Hotel Grand Terme Chianciano
In the depths of winter nothing sounds more appealing than spending some time at a “Terme” or spa with thermal springs. Soaking in warm mineral waters, sauna, steam room, perhaps some pampering treatments for relaxation and beautification can only uplift and revive the body and mind when the skies are grey and the weather bitter. So it was a bit exciting to visit my first Terme in this year, and after some research we chose to stay at the hotel Grand Terme in Chianciano a town in Tuscany near the Val D’Orcia and Siena and only about a 2 hour drive from Lucca.
The website gallery looks very nice and the spa, the rooms and the food looked very inviting boasting vegetarian and vegan options, but unfortunately the reality was quite a distance from the shiny advertising on the website. After driving in circles for about 10 minutes we finally found the hotel as there was little to no signage and it was only by accidentally going up a driveway that had signage for another hotel we found it. The reception area was quite dated, and while the staff were reasonably friendly, there was no semblance of a warm welcome after we were told to leave our bags and come back in a couple of hours to check in. As we walked out I said to my companion I get a “The Shining” vibe about this place and he said he was thinking exactly the same thing. We had a good laugh and decided if either of us goes missing for more than 20 minutes to go searching for the other and to also let our family and friends know exactly where we are. We noticed the guest book near the elevator and some bad reviews and wondered why and if the guests who hd written them were perhaps high maintenance? It did not take long for us to understand why.
When we returned to pick up our key our luggage was still sitting in the deserted reception area and we were pointed in the direction of the elevator to go up to our room. No information was provided at all, for example, where the actual spa was, where the dining room was, that there is a little coffee bar, nothing. These were all things we had to discover for ourselves. The room was very different to the pictures, very dated, dark old furniture, curtains in need of an iron and a duvet with no cover on it and two flat pancake pillows on the bed. Now I am by no means a fussy traveller, I am very go with the flow, but really the hotel is clearly guilty of completely false advertising.
Pictured on the left (advertised rooms) on right, the actual room
As we were both in dire need of some rest and relaxation, we forgot about the room, and donned the bath robes we found on our bed, which looked like someone had accidentally put a strange coloured item of clothing in with the whites, so they were a weird beigy/grey colour. Not very appealing nor clean looking, but nevertheless unperturbed we went back down to reception and found the spa area. At the spa reception a young man who honestly could have not been anymore bored or unenthusiastic, grudgingly gave us a quick tour of the 2 pools, saunas, steam room and ice/cooling off area. Thinking he must be having a bad day, we tried the pool, sauna, stream room and enquired about getting a massage. The attitude of the receptionists at the spa was again so unenthusiastic, like they were doing us a favour when we asked to book a couples massage. and a few other treatments over the coming days. The woman at the desk was very rude. We asked if she had any suggestions and we were told to look in the booklet which we had already done, and which did not have the greatest explanations about there treatments, nevertheless we chose a few treatments and then were met with the response, “what over the next two days that’s too much.” Uhm this is why we asked for your recommendation in the first place.
The other most strange thing was often-times there were no staff members present at all in the wellness area. Saunas, pools and steam can all be dangerous if not used correctly. No instructions on how long it was safe to stay in the sauna or steam area, no timers, very dim lighting. We actually heard another patron ask a team member when one finally showed up how it was possible to have a wellness centre unstaffed, and who would someone call if they became unwell or fainted or had a heart attack? Once again the response was bereft of any care or concern, oh well you don’t use them if you are not healthy!! Unbelievable.
The ladies toilet in the “wellness spa” kind of says it all about the overall vibe of the place.
After our treatments, no instructions on how to care for yourself afterwards were provided, no one at spa reception ever asked us how we were, did we enjoy it, in fact no staff even one bothered to greet us or anyone other guests unless you greeted them first, once again engulfed in their mobile phones.
With a website that boasts vegan options, which was appealing as we thought vegetarian or vegan options would be most natural at a business built around health and wellness, the only vegetarian item on the menu each night was either a tasteless appetiser or soup. So while other patrons enjoyed an appetiser, primi, secondi and dolci with at least 3 options for each course, I had the choice of a soup, or some tasteless mush and on the first night when I enquired about the fact there were no vegetarian options I was offered a plate of grilled vegetables that were so dry, tasteless with not even any oil or seasoning on them. Now they know there is someone with vegetarian requirements staying at the hotel, so why the kitchen was not prepared for the next evening of our stay was mind boggling especially after we politely enquired and asked if something more substantial could be prepared.
This place should be closed down, the staff are generally absolutely miserable, the place is uncared for, perhaps it is the weird muzak piped in all day driving them all mad. I don't know, but for a 4 star hotel and my first experience at an Italian Terme, it was extremely disappointing. I would definitely never recommend this place to anyone.