Lucca's Most Stunning Penthouse: Ottone's Unbelievable Views!
Lucca's Most Stunning Penthouse: Ottone's Unbelievable Views!
Lucca's Most Stunning Penthouse: Ottone's Unbelievable Views! - A Review That's Actually Real
Okay, so I just got back from Ottone's Unbelievable Views, and let me tell you… I'm still processing it. Usually, these reviews are so sterile, so perfect. But life, and especially travel, isn't actually like that, is it? So, buckle up, because this is going to be less a polished brochure and more… well, me, unfiltered, trying to describe a seriously epic experience.
First off, let’s address the obvious: Lucca! The walled city! It's like stepping into a postcard, all cobbled streets, charming shops, and the constant, delightful scent of fresh bread wafting from every bakery. Ottone's, the penthouse, is smack-bang in the middle of it all, but elevated, literally. You feel like you're dreaming.
Accessibility & Safety – The Boring Bits (But Important!)
Okay, I'll get the dry stuff out of the way first. They do take things seriously. There's a dedicated elevator (thank goodness!), making the climb a breeze. I didn’t personally need it, but it's a huge relief for anyone with mobility issues. Facilities for disabled guests are present, which is a huge plus.
The cleanliness and safety were top-notch. Frankly, after the last few years, I'm paranoid. But Ottone's had all the buzzwords: Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, staff trained in safety protocol, hand sanitizer everywhere… you get the picture. They’re trying, and that's the biggest thing. They're also offering room sanitization opt-out, which is a cool touch for people who prefer a more eco-friendly approach. And the fact they have a doctor/nurse on call is a great peace of mind, even if you think you're invincible, like me.
Getting There & Around – Smooth Sailing (Mostly!)
Airport transfer was arranged effortlessly. Just tell them your flight details, and poof, a sleek car is waiting. I highly recommend it. The car park is free of charge, which is a massive bonus, but also remember, the city can get ridiculously crowded, so I opted for the taxi service too. Getting around Lucca is fantastic on foot, thanks to car-free zones within the walls.
The Penthouse – Where the Magic Happens (Or Almost)
The "Unbelievable Views" part? Totally accurate. From the moment you step inside, you're speechless. I mean, really. The photos don't do it justice. It's panoramic. The terraces! Oh, the terraces! Perfect for morning coffee, sunset cocktails… or just staring at the rooftops and pretending you own the town. Trust me, the views are unbelievable!
The Penthouse itself? Spacious. Luxurious. The air conditioning was a godsend in the Tuscan heat. The blackout curtains were crucial for sleeping in. The bed? Oh, the bed. I actually took a photo of the bathrobes for my jealous friends back home! Other essential bits: complimentary tea/coffee maker, safe box, and of course, free Wi-Fi (in all rooms!). The internet access was fast and reliable.
Room for improvement…
Okay, so here’s the reality check. The breakfast in the room was… good. But after the first day, it felt a bit samey. Maybe a bit more variation would be great. I also wanted to request a specific reading light, but it was a minor issue, really.
Oh, here's a small story. One evening, I tried to use the bathroom phone to order room service (which they offer), but the line was down. I had to walk to the front desk to place my order. I actually ended up chatting with the staff, which was a nice touch. But I mean, it wasn't a huge deal. It happens.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking – A Foodie's Heaven (Almost!)
Lucca itself is a foodie paradise. Ottone's boasts a few options itself. The restaurant offers both buffet and à la carte options – which can be the best of both worlds! And the poolside bar? Essential for happy hour. The Asian cuisine in restaurant was surprisingly good! I tried the desserts and was extremely satisfied, to the point of ordering a second, and third, time! I also ordered a bottle of water from the restaurant. The breakfast service was fine.
What's Missing (And What's Not)
Okay, here's where things get a little subjective. I LOVE a full-blown spa experience. Ottone's has a sauna (yay!), and a fitness center, which I didn't use, because, you know, walking around Lucca is a workout on its own. There is a pool with a view, a perfect spot for a morning plunge. I wanted a body scrub which the hotel does not offer. I had to go out to get one.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax - The Essential Bits
The penthouse has meeting/banquet facilities which is not my cup of tea, but may be valuable to the business people. The concierge was a lifesaver in helping me book tours and restaurants. This is Lucca. You’re surrounded by history, art, and, of course, amazing food. I spent hours just wandering the walls, cycling, and people-watching.
