Hotel President

You know what struck me first about Hotel President? It’s actually positioned perfectly on Corso Giacomo Matteotti – and if you’ve never been to Montecatini Terme, this is basically the main drag where everything happens. I mean, you’re literally steps from the famous thermal baths that put this place on the map, but you’re not dealing with that touristy chaos right outside your window.

The building itself has this old-world Italian charm that feels authentic rather than put-on – honestly, it’s the kind of place where you half expect to see someone’s nonna shuffling down the hallway in house slippers. The lobby’s got these gorgeous marble floors (a bit echoey in the mornings when everyone’s heading to breakfast, but that’s Italy for you), and the staff genuinely seems to care about making sure you’re sorted. Check-in was smooth, though I’d recommend brushing up on your basic Italian phrases – it goes a long way here, even though they speak English well enough.

What really sets this place apart is how it balances being a proper 4-star hotel with that intimate, family-run feel. The rooms are spacious by European standards, and the beds are actually comfortable – not always a given in Italian hotels, if I’m being honest. The bathrooms are recently updated, which matters when you’re coming back from a day of thermal treatments and just want a proper shower. Parking’s available, which is huge because navigating Italian streets with a rental car is… well, let’s just say it’s an adventure. The neighborhood gets pleasantly quiet after dinner hours, so you’ll sleep well, but during the day you can walk to pretty much everything worth seeing in Montecatini.

I particularly loved being able to stroll to the funicolare in the evening – that’s the little cable car that takes you up to Montecatini Alto, the medieval village perched on the hill. Most tourists miss this completely, but honestly, the sunset views from up there are incredible, and there’s this little restaurant called La Torre that serves the best cinghiale I’ve had outside of Tuscany proper. The hotel staff will point you toward the touristy thermal establishments, but if you want my advice, ask them about the smaller, local spots where actual Italians go for their treatments – totally different experience, and usually half the price.