Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Collection

I’m mobility challenged, & far prefer a walk-in shower to an uneasy balancing act in a narrow old bathtub. This preference often means spending more money for a simple safety feature…the rooms & the hospitality venues I stay at often aren’t that great ..but yeah, they have that shower! So when recently we were in Lucca, we chose Marriott’s beautifully renovated former glassworks situated on a famous Square, as our destination. Our junior suite being the model of architecturally-influenced refinement did indeed have the promised (& spacious ) walk-in shower..but the huge base was not textured in any way ＞＞ & one was always fearful of slipping once the shower ran…indeed the adjacent flat section wasn’t textured either …so wet feet on a matt- finished stone platform ( with no wall hand rail ) was an accident waiting to happen as one gingerly stepped down onto the bath mat …in all an astoundingly ridiculous design failure …especially & ludicrously, seeing the surely almost never-used adjacent bathtub ( no doubt installed because they are ‘the thing’, aren’t they, those bid baths ?) …DID actually have …a nonslip base! Honestly. It was indeed a luxurious fitout, but the eyes-wide-shut hotel services manager nonetheless still allowed a vastly frayed edge to the lovely rug to greet us upon arrival…& I was always wary of that in case I tripped on it whilst being there. Awful such Raggedy Ann housekeeping …so-called Autograph Collection my foot! The 4 Star serve-yourself breakfast sadly wasn’t that good, with only very limited fresh fruit available & rather dry reconstituted ‘scrambled’ eggs …. Bewilderingly they offered just minimal cakes in a country that prides itself on glorious sweet beginnings to the day everywhere you go . Frankly I’ve had better breakfasts in far less prestigious places in Italy, many many times. And the ubiquitous caterer’s powdered eggs can be found everywhere….even zero-starred joints have those! Marriott can, & should do, better. The ground floor (sadly unsympathetically overlit in the evenings ) bar has a stellar Barman mixing a stunning Negroni…..but very ordinary snacks only to accompany a great cocktail..pity that. One wonders how it is an internationally famous hotel chain can’t get basic detail right when it presents one of its better brands in such a stunning city as Luca. Disappointed I was, so only a qualified recommendation, sadly. Hard to justify spending that much coin.

Sharming Hotel in a sharming town! Enjoyed my stay. Service was above and beyond. Food was amazing, I tried so many local specialities. I highly recommend a visit to Lucca and a stay in the Grand Universe Hotel. Staff was really friendly and helpful. Make sure to avoid high season to enjoy a fully authentic experience in the city!