Our room was not ready on arrival, so we had to wander along the promenade for a couple of hours until it was ready (we arrived at 3pm). We were given a suite, which was unexpected, presumably because they were overbooked. The normal price of the suite was around €800, we were paying €337 for a superior room. If you were paying the full rate I suspect you would be disappointed.

It was abvious that the rooms on the (impressive) hotel website are in fact the suites and nothing else. Don't expect to get what is on the website if you book any thing less than the suite!

The hotel restaurant was booked-out on the first night, and we asked the hotel to recommend another in the town. We were taxi'd (expensively) to a local seafood restaurant which was overpriced, served by a decidedly unpleasant waitress. Our subsequent attempts to find a nice, clean restaurant in Viareggio were completely fruitless. It would appear that there are only very poor restaurants in this town (unless they are hidden away somewhere for the locals to use only).

The hotel restaurant is good though, although the service is somewhat chaotic. It would appear that the hotel manager has a penchant for handing people their meals as if he prepared them himself. It is simply taken from the hand of the waiter / waitress, who is standing beside you, and placed in front of you by the manager. It is quite cringeworthy when observed over time.

Also, the staff are constantly interrupted and redeployed by the manager and maitre-d as they react instantly to insignificant matters, thus the floor staff are unable to work efficiently.

Breakfast is very good by hotel standards. The champagne and strawberries are a bit pretentious (although appealing). Even on holiday though, I couldn't bring myself to have champagne first thing on the morning.

The pool on the roof is very small, but it is quite a nice place to spend time and grab some lunch (with a complimentary glass or two of wine). You have to pay to go onto the beach, which was quite deserted during our time there, despite the soaring temperatures.

Viareggio itself is an odd place. It would appear to be strange mix of rich and poor. The town is littered with very grotty-looking hotels, which do nothing for the appearance of the town. The Boutiques located on the promenade grow tiresome after a couple of nights, and the only thing to do is ramble the promenade or drink in the cafe-bars. Again, a couple of nights of that is enough. It is close to both Pisa and Florence for a couple of day trips which are worthwhile.

I would return to the hotel, which is pleasant, but not to Viareggio. If you do intend to stay, three or fours days is more than enough.