Hotel San Marco - Lucca

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Group

stayed in May 2008

Un peu loin du centre, mais tres bon hotel de style moderne.

Guest name: Andre Mercy, France

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Apr 2008

We chose the San Marco mainly because it has a pool. As it happens , the weather wasn't really suited to sunbathing but that's by the by. There is a public car park opposite so parking was easy and as it outside the city walls, it is pretty easy to get out and about to other places if you are driving. The walk into Luca takes 10 to 15 minutes and really isn't arduous at all. The staff were extremely courteous and helpful and I couldn't fault them. The breakfast wasn't up to much but that is the only criticism I would have. We were out most of the time so I can't really comment much on the hotel facilities , save to say that the lounge area is clean and spacious, and the pool and patio area is quiet and relaxing. I noticed some people were using a computer in the lounge that is available for residents but never explored the costs etc.. We walked into Lucca each night for dinner. I can thoroughly recommend La Buca di Sant Antonio on Via della Cervia and the Al Olivo in piazza San Quirico. They aren't cheap but they very smart establishments and I would say excellent value for money for a fine dining experience. I would thoroughly recommend the San Marco , particularly if you want somewhere with a pool.

Guest name: Jeremy Smith, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.3

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jan 2008

Very nice place. The gentlemen at the desk were very helpful and didn't laugh at our broken Italian! They helped verify our flights and printed off train schedules for us. Lovely breakfast area and breakfast.

Guest name: William Bonnie, USA

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Unusally styled hotel, but with great use of space. Excellent staff who were most helpful. Ideal location just a few minutes walk outside city walls, would suit fairly fit couples. Arriving in the rush hour could be stessful for those not familiar with Lucca! Be sure to download a good location map. We would use the hotel again for our next visit, and have recommended it to friends.

Guest name: Ronald Dennett, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

Exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Outside of, but a pleasant short stroll to Lucca's famous walled centre.

Guest name: AG, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

This hotel is a little bit spartan, but serves all the basic needs. Access by car is easy. Just follow the signs “Centro” then you will sooner or later stumble into the city wall which circles the old city. There is a big green area surrounding the whole wall. The hotel is in a nice residential area off the north-east corner, 3 or 4 crossings from the wall, near the church of San Marco. About 5 minutes walk to the city port S.Jacobo, from there another 10 minutes to the square Piazza Amfiteatro Romano which is in centrum of Lucca.

Guest name: Olafur Indridason, Iceland

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

Nice hotel. Modern but very nice. Nice garden and pool area. Good continental breakfast. Located in a residential area. Garage parking for a fee, but desk clerk recommended we park across the street in a public lot for no charge. (always spaces available). About 10 min walk through a residential neighborhood to the "wall". Two entrances to the city, both leaving you in a major piazza near the major shopping/eating areas. (Lucca is relatively small anyway, so everything is within a short walking distance). Good deal for the price, location, and type of hotel. Would stay there again and recommend it to friends.

Guest name: Robert Amoruso, USA

Average rating:  8.2

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Oct 2007

We had a nightmare experience in Siena, San Marco was booked at 9pm the night before we arrived in shear deperation to get out of Siena. It was bliss in comparison, very pleasant staff, adequate bed, great shower and everything was clean (as opposed to the Siena joint). The late checkout on Sunday of noon topped off a peaceful stay after a not-bad breakfast. We appreciated the luggage storage offer, the taxi ordered to the door, just the little things. Would stay there again, and wish we had booked another night as we were wanting to explore the pool option.

Guest name: KM, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

helpful staff and a good breakfast. Nice neighborhood and short walk to old city. Nice pol but water was cold.

Guest name: William Auge, USA

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Sep 2007

Sehr freundliches, mehrsprachiges Personal, exzellentes Frühstücksbuffet, 15 Minuten Fußweg in die Innenstadt, ruhige Lage

Guest name: GW, Austria

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: 

stayed in Sep 2007

Sehr zu empfehlen. Stadtnah. Sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. gutes Frühstück.

Guest name: MO, Germany

Average rating:  6.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Hotel is good value for people on limited budget. Several tips: (a) Do NOT park in the hotel's garage---it is impossible to turn the corner to get out and up the ramp, even with a compact rental car, without scraping the side of the car. There were a lot of scrape marks on the walls, indicating that we were not the only people who had difficulty. There is a free lot across the street which is much better. (b) It was cold, pouring rain and very dreary for three days when we were there, and neither the hotel room nor the public areas were any place where anyone would want to spend any time---it's really more a place just to sleep. (c) It's also quite a hike to walk back from dinner within the walled city, particularly if pouring rain. We saw only a couple of taxis while we were there. There is some parking within the walls, but very limited. (d) there also was a bad odor in the room. One nice surprise: we received fresh towels and toiletries each day. And the total bill was extremely reasonable.

Guest name: JG, USA

Average rating:  6.4

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2007

San Marco was an out of town hotel but an easy 10 minute walk (or bike ride) into the town centre. Entry was modern and inviting and rooms clean. It would have been nice to have a swim if the weather was warmer. I thought it was a little over priced at 140euros per night considering the location but maybe we were there at a busy time of year (September).

