Hotel Francia E Quirinale

This was such a beautiful hotel, and an easy walk from the train station, the funicular to Montecatini Alto, the thermal baths, and the downtown area. The room was very clean and comfortable. They told us we were given a complimentary upgrade when we checked in. To be honest, I would have been fine if we had a non-upgraded room in the back of the hotel. It was so very noisy in the mornings (early) with the tour groups getting ready for their day. The street noise from them, garbage trucks, etc. just floated up and into the room. We were also surprised that they give you an actual key, on a very bulky key chain. Thankfully I had a purse to put it in, would have been uncomfortable in a pants pocket. We had breakfast and dinner in the hotel twice. They had a very nice breakfast buffet. You have to find and ask a staff person for a cappuccino if you want one, it is not offered when you are seated. And don't leave your cappuccino there if you go up for seconds, they clear the table. They have American coffee in the pot to help yourself to. The dinners were very nice too. The first night we had a lady serve us (sorry, I don't remember the names!). The next time we at the gentleman was our server, and he was not very friendly or attentive. Overall, the hotel is lovely, the location is excellent and I would definitely stay here again if I ever find myself in Montecatini Terme again!

This hotel was fabulous. Beautiful old hotel with outdoor swimming pool. Clean, lovely rooms, friendly staff, great food, wonderful bartender who entertained us, lovely little town, nice little park nearby, short walk to train station.

My wife and I stayed here for the first two weeks of September 2024. We travelled with Jet2 holidays on a half board basis. We booked a Deluxe Premium room. One of the reasons for choosing this hotel was that they advertised on their website Deluxe premium rooms include the premium breakfast in a different area - a special selection of additional products for stays of 10 nights or more. The hotel guide in our room also advertised this benefit with photographs. Additional products included smoked salmon along with other premium items. It also benefited from having a time extension to 10.30 as opposed to 10.00. We were looking forward to this premium breakfast as a lovely leisurely start to our day. However, we were informed that this extra facility no longer existed and had been withdrawn since the days of Covid. We were told by the receptionist that the room guides hadn't been updated. It's been 2 or 3 years since Covid!!!   AND it was still on their website! What a disappointment. The previous year we had stayed at the 3 star Hotel Fortunella in Lido di Camiore on the Tuscan coast. We were half board and the food was absolutely amazing. We payed quite a lot extra this year to stay at this 4 star hotel and our expectations were for it to be at least as good and quite possibly better. On our first night we were handed a menu to choose from. To start: Penne short pasta with tomato and cooking cream sauce OR cold pasta with cherry tomato, tuna and pecorino cheese OR cream of potato and leek soup. Main:      Cooked ham and Fontina cheese filled meat rolls OR chicken bites in lemon sauce OR shrimp cocktail. Mains were served with baked potatoes and stewed courgettes. Dessert was Panna Cotta. This menu was not to our taste and we were offered an alternative. We were also told that we could eat off the "a la carte" menu for future nights at no extra charge, however this did not materialise and we were given the standard half board menu which was equally unimaginative as the first night. The courses were rushed and we were in and out of the restaurant within 30-40 minutes. The dining room was very cold. The hotel caters for large coach parties and it was very rowdy even though their room was separated from ours. After the third night we asked to be downgraded to bed and breakfast and this was agreed. However, the discussion regarding this took place in the breakfast room in earshot of many of the other hotel guests. Allesandra (the owners daughter we think) said she was displeased and disappointed that we wanted to take the decision not to dine there any more. She told us that the chef was the best chef in Montecatini!! We had a 15 minute grilling. It was embarrassing for us that we were being publicly scrutinised and humiliated in front of fellow guests. We arrived for breakfast each morning at 9.30. Breakfast was until 10.00. At that time items were not being replenished and there was often little to go at. For our final 4 days we catered for ourselves in our room as it wasn't really worth going down to the breakfast room. The room guide stated that the TV had BBC. It didn't and there were no English speaking channels at all. The pool area had plenty of sun beds but the upper level terrace had a lot of weeds growing around the tiles which was a bit of an eyesore and was potentially a slip hazard. Our room was adequate but not much storage space. Bathroom was just ok.

