Granduca

We stayed for a 3 night break to visit Pisa and Florence last week. The hotel is 7 km from Pisa meaning without a car, travel is made by taxi, local bus or train. We had expected our hotel to be within PIsa but it is on the other side of Pisa from the airport and taxi was 35 euros - 20 euros from Pisa centre to the hotel. The bus into Pisa has an advantage that it stops outside the Leaning Tower 2.50 euros each way.The train we never found or used. The day before we left London i called the travel agent due concerns over the condition of the hotel reported on TA and was assured no complaints had been received so i felt relieved until we arrived. It appears to cater for large groups of noisy foreign tourists night stopping and not short breakers like us. The toilet would not flush on our first morning and we informed the front desk who assured us it would be put right during the day. On return from our half day in Florence that evening the room had not been cleaned, bed made or towels changed nor toilet fixed. On complaining yet again we were given some clean towels - they offered to change our room right away but it was too late in the evening to put up with the upheaval.. The following morning the same toilet problems so they gave us the key to an empty room nearby to use the toilet. On return that evening from Pisa we were given a new room which had no toilet paper and it took them an hour to find some for us. The rooms have no privacy tags for the door and no hotel information. A pile of used window frames were stacked in the hedge as seen from the window by our room Breakfast is terrible. The coffee machines were not working and the staff had to provide using a machine near the bar. The cold buffet comprised only 1 plate of salami, 1 plate of ham and 1 plate cheese on the first morning and second morning only salami and ham but they did put some hard boiled eggs out. The bread consisted of stale finger rolls. No hot food was provided but a basket of fruit was. We did not bother with breakfast on the last morning but took the bus into Pisa and ate there.. The bar is run by the reception people in addition to their other duties including complaints from quite a few guests. One day they had no beer or coke !! The reception staff do an excellent job under the circumstances but it appears the management take no interest in the problems when they are made aware by the desk. The desk could not provide any details of bus times but instead told us to walk to the newsagents along the road by the bus stop to seethe times. There is no pavement from the car park exit along a busy road but only grass to walk on. Some sort of protest was taking place in the car park for 2 mornings . I am placing these remarks on here to warn prospective foot travellers in order they are aware of the problems in advance. We thoroughly enjoyed our visits to Pisa and Florence but the hotel condition and location took the shine off for us. It is certainly not 4 star but 1 star at best and it used to be called Easy Hotel but changed the name last autumn although the door mat in the lobby still shows Easy Hotel. With the same problems continuing from last year i wonder if it was just a name change. i find it strange that the hotel has had no TA reviews from UK visitors since last year. Perhaps nobody has been there since and we were the first !!

Rate this Hotel 1 Star. Staff were very helpful. Bed like sleeping a bag of potatoes. Double bed was two singles pushed together, with drop in the middle. Air Conditioning not working, hair dryer not working, but staff supplied a hand held dryer when asked. The really classic offering was the breakfast, absolutely disgusting, fatty bacon floating in grease, scrambled egg that was rubbery. Little fruit on offer, the Orange (loosely Described) juice was concentrate not fresh, that is when the machine worked. On our final day the heat was turned off on the bacon & it sat in a mass of hard dry fat, no food nets,flies and little to choose from. Staff have no idea of how to prepare or present food to any kind of standard. Cleaners did not lock room when they finished. The hotel was very clean. This hotel seems to cater for one night stay bus tours where they can throw up any kind of rubbish for breakfast and no one will complain. Convenient to train station linking Pisa. Ok place, if you just want a place to deposit your luggage. Avoid if possible.

Last minute choice - rooms are cleaned everyday - but there is cleaning and there is cleaning. carpets dirty and whole hotel could do with updating breakfast not much choice - even coffee machines not working - so you had to go to local cafe for good coffee etc staff not at all friendly - apart from one on the reception PLUS SIDE --- GOOD LOCATION - TRAIN/BUS STOP NOT FAR --- NICE RESTAURANTS NEARBY