Guest name: AA, Australia

Average rating:  9.5

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Sep 2007

Exzellentes Service, mehrsprachiges und sehr freundliches Personal, ca. 15 Minuten Gehweg ins Zentrum, schöner Garten zur Erholung. Zu empfehlen.

Guest name: GW, Austria

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Very welcoming and helpful staff who provided excellent information regarding places to eat, train times etc. Not being within the walls made it a long walk back in the evenings. However this should not detract from what the hotel can offer.

Guest name: KW, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

hotel très agréable avec personnel très compétent et parlant français.Le petit déjeuner est copieux .Chambre très calme et spacieuse. On y retournera avec plaisir.

Guest name: ED, France

Average rating:  7.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Modern, efficient hotel 5 minutes walk from Lucca city walls. Free car parking. Maybe not with the character of a hotel inside the old city but with none of the disadvantages either!

Guest name: DP, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

a very good hotel not so far from the old city

Guest name: JC, France

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Hotel was very modern and the rooms were clean and spacious. Staff was wonderful and let us use the Internet connections. Breakfast was very good with lots of options. The hotel has amble parking and was just a few blocks from one of the main gates to the old town of Lucca. It was a very enjoyable stay and I would definitely stay there again.

Guest name: Dominic Sposeto, USA

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2007

This hotel offers excellent value for money, a convenient location just a few minutes from the walls of Lucca and very helpful staff. The pool area is a bonus and provided a nice respite from the heat. Staff were keen to answer any questions we had and to make our stay enjoyable. We hired bikes (at a reasobale cost) from the hotel and took a spin round the city walls- a change from endlessly treading round Italian cities.

Guest name: Neil Taylor, United Kingdom

Average rating:  4.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

The hotel was all right, but it was too expensive (130 euro) for the services offered: shabby lobby, rooms wihout an appropriate maintenance, and a bit far from the center. It was the most expensive of the hotels chosen in our trip in Tuscany, and perhaps the worse. The parking (included in the price) is not useful since there is a big slope to enter that prevents to be used by most of the cars.

Guest name: JU, Spain

Average rating:  6.3

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

We stayed in Lucca for two days. As a starting point for excursions to the near-by impressing old fortress and the surroundings of Lucca (e.g. the Mediterranean), San Marco is an excellent hotel choice.

Guest name: TN, Norway

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Aug 2007

I stayed in a single room. The hotel staff were second to none in their friendly, helpful manner. It is a nice - quiet - spot. Close to walk to the centre of Lucca, close to local restaurant, taxi service to train station also extreemly helpful. Thoroughly enjoyed the quiet tranquility.

Guest name: Susan Mc Cahill, Ireland

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

If you are on holiday and want to use Lucca as a base to explore this region of Tuscanny then the San Marco is ideal. The hotel is located just outside the city walls, but within a 7 minute walk of the ancient city. Lucca, within the walls is not the place to drive - just stroll and enjoy. We hired cycles for half a day from the San Marco (2 euros) and cycled on the road on the walls. San Marco breakfast provides plenty of choice and the other guests appeared to rate the pizzeria in the hotel but we ate at the resturants within the walled city to enjoy the ambiance of a medieval city in very warm August.

Guest name: John Graham, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jul 2007

This hotel was as expected with location as announced in a quiet area not far from the city walls of Lucca. The hotel staff where very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was okay. We really enjoyed our stay for 5 days and would stay here again. The hotel has bikes for rent (cheaper than in the inner city) and I would really recommend a tour on the city wall. Staying more than 2-3 days I would also recommend renting a car to go to other places in the near surroundings of Lucca. That is places like the seaside town of Viareggio for a swim, the town Vinci up in the hills to visit Leonardo's home town and the small hilltop town of Barga. And of course as you already know if you plan to go here you are near to places like Firenze, Siena, Arezzo, San Gimignano. Arrivideci.

Guest name: Thor Henry Bjerklund, Norway

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jul 2007

Nice hotel with perfect location for Lucca,Clean and nice rooms.We could stay here again.

Guest name: Heidi Skau-Jakobsen, Norway

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jul 2007

Excellent

Guest name: GK, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jul 2007

Excellent and very helpful fron desk. Breakfast first class. A 5 minute walk to the city wall - walk round it to see what Lucca has to offer.

Guest name: James Somerville, United Kingdom

Average rating:  4.4

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jul 2007

In my opinion this hotel is far overpriced! I paid EUR 130 per night where in my view a price of 80-90 euro would be reasonable for the quality offered, also in high season. Apparently Lucca is so popular they can ask these kind of prices. The rooms are far from spacious with quite uncomfortable beds. The access to the rooms is electronically which is quite noisy (buzzer). You constantly hear other people entering their room. Also, my towel had a hole in it. Location is reasonable, especially in combination with bike hire.

Guest name: R.W. Van Der Linde, Netherlands

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Jun 2007

Friendly and helpful staff, great location and wonderful pool! Have stayed twice, would definitely go back.

