Hotel San Michele — Hotel in Cortona

Hotel San Michele is the perfect getaway. Located in the south of Italy, by a city with a population of only around 19,000 inhabitants and a low tourist population. Due to it's low number of tourists, the area is still strongly attached culturally. Unfortunately, I only vsited forone week, I wish I had know how breath-taking it is here and I would have decided to stay a life time.

This hotel includes acres and acres wide of golf fields available to the public. Previous to this trip, I never played golf, neither thought of trying. Gabriele, Mario and their mascot Isotta showed me the beauty of golf by the sea. I took a few lessons, but it was more than just a golf lesson, you made new friends and unforgetable memories. Of course to accompany the golf fields, there must be a golf club. The golf clubs includes a ping-pong table, a pool table, a bar and a cosy sitting area to watch TV.

Yet of course, the main reason people come to San Michele, and keep returning (I even met someone who's been returning for over 25 years!) is their private beach. There are three sections to the beach, all enclosed in grand cliffs to make it seem like a magical pond in the middle of the sea. The water at the beach is also the cleanest water, and that's also thanks to the stupendous life guards. Next to the beach, in the water, there are also sky scraping, eye-opening cliffs.

Right next to the beach there is also a restaurant and a bar. Daily, the chefs and waiters take the elevator up and down from the hotel to the beach so that their guests can have a pleasureable lunch by the sea. The barman constantly on his duties if in need of a drink at any time.

If salt water just isn't your thing, San Michele also offers a pool. The pool a relaxing place to stay with a magnificent view of the sea and beautiful nature surrounding it. Nearby, there is also the opportunity for yoga (or lessons) and massages.

Personally, my favourite activity during my stay were the walks; along the paths, through the golf courses, to the beach. San Michele's campus was started over 100 years ago and had a vast ammount of trees, plants and fresh, clean air. All of the fruits you eat at San Michele are all grown on their vast campus. When taking the elevator down to the beach, there is also a small path to take to go get an ice cream in a small town nearby. Although, since the building was built some time ago, there are a lot of steps to climb or decend to reach the beach/hotel. Not to worry, if you ring the reception, a car or a golf-cart will be sent to give you a ride.

One service that is always at a hotel but under apreciated or even un-recognised is the room services. The ladies that made my room were efficient, I hardly ever saw them. The room I stayed in had a magnificent wide view of the ocean.

At night, since San Michele is up on a hill, you are able to see the whole city below you. The port lights, the city lights and my personal favourite- the church lights at the top of the hill. It is a truly magical sight.

Saving the best for the last- the food that is at San Michele. Prepared by extraordinary chefs, the plates that are brought to you are made using fresh ingredients, or grown on the hotel's campus or newly purchased at the nearby town. The food here is made with a passion that allows you to know CALABRIA better.

Now, such delicate food has to be brought with class; and it is. The waiters are some of the most proffessional waiters I have seen, constantly yet discretely making sure that you are satisfied whilst seated. I could never appreciate enough the hard work that the waiters put into making my stay at San Michele memorable. These waiters, of whom some have been working there for over 10 years, can also communicate in English, French and a bit of Spanish.

In a short time I learnt the names of the people, the place; yet it will take me a life time to forget them. Thank you San Michele for making this one of my most memorable holidays and I will be definitely coming back soon.

I hope this review will inspire you...

I stayed at The San Michele Hotel on the night of September 22, 2019. The front desk agent asked to see my ID and stated he would give it right back. This was not done and nor was it returned after checking out in person at the front desk. As if this was not bad enough, I was assisted in booking a train ticket to Venice by the front desk agent as well. This ticket was booked for the wrong day and cost me 107 extra euros. I am traveling and will be on the move, so it will not be possible for this hotel to send me my ID and will cause me to have to carry around my passport the remainder of my trip. I am headed to Octoberfest in Munich and will be wearing lederhosen, which will not accommodate me carrying my passport. They are also refusing to address or take any responsibility for the miss booking of my train ticket, have been rather dismissive about it. So the damage is already done, the lack of attention to detail has proven to be costly and a rather big inconvenience at my expense.

It’s ok to make mistakes, but it is not okay to avoid responsibility and not try to make these mistakes right.

An saying/offering to mail me back my ID at no cost, which you failed to return to is not enough. That’s an obvious given that you will do that.

I am very disappointed with the lack of attention to detail with this hotel and WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE...

We loved our two night stay in Cortona which was highlighted by our stay at this amazing hotel. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted and whisked up to the large and beautifully decorated room #207. The bed was so comfortable and the bathroom very nice. Despite being a historic building everything is perfectly maintained and functional. The location is perfect right off the main square. The breakfast buffet was very nice. All of the staff were very helpful and friendly. We enjoyed a great dinner at nearby trattoria Toscana. Regarding the car parking, we had reserved a parking space for the 20e per night. It was our first day of driving in Italy and did not feel comfortable driving down the busy small main street so we decided to park nearby in paid parking and walk to the hotel. The paid lots are free from 8p-8a and there is a parking app that makes it easy to pay for parking from afar. We spent about 10e per day to do it this way and it worked great for us. We highly recommend...