Grand Hotel Admiral Palace

Starting out from the street with a simple, high gate and flags flying from poles, Grand Hotel Admiral does indeed seem to live up to its name. With a road leading into a tree-shaded driveway, the entrance delivers expectations that many feel aren't quite met at the hotel itself. The open grassy areas don't feel as lush as you'd like, and the split-styled architecture may seem interesting to some, but odd to others -- it looks as though a classic Tuscan building has been spliced with the first few floors of an all-glass metropolitan skyscraper.

Once inside, the hotel takes on both a slightly dated and futuristic look created by combining polished tile floors, white leather and soft red fabric seating, angled walls, and small ceiling lights. Perhaps this is because the lobby doubles as a lounge bar. The faux-futuristic style shows up again in the spa area, in much more relaxing tones, and in the rooms, where the decor is more ‘80s-esque. Contrastingly, the the restaurant and outdoor areas have a contemporary-country motif. Here, the vibe is decidedly classy with contemporary wicker furniture in brown tones. The outdoor garden area is large and peppered with loungers. On higher floors, guests can peep out windows for beautiful views across the valley.

Even taking into account what might be seen as flaws, the hotel is still in better shape and style than many of the area lodgings. Although Chianciano Terme was once a flourishing spa town, tourism has died off over the last few years and many hotels have suffered as a result or gone out of business.

Found within Chianciano's hotel epicenter, the Grand Hotel has a quasi-secluded off-street park location. Surrounded by trees and greenery, the property is immune to traffic noise while still being within walking distance to the center of town and close to Chianciano's public spas. Most other areas of Tuscany can be reached within 60-90 minutes by car, while reaching Rome requires a train ride or two-hour drive. The closest airport is in Florence, about 90 minutes north by car.

Grand Hotel Admiral's 111 rooms are divided into four categories ranging from the basic Classic units to chic Presidential Suites. All rooms have tiled floors and contemporary decor. However, with white leather sofas sporting curvy lines, minimalist dark wood furniture, and gold tables with black velvet chairs, their modern style seems better suited for the 1980s. Higher room categories come with spa tubs, but some rooms with hydro-massage baths may not have a standup shower. Suites have lovely views over the park and into the valley, but note that balconies may be shared with your neighbors. Room amenities are fairly basic with flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. (Bathrobes are included for longer stays.)

Grand Hotel Admiral's draw, much like the area of Chianciano in general, is its thermal water spa. Although there is a daily fee for use, guests have a more than 3,000-foot wellness center on-site. The facility includes a relaxation area where you can chill out with a book, beauty store with an assortment of products, six-person hydro-massage spa tub, and heated thermal pool. And if you've never experienced an emotional shower, now's your chance to step under the pulsating flow of a warm water shower while surrounded by colored light and aromatherapy. There’s also a small fitness center with cardio machines and weights.

The hotel has child-friendly services (for a fee) like multilingual babysitters and a kids’ club. A basic free breakfast is available and the on-site restaurant serves Italian cuisine that can accommodate special diets. The lobby is home to 24-hour reception, the lounge bar, and a concierge service that's happy to book excursions. Free shuttles to the airport are offered as well.