The Emotional Verdict:
Look, I'm a cynical traveler. I've seen it all. But Ottone's Unbelievable Views genuinely surprised me. It's not just a place to stay; it's an experience. It’s romantic. Serene. You can’t help but feel… special. Even with the small imperfections, the sheer scale and elegance of the penthouse, combined with the breathtaking views, made every single penny worth it.
The Offer You Can’t Refuse (Because I Want You To Go!)
Ready to experience Lucca like never before? For a limited time, booking your stay at Ottone's Unbelievable Views through this review gets you:
- A complimentary bottle of prosecco on arrival to toast those unbelievable views.
- A free upgrade to a penthouse suite if available.
- A 10% discount on all spa treatments at a nearby partner spa (because, even though Ottone's doesn’t have a full spa, they know where to send you!).
- Complimentary early check-in (subject to availability) so you can start soaking up the magic sooner.
- A personalized itinerary tailored to your interests, crafted by the concierge.
Don't wait! This offer won't last forever. Book your dream getaway at Ottone's Unbelievable Views NOW! It’s the kind of trip you'll be telling your friends about for years to come.
Penang Paradise: 4-Bedroom Bungalow Sleeps 10 Near Jusco!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized Lonely Planet itinerary. This is my trip to the Ottone Penthouse in the glorious mess of Lucca, Italy. Prepare for a rollercoaster of gelato, existential crises, and potentially, a very embarrassing sunburn.
Lucca, Italy: Ottone Penthouse - My Chaotic Italian Dream
Day 1: Arriving with a Bang (and a Backpack Full of Wrong Socks)
Morning (8:00 AM): Finally, Italy! After a flight that felt like a marathon of crying babies, I stumble out of the Pisa airport. Jet lag is already a tangible entity, clinging to me like a sweaty lover. I'm squinting, disoriented, and questioning every life choice that led me to this moment. The rental car pickup is…well, let's just say Italian bureaucracy and my limited Italian skills are not a match made in heaven.
Late Morning (11:00 AM): Praise the pasta gods, I've escaped the airport! Driving to Lucca is… an experience. The GPS is a liar. The roads are inexplicably narrow. And the Italians? They drive like they’re starring in a high-speed chase movie. But then, BAM! Lucca! The medieval walls! The charming chaos! My heart does a little flip.
Afternoon (1:00 PM): Arrive at the Ottone Penthouse. Hold. The. Phone. This place is ridiculously gorgeous. The photos don't do it justice. That rooftop terrace? It’s practically begging for an Aperol Spritz and a philosophical conversation with the Tuscan sunset. I do a victory dance that mostly involves tripping over my own feet, but the sheer beauty of the place momentarily erases the memory of the airport car rental fiasco.
Afternoon (3:00 PM): Unpack, which is less about organization and more about flinging everything onto the bed. Discover I packed approximately seven pairs of mismatched socks and zero appropriate shoes. This is a sign. A sign of what, I'm still figuring out.
Afternoon (4:00 PM): Hit the streets of Lucca. First mission: gelato. This is not negotiable. Found a tiny gelateria tucked away on a cobblestone street. OMG. The pistachio. Literally, a religious experience. I vow to return every day. I spend waaaay too long picking out the perfect flavors, making the poor gelato server wait as my brain spins through all the options, from strawberry-basil, to the classic Stracciatella (which I choose in the end).
Evening (6:00 PM): Wander the city walls. These walls are massive. I mean, massive. I try to feel the historical vibe the guidebook promises, but mostly I’m just fascinated by how damn long they are. I attempt a self-portrait but I'm terrible. After about an hour of trying, I just gave up.
Evening (8:00 PM): Dinner at a trattoria – definitely not the most fancy. Ordered pappardelle al ragu. It was like a warm hug on a plate, and the house wine? Let's just say I might have had two glasses more than necessary. I try to practice my Italian, using phrases like "molto delizioso!" and "più vino, per favore," which, judging by the waiter's barely concealed amusement, are probably being butchered.
Evening (10:00 PM): Stumbling back to the Penthouse, feeling full, happy, and a little bit tipsy. The city lights twinkle below. Life feels…good. Like, really, ridiculously good. I decide to sit on the roof and just be. Wondering if I'm going to get eaten by mosquitos. Fall asleep on the couch, woke up with a crick in my neck, and a vague regret about the lack of insect repellent.
Day 2: Bikes, Bread, and Bewildering Beauty
Morning (9:00 AM): Wake up with a mild headache, the sun blaring through the window. Ugh, the price you pay for "living the dream." Coffee. Mandatory. The espresso machine in the penthouse? A lifesaver.