Guest name: Nicole Harper, New Zealand

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in May 2007

The only thing I didn't like of this hotel is that it's room have something "old". The towels, the floor tiles, the bathroom, and above all the old 14" TV Color with malfunctioning remote control. For all the rest we had a good time at San Marco. A very helpful, professional and welcoming staff let us feel as at home. The position is confortable to visit the centre of the city. The breakfast is not very various but everything was high quality. Just one remark not regarding the hotel: REMEMBER NOT TO TRUST IN TAXI IN LUCCA. They are really the worst taxi service (delay, high prices, rude drivers) I met in my life in Italy!!

Guest name: AD, Italy

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in May 2007

This hotel is a somewhat aging modern style hotel, which could use some new paint in the guest rooms and more comfortable beds. Location to the old city is convenient, and staff was very helpful. Had an issue with no hot water in the morning, and staff reacted very quickly to rectify. Breakfast was good.

Guest name: Stephen Auerbach, USA

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Only problem is this hotel is outside the walled city, however it's only a short walk to the wall. Would have preferred a hotel inside, but none were available.

Guest name: Mike Reed, USA

Average rating:  6.9

Guest type: Group

stayed in Oct 2006

Pulito. Grazioso. A due passi dal centro. Personale gentile. Da prendere in considerazione

Guest name: Massimo Cecchetti, Italy

Average rating:  7.4

Guest type: Group

stayed in Oct 2006

The hotel was very nice and most of the employees were very helpful. However, one was very rude to us, scolding us like children (even though our group was in our 60's and 70's). 6 of us wanted to congregate and eat cookies but were told only in our rooms which were too small (WE could not even eat on the outdoor patio area)There needs to be a public area where friends can gather as in other hotels. The employee could have told us in a nice way rather than rudely scolding us.

Guest name: ROBERT HORNEY, USA

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Oct 2006

Ideal location for visiting the city and surrounding area (if car owner). Easy to walk into the city, though hotel just outside city walls, so very quiet. Overall a first rate hotel for the price.Two friends travelling together.

Guest name: KC, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

My wife and I enjoyed our stay at the Hotel San Marco. We were on a vacation trip. We did not meet people at the hotel but we had no wish to.

Guest name: Paul Garrigue, USA

Average rating:  3.4

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Oct 2006

This was a nice hotel 10 years ago. Now it's run-down modern. Internet is pay wireless, not free, and unreliable. Not worth the money we paid.

Guest name: CL, Italy

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Oct 2006

Delightful stay. Excellent, nourishing breakfast, comfortable solid bed, good bathroom and shower, and, most important, helpful and gracious staff.

Guest name: David Berner, Canada

Average rating:  4.6

Guest type: Group

stayed in Oct 2006

Although our room was adequate and the staff generally accomodating, the night desk clerk was extremely rude to our group of 3 mature adult couples. As a result, we would not recommend this property.

Guest name: Richard Olde, USA

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2006

The service at this hotel is hard to beat. To say they were accommodating would be an understatement.

Guest name: DM, USA

Average rating:  8.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2006

A small hotel set in a residental neighberhood a few minutes walk from the walls of Lucca. The hotel style and decor is modern, a bit different than any place else we've ever stayed while in Italy. The room is an ok size but the stark nature of the decor leaves it feeling a bit cold. Breakfast was average, but plentiful. Hotel has an unheated pool which is very refresing on a hot Tuscan day. The staff is very courteous and friendly. During our 3 day stay the staff allowed us, without charge, to use their computer any time we wanted to check e-mail, etc. never once rushing us or making us feel like we were on their system too long. The hotel is few mintues walk to Lucca. Would stay here again.

Guest name: Randy Krassow, USA

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2006

We were very impressed by the design of the hotel and especially by the friendliness of the staff.

Guest name: Richard Barrett, Ireland

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Jul 2006

I`m very pleased with the staff and their warm welcoming, we only stayed for 3 nights but never a dull face from anyone. Thank´s for a pleasant stay.

Guest name: Fredrik Holmström, Sweden

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: 

stayed in Jul 2006

Delightful hotel, well located with delicious breakfast

Guest name: AD, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jul 2006

Great hotel...not exactly in the center, but very easy to reach. The staff was always very helpful and friendly.

Guest name: Cristina Melarosa, Italy

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in May 2006

Nice hotel, we really enjoyed our stay. One point of criticism: It was definitely possible to listen to the TV programs from adjacent rooms!

Guest name: NW, Germany

Average rating:  9.5

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in May 2006

The hotel was 12 minutes walk from the city walls. Staff were very friendly, very helpful and spoke good English. The pool was not heated and was therefore too cold to use in early May.

Guest name: Keith Pickering, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Dec 2005

HAVE RETURNED OFTEN TO SAN MARCO BECAUSE THE HOTEL IS WELL PLACED HAS GOOD PARKING FACILITIES AND STAFF IS HELPFUL

Guest name: DF, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Oct 2005

Accueil très chaleureux. Personnel très dévoué et de très bon conseil. Hôtel facile à trouver en voiture; accès à pieds à la ville en 10 minutes très facile et agréable. Nous recommandons cet hotel pour une découverte de Lucques -ville qui vaut le détour.

Guest name: PC, France