Moderno Hotel

Our first meal was breakfast and there was only stale white bread for breakfast and the second day the same so the third day I did not attempt to take any bread. In addition there was unseasoned scrambled egg and pieces of frankfurters,a tray of cheese and sausage, packets of jam, butter and honey. several varieties of cake plus a bowl of pears and oranges but no yoghurt. Jugs of orange and multi vitamin juice plus coffee, hot water with packets of black and green tea but no fruit or herbal tea and no possibility of hot chocolate. For the evening they have the strange Italian habit of rabbit food and cooked vegetables to begin with followed by pasta or soup made from things on the salad bar which was a lot of beans and chick peas. There was a main course of meat a tiny portion of potatoes and some vegetable. The first day the meat was inedible and on the third night when it was supposed to be a Christmas meal there was turkey which seemed to have come out of a tin. A bottle of mineral water with the meal costs four Euros. Other guests in the hotel ate even later after our group and there were a lot of small children in the hotel as the hotel had several suites with rooms for parents and children. Seemed strange to see small children having to eat after 9 pm and to any northern European most unhealthy. The rooms were good with a nice firm mattress but only a very thin pillow but it was very nice to have a top sheet and a blanket instead of the awful Germanic duvets. I always take my own pillow as I know pillows are generally awful in hotels. The bathroom had a bidet as well as a basin and toilet. packets of shampoo impossible to open were there as were small bars of soap. The cold water pressure was so low that the showers came out scalding. Bathrooms had a small window with peeling paint on the window frame and a sliding door between the bathroom and bedroom. Two large mirrors were on the wardrobe doors and there was a fridge for drinks and a small TV with only Italian channels. There was no socket near the table. In the hotel they use three prong plugs which are not of the European design. The view from the window was of a hillside a couple of metres away so no view but the hotel is right in the centre of the town. The cleaning staff opened the windows and left the blinds down so the room was cold when you returned in the evening despite the heating and the outside temps only +2C. The small children made quite a lot of noise and whenever someone used the bathroom in the neighbouring room it could be heard. Spacious lounge area on the ground floor including one for non smokers but normally you would assume all lounge areas would be non smoking. Most of the time the reception was not manned or womaned and the response to the bell was often long but the keys were heavy and not something you wanted to have long in your pocket. The hotel is at the most a two star and definitely not four star as there is no swimming pool or other facilities. As the place is classed as a spa I had expected at least an indoor swimming pool and massage facilities/sauna etc. Friendly staff who know a little English but breakfast is only from 8 am and evening meals from 8 pm far too late for most Europeans -- I normally would not eat anything after 6 pm. I cannot understand why the lazy Italians cannot get up at a decent time or have their evening meal early enough for most Europeans.

The rooms were ok to better than the average in Italy. This was a popular hotel for Italians. Not great on English only speaking. The breakfast included with the room was fantastic which gives it the Very Good instead of Average rating. They turn the air conditioning off as a matter of routine, you will have to have a discussion with the management to keep the room cool. Great location to travel to the wonderful scenic hill towns in the Tuscany area.

- no proper wifi access in the room. we've put the chairs at the door and basically camped there to read emails - bathroom was spacious and clean - a bit cold during the night and the blanket offered didn't do the trick - the breakfast was small