Hotel Tamerici

This homey, relaxed establishment has the feel of a modest apartment complex in a suburban area and attracts families and small tour groups. A brick-lined terrace in the backyard leads to an oval-shaped pool surrounded by close-cropped grass and a small shady garden of fruit trees and palms. Wicker armchairs set out on the front patio area. The bright lobby features marble floors, white walls, and lots of white tables and love seats, making it look a scene from a wedding catalog. Stained-glass windows and the occasional small art piece or vase of flowers adds color to the space. While the hotel's public areas are quite attractive, once inside the rooms things are decidedly underwhelming, and the style is far less fresh.

The hotel sits on a quiet, single-lane road on the outskirts of the small beach town of Marciana Marina, with only fields and a few stucco houses between the property and a view of the surrounding mountains. While the center of town isn’t very far, it also isn’t the most convenient for those with compromised mobility. There are restaurants and a few shop about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and there's a local beach with lounge chairs and a pier as well. It will take about 15 minutes to reach the actual marina on foot. Paglicce Beach is a 25-minute drive south of the hotel. The ferries to the mainland depart from Portoferraio, a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Elba Airport is a half-hour drive from the hotel; alternatively, guests can catch bus number 116 to the airport, which stops a nine-minute walk from the property. 

Like many hotels in this category on Elba, rooms aren't exactly a picture of modernity, which is especially disappointing given the hotel's sharp public areas. Decor consists of tile floors and red or green headboards with matching curtains, though some have garish floral bedspreads. The rest of the furniture often has tinted wicker paneling that feels held over from a bygone decade and there's little in the way of wall art on the white walls beyond a token maritime picture. Rooms are clean and bright and get good natural light, which makes them pleasant enough. The Superior Room (Sea View) that we visited had charming wood-beam ceilings and lovely, distant sea views. All rooms have small furnished balconies, air-conditioning, safes, and mini-fridges, and Superior Rooms have flat-screen TVs as opposed to the old tube TVs found in Classic Rooms. Some Superior Rooms come with bunkbeds along with double beds plus tables making them ideal for families. Note that most double beds are actually two single mattresses pushed together. Bathrooms are small, with walk-in showers, bidets, make-up mirrors, hairdryers, and basic toiletries. 

Features are limited at the Tamerici, but there is a restaurant with an elegant, but unstuffy vibe, complete with wooden chairs and tables, stained-glass highlights, and a mix of white and cream decor. The traditional home-cooked meals served here are well-liked by guests, and a breakfast buffet has a wide selection of pastries and continental options. A plain but comfortably furnished lobby houses a tiny bar with a few stools. The hotel also has an outdoor pool that's partially shaded by the adjacent building for part of the day. It has a diving board and a few lounge chairs for relaxing poolside. Other features include a set of grass tennis courts, free parking, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. The hotel can also arrange various activities and excursions.