Morning (10:00 AM): Decide to embrace Lucca's cycling culture. Rent a bike. Discover I am terrible at this. Swerve wildly, nearly take out a group of nuns (apologies, sisters!), and generally resemble a tipsy toddler on wheels. But hey, it's a laugh. At least for everyone else.
Morning (11:00 AM): Explore the Via Fillungo – the main shopping street. Window shop, get distracted by a ridiculously overpriced leather bag I absolutely don't need, and buy a loaf of crusty bread from a panificio. The smell alone is worth the price of admission.
Late Morning (12:00 PM): Get lost. Gloriously, wonderfully lost. In Lucca, this is a feature, not a bug. Stumble upon a hidden piazza, complete with a tiny fountain and a collection of locals chatting. Briefly consider abandoning my entire life and becoming a permanent resident.
Afternoon (1:00 PM): Lunch! Found a cute little place that looked promising. Order a simple pasta dish and a glass of local wine. I feel a strange sense of peace during this. The food tastes good, the atmosphere is perfect, and I have no pressing obligations. It hits me; this is what I came for.
Afternoon (2:30 PM): Take a cooking class at a small restaurant. I'm not a great cook, but I figured, "When in Rome… er, Lucca…" We learn to make pasta from scratch. It's messy. It's challenging. I nearly chop off a finger. But the end result? Gloriously delicious. I start thinking I could become a professional pasta maker.
Afternoon (4:30 PM): Visit the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. This place is mind-blowing. Built inside the remains of a Roman amphitheater, it's a perfect circle of shops, cafes, and people. The whole scene feels too charming to be true. I spend a long time just taking it all in.
Evening (7:00 PM): Another rooftop Aperol Spritz. This time accompanied by a small plate of olives I'd acquired (stole?) from a market stall. The sunset is once again spectacular. Feeling a bit more confident in my Italian skills, I even try to have a slightly coherent conversation with my shadow.
Evening (9:00 PM): Dinner at a fancier restaurant (this is my "treat myself" night). Order the osso buco, which is served with a rich risotto that seems to melt in my mouth. Staring at the stars in the sky and wishing my friends and family were here with me to share it all.
Night (11:00 PM): Stumble back to the room, already dreaming about the adventures tomorrow. Feel a little teary because I don't want it to end.
Day 3: Serenity and Sunburn (The Grand Finale?)
Morning (9:00 AM): Wake up. Sunburn. Ouch. Slather myself in aloe vera. Vow to be better about sunscreen.
Morning (10:00 AM): Explore the Villa Reale di Marlia. So beautiful. The gardens felt like something straight out of a fairy tale. I get a sense of calm just wandering through the grounds.
Afternoon (1:00 PM): A leisurely lunch in a small trattoria on the way back from the villa. Eat some more pasta, feel absolutely nothing.
Afternoon (2:00 PM): Realise I've spent too much time in the sun. Retreat to the penthouse. Read a book. Contemplate life. Wonder when I'm going to get around to writing my memoirs.
Afternoon (4:00 PM): Last gelato run. This time, I try a new flavor combination – fig and ricotta. Absolutely divine. I start considering a second gelato.
Evening (6:00 PM): Pack. A daunting task, given the state of my belongings. Attempt to organize my luggage, resulting in an even bigger mess.
Evening (7:00 PM): Final rooftop sunset. The view feels even more spectacular than before, maybe because I know it's my last. I sit there, just listening to the city sounds, the bell towers, and the murmur of the crowd below. I’m feeling melancholy, but also so incredibly grateful. This place… this trip… It was perfect, even in its imperfections.
Evening (9:00 PM): Last dinner. I order whatever the waiter recommends, not wanting to make the choice. I’m too full of feeling.
Night (10:00 PM): One last stumble around the city, trying to remember everything so I don't forget.
Night (11:00 PM): Back at the penthouse. Tears. Pure, unadulterated tears
Ottone's Unbelievable Views: FAQ – (Because Let's Be Real, You're Curious!)
Okay, seriously, are the views *actually* as good as all the hype says?
Alright, let's get this out of the way: YES. They are. I mean, I saw pictures, right? Gorgeous. But then you *get there*. It's like… your brain just resets. The whole city unfolds before you, a terracotta tapestry spread out under the sun. I spent like, a solid hour on the balcony, just… staring. My friend, bless his heart, kept poking me, "Are you going to talk, or just stand there looking like a love-struck fool?" And honestly? Both.
