Nice, cute and charming hotel near Lucca, Italy. However, this hotel does not qualify as a ***** hotel. There is absolutely no element that qualifies for *****: no help with the luggage, no room service, reception was friendly but not particularly useful. Breakfast was meagre and disappointing (bad orange juice, we had to pay for any extra). The hotel would qualify for a **-*** hotel.

During a recent road trip around Italy, we spend a couple of nights in this hotel, and were quite disappointed. Our room was small - looking on the floor plan it was the smallest in the hotel, which was a shame seeing as the hotel was half empty! The buffet breakfast was meagre (you had to pay extra for ham and cheese, which is a bit odd for Italy), and a few tables were swarming with ants. Decor in the room was strange, with ceiling drapes being used to attempt to hide strip lighting in the bathroom!! I'm usually a big fan of boutique hotels, but this was severely lacking and nowhere near the standard of other 5 star hotels. Admittedly, the cost does reflect this, but still, visitors might be disappointed if they are expecting a standard 5-star service.

This is a beautiful hotel in what used to be a villa just outside of Lucca. The rooms were all large (they let us see all the available ones and choose our rooms). The service was great and the staff was very helpful. The breakfast service was excellent as well with plenty to choose from. Overall, it was a great 2 night stay.

My favorite room in all of Italy. Automatically upgraded to the one bedroom apartment style room upon arrival - what a wonderful surprise. I can't tell you how great this room was. It had a very comfortable couch, chair, ottoman, dining room area, separate bedroom area (with very heavy curtains between the rooms, you could close for privacy). The apartment was warm and cozy. I felt like I was in the summer estate of some royal family member. The bathroom was modern and had a tented fancy ceiling that just took my breath away. The shower was heavenly after having to endure "baths only" in some of the hotels we stayed at. The living room area/bar off the lobby was a comfortable place to sit, considering the very deep and high backed couch, and wing chair. They actually opened the restaurant for us that night, which was our Thanksgiving Day back home. The restaurant is a very beautiful, very fancy gazebo. Custom curtain treatments, linens, crystal, candles, soft background music - everything you hope a romantic dinner will be. The service was exceptional as well as the food. Truly a memory we will cherish for a lifetime.

The location of the hotel is perfectly situated between Lucca and Pisa. Both of which we really enjoyed. The Tower was recently refurbished and is so clean and white it actually sparkled in the sun the day we were there. The Cathedral of Pisa is one of the most stunning we have ever seen (and believe me, we have seen hundreds). We had a delicious pasta lunch in the pizzeria about two blocks outside the opening exit/entrance near the back of the tower complex. It was just a regular looking pizzeria with a little outside sidewalk terrace area that had a lot of locals in it. (It's right across from the university cafeteria that looks like a garage) Highly recommend. Sorry, I digress...

The hotel staff was friendly and very efficient. You give them the large key ring when you leave the "house" and pick it up again at the desk upon your return. They provide maps. There is a cafeteria type of breakfast place right next door that we got breakfast and coffee to go from. The wi-fi service worked great in the room. The fresh fruit basket was delicious and much appreciated as we were starving when we arrived. The fine bone china dinnerware set up for two on the dining room table in the room was really the icing on the cake. Talk about "being made to feel welcome" is an understatement here. The walls of the apartment are all padded and covered with silk wall coverings. The carpeting throughout the whole hotel was wonderful and made the room just feel that much more like home. No cold hardwood or linoleum here - thank goodness. Some hotels throughout Italy, no matter how expensive, simply don't carpet their rooms. I just don't get it. Also, don't expect soft beds, big feather pillows, small wash clothes or hair conditioner in any hotel (they only provide shampoo and body wash). We stayed in six different cities and realized they simply don't provide these items in Italy (at least we never got them). The room had a safe and a mini bar.

You will love your stay here. Don't hesitate to book it right now if Pisa and Lucca are in your plans. Enjoy!