This is an old-style three-star which some would describe as having seen better days. You may agree, but it depends largely on your taste and what you're used to when you travel. I had an exceedingly comfortable and enjoyable three-night stay -- but I tend to go for places with a bit of retro glamour. Bland business hotel, this is not. But if you're the kind of person who loves 60s and 70s style, you'll be right at home.
My room was fine -- not brilliant but perfectly comfortable. Some of the furniture is a bit mismatched and I had kind of a cheap looking wardrobe. The bathroom was an absolute hoot -- straight out of 1978 with grey and yellow tiles and matching yellow accessories. Not to everyone's taste perhaps, but wonderfully retro, and also very clean and well maintained. Look at it this way -- there are people out there who spend a lot of time searching for this style in antique shops. (I really wish now I'd taken photos...)
The main areas of the hotel are fabulous. My room was off one lobby that wouldn't look out of place in a Bond film, with a fantastic glass ceiling and dark wood panelling. And the roof terrace is, quite simply, jaw dropping -- a stunning view over the entire city, with tables and sunbeds where you can sit with a Campari and soda and pretend you're Sophia Loren.
I kind of doubt that the owners deliberately kept the decor as a shrine to the 60s, but whatever. It's a nice old hotel that's lovingly maintained, with terrifically charming staff who practically fell over themselves to help me out. Sure they could have ripped out the old stuff and filled it with a lot of blonde wood and frosted glass -- but the prices would triple and you'd probably die of boredom.
- Continentale Hotel Arezzo
