Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort and Spa

We had a lovely stay at Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa for my birthday. The setting is absolutely beautiful, the views are incredible and the hotel itself is very peaceful and relaxing. The staff were friendly and helpful, and overall we really enjoyed our time here. It’s a gorgeous place to escape to and would be perfect if you’re looking to spend most of your time at the resort. There are just a couple of things we would have liked to have known before booking. Unfortunately, there was a wedding taking place during our stay, which meant that some areas of the hotel were closed off and the lobby and surrounding areas were quite loud and busy at times. We had booked the trip as a relaxing birthday break away from our children and busy lifestyle, so this was a little disappointing. The main dining area was also closed for the private function, meaning breakfast was served in a much smaller side room. We had read great reviews about the breakfast, so were disappointed that the choice was quite limited during our stay, with no toaster, limited bread and not much hot food available. The other BIG piece of advice we would give is hire a car if you possibly can! We had assumed we could get around fairly easily using taxis and public transport, as we wanted to explore Barga and Lucca. However, taxis are extremely expensive. It was around €90 each way to Lucca, and we were quoted around €140–€200 each way to Pisa Airport. The local buses were also quite difficult to rely on, with services sometimes only every couple of hours, and on one occasion a bus simply didn’t turn up. We ended up spending over £400 just getting around, which was a huge shock and something we hadn’t budgeted for. If you’re planning on staying mainly at the hotel and enjoying the facilities, this isn’t something you need to worry about. But if, like us, you want to explore the surrounding area, definitely consider hiring a car. Despite these points, we did have a lovely trip and would recommend the hotel. The location and views really are stunning, and it’s a beautiful place to relax and unwind. Just arrive prepared for the transport costs and check whether any private events are taking place during your stay!

Such a beautiful location! What made this hotel exceptional were the staff. They couldn’t do enough to help and were so friendly and kind. Highly recommend this hotel.

Great facility for foreigners, internally it feels "old-fashioned." The room assigned to us was in an annex, small with a shared terrace, the room was internally dated and smelled bad, I did not ask for a change, I was staying only one night. The maintenance of the room was also neglected and clumsy. Courteous staff, numerically insufficient to call itself a resort. Outdoor pool with a decent view, the indoor one, forget about it. I doubt I will return, at the same costs, there is better.