My wife and I had a lovely week at the Grand Hotel a few weeks ago for our summer holiday.

We booked with Jet2 from Manchester and the whole experience was pretty good with no delays at the airport and arrival on time in Pisa. The coach to the hotel only had a handful of people on it and everyone else was soon dropped off, leaving just the two of us for most of the trip.

We arrived at the hotel at about tea time and were hungry so asked where was best to go. The receptionist said that she should recommend the hotel restaurant, but it was full so she suggested a short walk along the sea front to a seafood restaurant Pesce Baracca. Wow. This was really busy, but well staffed and wonderful. The food was fantastic and just what we needed after a day's travelling. We went back later in the week.

There is a pier next to this restaurant with lovely views back to the mountains.

Breakfast at the hotel is served poolside (or indoors if you want) and there's plenty to eat at the self service buffet.

The hotel restaurant is actually on the beach. A pleasant surprise when we arrived to be told that one meal at the restaurant was included. We obviously took advantage and, as with most things in this town was great. Lovely wine and sublime steak. We booked for 7.30, but this being Italy most people eat later so for most of our meal we were the only people in the restaurant - what attention we had from the staff!

We took a liking to a beach bar opposite the hotel, Maito. We dubbed it "Love Island" due to the different brightly coloured seating areas. Be careful of prices here, though. A bottle of Peroni was 10eu and a glass of wine was 25eu (I did say glass!), but the atmosphere was great.

We took a train to Pisa to do the obvious tourist thing - great train service from the station which is just outside the town. It is walkable, but later in the week we hired bikes so rode up there when we took our second train trip out and went to Florence. Well worth a visit.

Bike hire was on the beach nearby and there's a great cycle path along the front passing lots of towns and villages. Very easy riding.

If you want to use the hotel beach you have to pay - 150 eu a day for a private area of two sunbeds, two deckchairs and a clothes box. We cycled about 2km to the free bit of beach!

Eating out is easy as there's an array of restaurants in the town at a range of prices. Personal view - if they give me a QR code instead of a menu (quite a few did) I just walk on. We had some great meals.

Only complaint about the hotel was other guests. Our room had a connecting door, but the people in the room next door were very loud Americans. We heard every word until the early hours. Eventually I got up and slammed our bathroom door loudly so I think they got the message at that point. There were also some dogs left alone in a room on our floor one night and they barked quite a bit.

Hotel staff very helpful and friendly. It's a fairly quiet hotel (notwithstanding above comments) and low key. Pool is great and not overused so were always able to get in.

The town is quiet well heeled - loads of expensive designed shops and a cluster of fancy cars. We loved people watching. Bikes rule - very popular. Smart dress was generally the order of the day for people in the town.

I think we will be back.

Hotel was very nice. Price was reasonable in May. Not sure about the coming weeks/months? Well kept up. Rooms were clean and comfortable. Since we had a rental car, the hotel gave us placard to park on the street or in a parking lot across the street.

Fabulous hotel. Very clean.
Extremely helpful and friendly staff..... especially Samuel on reception and Anna in the restaurant.
Lovely stay. Exceptional first class food with extensive menu.
Highly recommended.