents who live locally as has a great reputation, the menu changes daily A great hotel and a further point is that residents of the hotel have free access to the safe but Rockey beach normally you would pay 15euros per person /day any where else,a greatplace to stay.