Hotel Hermitage Massa — Hotel in Massa

We made the fatal mistake of falling for the pictures on the hotel web site and reading the reviews which sounded ok on Trip Advisor, booking and then when we returned home realising that we had been reading the reviews of the other ‘Hotel Hermitage’ up the road in Forte dei Marmi. Yes it was a stupid mistake, one we will never make again.||||That said, the photos on the web site do look ok, with a modern attractive feel to the dining room and lobby.||||The reality: Yes still a modern feel to the entry of the hotel but when you get up stairs to the room something different. We had booked adjoining rooms for the kids 10 and 8, we were totally shocked. We have an expression in our family ‘lucky we didn’t bring the cat!’, the reason being that if we had there would not be room to swing it. The rooms were supposed to be double but were just big enough for a double bed. I realise that Italian hotels are known for small rooms but having been to Lido De Jessolo last year we were expecting similar. ||||For what we were paying this was a total disappointment. This hotel was not cheap. Before going we spent a week at the beautiful Villa Il Poggiale south of Florence, which is fantastic with enormous rooms and is truly an extraordinary hotel. The Hermitage was 30% more expensive and about 1/3 rd of the quality. With rooms about 1/5 th of the size.||||Although the rooms were clean they were tired in décor and soft furnishings. The bathrooms were also in need of some serious work. One good point, the balcony was big and quite nice.||||The swimming pool was ok from afar, once up close, like the rooms, in need of some work. During the times when we did not go to the beach and spent time by the pool, we were generally their alone, so no atmosphere and no one for the kids to play with.||||The hotel beach 5 minute walk from the hotel was ok nice sand and clean, but no more than ok.||||Evening meals were unusual. Generally two options for main course available, which had to be booked the night before, plus one dessert, fruit and ice cream. What was served was just about passable but was made up of cheap ingredients.||||Breakfast again just about passable being the usual Italian offering.||||In terms of the staff, generally friendly with little English. No one to help with bags when we arrived, had to carry cases containing the kitchen sink et al up a spiral staircase unaided.||||We booked 10 days and left after 3.||||We tried to avoid discussing with the kids what the ladies were doing standing on the street corners when going out at night and returning later.||||This part of the Tuscan Riviera is worth avoiding. Much better to be in Forte dei Marmi and not...

Having travelled several times to Italy from the United States, I have stayed in a variety of hotels varying from 6 star Villas to 2 star pensiones. When booking a 3 star hotel, it's difficult to find that few that are special in terms of what 3 stars have to offer. OK...we can honestly admit that Americans may just be a little spoiled, in terms of amenities, air conditioning, internet.etc.||||Having stayed in two different 3 star hotels during the same 10 day stay, Hotel Hermitage was by far the best choice. (I won't mention the other)||The simple conveniences that make your stay easy were all there:||||1. Free wifi...no daily or hourly charges...ok, we are Americans and tend to work too much.||2.REAL Air Conditioning with a thermostat! Not a poofy blower that many hotels claim to be air conditioning.||3.Meticulously clean...the cleaning crew was ready and working as soon as you left the room.||4. Al Fresco buffet breakfast with real waiters, fresh fruit, fresh cafe, cappucino, cafe americano, eggs, the works.||5. A Large POOL with plenty of towels and lounge chairs.||6.Balconies are even larger than the rooms, with lounges and bistro tables to relax.||7.One block from beach so you do not hear cars speeding by all night.||8. SERVICE!!! Very special people who actually cared about your comfort. Anna, the gentile front desk lady waited on our every need, from creating our American ice coffee, to speaking english to accomodate us.||9.Finally the wait staff and ownersElena and Lucca, took time to be sure we were comfortable...Lucca even popped me in his Porche Carrera to drive me to the open market!! Now that's service....Definitely better than any other 4 star hotel I've stayed at in the last 20 years.||||OK...I guess it...

Cuando vi este hotel me ilusione con el. Tras visitar Venezia, Florencia, Lago di Como... pensaba q era un cierre perfecto para descansar una semana. El turismo cultural está genial, pero luego se tiene q descansar. Reservé una habitación con una super terraza que daba a la piscina. Hasta aquí perfecto. La habitación quizás un poco justa, la terraza mucho más grande que la propia habitación pero sin la privacidad entre ellas. Te resultaba un poco incomodo sentarte en mitad de la terraza, quizás alguna planta que diese más separación estaría perfecta (al fin y al cabo no te conoces con las personas de otras terrazas). Nos informaron que la comida o la cena eran 25 € x persona, lo cual me parece muy exagerado para un tres estrellas. Muchos cuatro estrellas y puedo citar al Hotel Metropolis de Andorra tiene un precio de 16 € y la calidad de sus productos es altamente recomendable, no como aquí q solo tenias una hoja con tres primeros y tres segundos y para de contar. El primer día x la hora decidimos comer aquí. Solo dos comidas con una botella de agua sin cafés ni postres y luego nos pasaron 63 € x lo q además más caro q lo informado. Lo que me cabreo seriamente fueron los desayunos. 6 noches con desayuno incluido con pronto pago fueron 900 € y tuve que discutir por un simple zumo. Ya el primer día, conseguí un zumo de naranja en un vaso de plástico, y no pude repetir. Me informaron que no reponian el zumo, que cuando se terminaba te quedabas sin el. Para desayunar solo bebo zumo de naranja, algo sencillo. Ni café, ni leche. Me enfada seriamente alojarme en un hotel como este en periodo de vacaciones y que tenga que discutir por un simple zumo de naranja. El tercer día me tocó volver a discutir por el mismo tema, y nuevamente me quede sin zumo y sin desayunar. El cuarto los camareros me habían dejado bajo la barra dos vasos de plástico con este bien tan caro y como detalle bien x su parte. Al día siguiente se termino el pan y a otro cliente le dijeron que tampoco iban a reponer. Sinceramente me parece una vergüenza que productos tan básicos como el zumo de naranja y el pan, no los repongan, máxime por los precios que pagas. Para desayunar así es mejor no pagarlo e irte a algún local próximo. ¿Cómo pueden cobrar más de 60 € x dos comidas sencillas y luego negarte un zumo de naranja y pan que son productos básicos? . Estos detalles me molestaron mucho, cuando vas de vacaciones no esperas tener que discutir por un simple zumo, algo que reponen en cualquier hotel sin tan siquiera decírselo. De todos los hoteles en que he estado en Italia que han sido muchos, este ha sido el único que ha sido una auténtica decepción, por lo que no puedo recomendarlo en absoluto. La zona de playas tiene un precio x semana de 160 € para dos personas, zonas acotadas que provocan un pelín de stress. Es una lastima la decepción con este hotel, jamás pensé tener que discutir por un zumo de...