Arts Club Suite & Spa

Arts Club Suite & Spa is at via della Valle 46, at Chianciano Terme, in the province of Siena, on the slope that runs down from the village towards the countryside: from the terraces you see the old village of Chianciano on one side and the hills of the Val di Chiana on the other. It is a base for southern Tuscany: Montepulciano is 10 kilometres away, Pienza 20, Montalcino 40, Siena and Arezzo about 70. The house presents itself as an adults only boutique hotel and its signature is in the name: there are original works of art in every space.

How it is made

The units are suites: each has one or two double rooms with a private bathroom, a living area with a kitchenette and a balcony or a terrace. There are five types: Suite with balcony and Suite Superior with panoramic view, of 45 square metres for two people; Suite Superior King and Suite with two bedrooms, over 60 square metres with two bathrooms for four; and Suite King with panoramic terrace, jacuzzi and sun loungers. The fittings include independent heating and air conditioning, wifi, satellite TV, a coffee machine, a fridge and a safe. There is a kitchenette in all the suites, but the property does not supply any ingredients: anyone who wants to cook asks reception for the box with pots and crockery. The buffet breakfast is included, from 8.00 to 10.00, with two hot drinks per person and gluten-free options. Check in runs from 14.30 to 19.00, after that hour entry is with a code, and reception closes between 11.30 and 14.30 and after 19.30. There is a bar, a garden and free parking.

The wellness area and the pools, described for what they are

There are two wellness areas and they work in different ways. The first is the Private Spa, for the exclusive use of a couple, by reservation: it includes a heated whirlpool minipool, a Finnish sauna and multifunction showers, with a kit of bathrobe, towels and slippers. The session lasts an hour, the last entry is at 20.00 and the stated cost is 15 euros per person; booking directly, one entry is included for stays of three nights and three for weekly stays. The second is the roof garden, the 200 square metre terrace on the fourth floor, freely accessible, with an infrared sauna, a whirlpool tub, sun loungers and relaxation areas managed by the guests themselves; it is open from May to September. What is not there should be said too: no swimming pool, and no source names a Turkish bath or a gym.

The access rules

The property is entirely for adults. The official website describes itself as an adults only retreat reserved for an adult clientele and for couples, but never publishes an age in figures; the portal writes that children are not allowed, that there are no cots and that no minimum age for check in is required. This page therefore records the complete ban on access for minors and the absence of a published threshold: anyone travelling with a sixteen or seventeen year old should ask for written confirmation, because different and unconfirmed figures circulate on other portals. Pets are not allowed, smoking is only permitted on the balconies and after 22.00 a moderate tone of voice is asked for.

Who it suits

It suits a couple who want real space, because even the smallest suite is 45 square metres, and the chance to prepare something at home. It suits anyone touring the Val d'Orcia by car and anyone looking for a spa for two without paying the rates of a large spa hotel. It suits less anyone who wants to swim, anyone travelling in winter and counting on the roof garden, and anyone travelling with a dog.