Hi. Had an opportunity to stay at the Adler in Bagno Vignoni for one week and had a perfect time.
In advance... making the reservation was easy - friendly and prompt response to my inquiry and questions via phone and email. You'll see that the Spa has an almost overwhelming amount of stuff to consider. Suggestion? Take advantage of the spa consultation (phone number included in your reservation). The woman I spoke with was very helpful and took time to describe about the various treatments and made some suggestions based on what I was looking for and what was already included in my reservation package. I did not feel at any time she was trying to push or sell anything – just patiently answered my questions and explained about options and opportunities. She even stayed on after the spa had closed to talk with me (I didn't know this until I later found out what the spa hours were). Excellent first impression.
The resort... the drive from Florence is a bit (~1.5 hours), but about half of it is winding roads through beautiful countryside. At check-in we had our first opportunity to meet Rosangela. I wanted to point that out because (a) she seemed to be everywhere and was always exceptionally helpful and with a great smile, and (b) she couldn't have been more excellent. All the other reception area folks were wonderful too, but we just had the good fortune of interacting with her most of the time (but it wasn't like she was following us... haha). Suggestion? Drop off all your stuff in your room, with the exception of robe/towel/bag tickets (received at check in) and head directly to the spa reception area. Say hello and ask them for an overview of the facilities and a map. Get your stuff (from the tickets) right next to the reception area. WALK AROUND AND CHECK OUT THE SPA/SAUNAS/POOLS (there’s a lot, but everything is close together). It’s just like a postcard.
The food… breakfast is very good and runs pretty late, allowing for a morning swim or sleeping in or whatever before they shut it down. Grab a copy of the Carpe Diem newsletter (it’s printed in several languages). Dinner is great. You have several choices for each of the multiple courses. The food was wonderful, changed each day and included Tuscan-based and health-conscience (if you’re so inclined) selections each evening. Don’t even get me started on dessert (haha). They have a pretty good wine selection – specific suggestions are offered on the menu based on the evening’s food selection, but they have a book (literally) of alternatives if you’re looking for something else. Resort guests appear to have an assigned table for dinner so you have an opportunity to see (and meet if you’d like) familiar faces throughout your stay. We had an opportunity to be in Carlo’s area for dinner during our visit. He was fabulous, be it with the timing of the courses, recommendations, descriptions, chatting with the foreigners (us), whatever. Lunch is an additional fee and works like dinner (several courses with several choices). Lunch at the outdoor restaurant was nice (if you’re there during the season it is open), especially if you can get one of the outdoor tables (no reservations allowed). Awesome.
Spa stuff… this was my first time to a spa, so it was all pretty new to me. We’d booked the Amore package which had several couples-based spa treatments, and I’d recommend them all for a romantic time together (Rasul: fun with clay, Brunello: fun with wine, Salt Grotto: just fun). Two additional treatments I’d highly recommend for couples: the romantic aroma experience and aqua zen massage. I could easily say each of them was my favorite. Suggestion? Plan to visit the Olivae sauna during an infusion. There are 2 or 3 each day (times are listed in the Carpe Diem as well as on the sauna itself). Please plan to arrive a bit early as it can fill up during these treatments (no fee). Another suggestion? Book your treatment times in advance (they recommend this) with the spa consultant, tell them what you think your plans might be while you’re there/early or late riser/sightseeing?/etc. and let them do it. That’s the method we used and it worked out perfect. Note: you’re going to want to swim in the thermal pool at night, but it closes at 20:00. A holiday designed around relaxing… that’s just crazy.
Random thoughts… there appear to be a lot of rooms (maybe about 100?), and around the pool or in the dining room at night you’ll see people, but for the most part you do not get a sense of being crowded at all. It was not uncommon for us to be the only people in a sauna for a time, nor can I recall ever having to wait for anything. I read several reviews about the positive child-friendly nature of the resort, and I wondered how that would be (visions of Disneyland dancing in my head). However, I can say now that any concerns were for naught. Perhaps some of that is due to the time of my visit or our room being on the opposite side of the resort than the kid’s club area, but the resort makes an effort to allow for some areas to be adult-only, and the others to let the little people run around and have fun. It is welcoming to have a choice, instead of the choice being brought to you. The Adler coordinates an excursion into the surrounding area almost each day (listed in the daily newsletter; for a fee) but we jumped in the car and winged it ourselves – many great places close by, if you can break away from the relaxing time at the resort. Suggestion? Visit the tower on the hill to look back onto the resort – needless to say it’s a great picture.
I just wanted to provide a few more thoughts to a long list of great reviews, and pay forward all those who took the time to submit the reviews that helped me choose the Adler Thermae. Hopefully you’ll find a helpful comment or two here. It was as great as I hoped it would be while pulling up the entry drive (and I’d set a pretty high bar). I will welcome the time when I will visit again.
Room Tip: Stayed in the low 320's; second floor overlooking the pool with the fabulous countryside view. 5...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.