Stayed here as part of a tour. The rooms and beds were comfortable and the staff went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. We enjoyed sitting on the front porch area enjoying a drink in the evenings and public areas were very nice. There are a lot of tour groups using this hotel, so when not part of the group dinners, the food choices in the wine bar can be a little sparse but of good quality. There are plenty of good restaurants just a short walk away. Pool area was nice (pool not heated). We would stay again.

Stayed as part of a group. Reception were welcoming and helpful. Public rooms were well furnished and spotless. Pool area small but well maintained. Rooms were a bit of a mix. Furnished in no particular style. We had aroom 216 a corner room which was huge. Lovely big bathroom The only complaint would be that the bedrooms are very dark. Some of them face a derelict villa which was dismal. Independent travellers should be aware that this hotel caters for several large tour groups at a time which makes it very noisy and congested at times. Whilst the wait staff, like all the employees, are exceptionally hard working and efficient the breakfast offering was very poor. Limited in both choice and quality. I have rated this establishment very good but it really needs to improve breakfast to honestly deserve this.

Solo traveller August 2024 I don’t normally write reviews but I couldn’t possibly not share this experience with others about this utterly romantic, charmful hotel, which was an experience that I’ll hold close to my heart forever. I’ve travelled to many countries on my own and vowed I’d never go back to the same place twice, until now! The hotel itself was beyond what I had expected from my extensive google searches before I went. It’s stunning, every new part I discovered, was another ‘oh wow’ moment! Though it has to be said that it’s the staff that makes this hotel even more special. The cleaners, the waiting staff, the receptionists, Roberto :) (the bar man) and the owner of the hotel all in their own unique way make you feel like you’re an old friend, and not in a ‘it’s our job’ way but in a genuine manner, which is yet another thing that separates this hotel from others. As soon as you walk out of the hotel, your steps away from so many restaurants, cafes, clothes shops, pharmacies, a supermarket ,hairdressers, the train station. The funicular, and pasta/wine making classes were also available literally 10/15 minutes walk away. Two events I would highly recommend. After 2 weeks staying here, I still had so many things I wanted to see, do, so I guess I’ll need to come back :)! The pool was also a very welcomed addition, and yes you did get the few dedicated ‘first thing in the morning, drop our towels on the lounger people’ but very often there was plenty of empty ones too, and that was in 37 degrees weather. Thank you to the receptionist and the very sweet funny waitress (I’m sorry I didn’t get their names) for helping me to zip up my dress, quite a sight the 3 of us in the reception area! Lastly the night before I had to unfortunately leave, I asked Fabio in reception what time I needed to check out, he kindly granted me a late check out without me even asking, whilst putting my mind at ease regarding the numerous questions I had about getting a taxi, do the trains run frequently etc. I was fretting about my departure, but he quickly put my mind at ease. Next day, whilst checking out I was chatting to the owner (again never got her name). This woman looks like she came straight from a movie set, but don’t be put off by her grand demeanour , such a down to earth woman with the most biggest, gentlest smile :) Thank you for our chat and your kind words, a perfect ending to a perfect stay All in all 100 out of 5 stars

We visited the Grand Hotel around 5 years ago, it was special then but even more special this time. This is a wonderful hotel and we will be returning . The staff are amazing and can never do enough for you but special thanks to Fabio, Margherita, Katia and Roberto

Could not recommend this hotel enough. The rooms were clean, with good facilities and serviced daily. The staff were always welcoming, friendly and kind - humoured woeful attempts at Italian with a smile. A good breakfast - we stuck mainly to the continental. The common areas were plentiful with lots of seating areas inside and out and a pool that was good to cool off after a hot day out and about. An excellent base in the heart of Tuscany with good access by road and public transport to places of interest.