The first time I went, I was slightly hungover. Not the ideal viewing condition, let me tell you. But even through the throbbing headache, it was… stunning. I almost puked from the height, then I almost puked from the beauty. A real balancing act, that trip.
How hard is it to *actually* get into the penthouse? Is it, like, impossible?
Okay, let's be blunt. Yes, it's not exactly a walk in the park. You're not strolling in off the street, obviously. I managed to wrangle an invite through... well, let's just say I know people. (And by "people" I mean a very persistent travel blogger and a long-lost cousin who happens to be a distant relation to a cook at some fancy restaurant. The connections you make, eh?).
The key, I think, is a little luck, a dash of persistence, and maybe a willingness to butter up *everyone* you meet. You'll need to jump through a few hoops, but if you're determined, and you have the funds (because it's not cheap), you might have a shot. Don't give up! The view is worth the effort.
The photos are amazing. Is it all just staged perfection? Are the interiors… *livable*?
Alright, gotta level with you here. The photos are *glorious*. And yes, there's a definite Instagram-worthiness to the whole place. But! (and this is a big but) It's also… homey. In a ridiculously wealthy, Italian villa, hand-crafted furniture, and art-everywhere kind of way. Like living in a museum, that you can also order room service from.
I remember one time, I was wandering around, slightly overwhelmed by the sheer… *stuff*. And I bumped into a very old, very cranky-looking cleaning lady. She let out a huff and grumbled something in Italian (which, even though I don't speak Italian, I understood perfectly as "watch where you're going, you tourist!"). It grounded the experience perfectly. Even in paradise, housekeeping is a chore. It *is* lived in, albeit by someone with impeccable taste and presumably a small army of staff. Plus, I saw a slightly mismatched cushion on one of the sofas. Proof of life!
What's the best time of day to see the view? Morning? Sunset? Is there a "best" time?
Okay, this is where I get *passionate*. Do NOT miss the sunset. Seriously. Don't. It's the kind of sunset that makes you want to weep. The light hits the red rooftops, turning them into molten gold. It's spectacular, it's cliche, and it's *completely* worth it. I swear, It's like the sky is on fire. (And I've seen a few sunsets in my time!).
Morning is also amazing, especially if you're a caffeine fiend like me. Coffee on that balcony? Bliss. But for pure drama, for that feeling of being small and insignificant and breathtakingly lucky all at once… sunset all the way.
Is it worth the ridiculous price tag? Be honest!
Alright, here's the thing. I'm a budget traveler at heart. I stay in hostels. I eat pasta. I generally avoid places where you need to dress up to breathe. So, uh, is it worth it? Depends on how much disposable income you've got. If you're considering remortgaging your house? Probably not. If you have enough where you don't need to think about it and the views are really important to you? Maybe. I mean, It felt completely surreal and indulgent, right? But that view… that's hard to put a price on. That memory? Priceless, and let’s be honest, *that* is the real thing you’re paying for.
What about the service? Is it super snooty and over the top?
Okay, this is where it got *really* good, a bit messy. The first time I went? I was so intimidated, I spilled red wine on a… well, let's just say it was an antique rug. Mortifying. Expecting a lecture, I got… a wink from the very elegant (and probably very wealthy) attendant. He just said, "Accidents happen, cara." And brought me another glass.
After that? Honestly, fantastic. Discreet, attentive, not remotely stuffy. Which was a massive relief. They seemed genuinely happy to have guests – or at least, they were excellent at pretending. They anticipated needs before I even *knew* I had them. Like, the perfect espresso magically appearing after a particularly grueling afternoon of sightseeing. It was like living in a movie. But, you know, a movie with a very, very big price tag. And the cleaning lady, still, was always grumpy. Perfect balance.
Any downsides? Anything that *wasn't* perfect?
Okay, the downsides. Let's see… Well, you do feel a tiny bit like you're being watched. Not in a creepy way, more in a "people with expensive cameras are constantly snapping photos of *everything*" way. And, if you're prone to vertigo? The balcony is high. Very high. I spent a good portion of my time gripping the railing like my life depended on it.
Also, and this is minor, but… you get used to the view. And then real life? It's just… not the same. My apartment suddenly felt a lot less glamorous. And finally, the crushing knowledge that you’ll probably never be able to afford it again. That’s a downer. But still, I'll be dreaming about that sunset for the rest of my life! And maybe, just maybe, I can persuade a friend to go again so I can tag along, and maybe – just maybe – not spill red wine on their rugBlog Hotel Search Site
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