Just returned from the Four Points. We originally booked it for the opening day but ended up having to push back, so we checked in on their second opening day. Stayed 3 nights as a plat.

Notes:

Location: The hotel is somewhat difficult to find. It is on a residential street surrounded by condos and apartments. The entrance is further down the hill than navigation suggests, we spent probably 10 minutes driving around until we found it.

You will want to rent a car if you are staying here, as the hotel is somewhat out of the way and there isn't any obvious public transportation nearby. The hotel is located about 2 or 3km from the historic area, with nothing of interest in between. There are no restaurants or activities nearby, save the ones in the hotel. This is a hotel that could really use a shuttle to/from the train station and the historic area, but does not offer one at this time. Note that renting a car in italy is fraught with shady hidden charges and most of the cities won't allow you to drive a car in the tourist areas unless you live there, but will fine a couple of hundred dollars if you mistakenly drive down the wrong non-tourist-approved roads. I digress.

Grounds: The hotel grounds are pleasant and quiet, with ample parking. It appears to have been built in a grove of olive trees. They look to be hundreds of years old and add a lot of character. The building exterior is aligned with what you should expect from a cat1 Four Points. Certainly not flashy, but not in bad shape.

Interior: The hotel interior was in the process of renovation. Ground floor was also aligned with what you should expect from a cat1 Four Points. Not flashy but not in bad shape either. Surfaces were older, furniture was new and stylish. Some parts of the ground floor have been renovated, others have not. The elevator was small, old, and slow with carpet that looked to be 20 years old. I assume that will also be replaced soon. The 2nd floor already has new carpet.

Plat recognition: good, not over the top. Upgraded to a suite on the second floor, which appeared to be an already renovated room, actually two rooms with the door removed. "Bedroom" was a cal king bed, renovated bathroom, small closet. "Sitting room" was two leather chairs with a table and a long desk on the wall, along with a fridge and an additional closet. This room was a bit sparse, it could use a couch to better fill the space. The "sitting room" had a sliding glass door that opened onto... the rooftop? It appears they were in the process of tiling over the rooftop in wood-look tile and would, I guess, turn it into some kind of sitting area. When I was there, it was just 3000 square feet of open area outside covered in tile. Espresso machine using nespresso cups in the room, along with water bottles.

Plat amenitity: breakfast. Buffet offered on the ground floor. A table of cookies and assorted italian sweet breads, a fruit table, instant coffee machines (similar to starbucks machines in the US), a selection of juices, breads, yogurt, and cold cuts. Hot options were pancetta (bacon), sausage, and eggs. All in all very decent spread, especially for a Four Points, though by the 3rd day we had exhausted about all of the different combinations that appealed to us. There were about 6 servers in the dining room for 8 total guests. I was asked what coffee I wanted 3 times before I even sat down.

Fitness center: wife gave it high marks. New equipment. Includes a sauna / hot room.

Service: Overall quite good. Anna at the front desk is a gem, she helped us out multiple times during the week with recommendations and fixing things for us.

Oddities:

--No water the second day from about 9am to sometime mid afternoon. Renovations on the 1st floor apparently damaged the water "tubes" and I didn't get a shower that day. Not a big deal, I expected that from a property just opening.

--No wifi the third night property-wide. After a few mentions to the front desk, they fixed it.

--No where to print your boarding passes onsite. Had to email them to the front desk to be printed.

--Groups of italians and other europeans discussing the site or arguing, sometimes heatedly, about some aspect of the hotel. It was obvious the owners/managers were onsite all week, and they were conducting their meetings in plain view. My wife noticed a group of about 8 managers standing in the middle of the breakfast area debating where the bread table should be parked. It was moved to another part of the buffet the next day. Interesting to watch the property come together.

--Obvious training going on of the staff. Not a big deal.

--Only partial SPG rebranding done. Wifi still named after the Ulivi which was the old hotel name. Some old branding still around in the rooms.

Overall value: This place is a steal as a cat1. 3000 points plus 5euro per day tax is going to attract hordes of SPG members with points to burn. The region (lower tuscany) has a ton of things to see, making this an ideal base. You could easily sit here for a week with all there is to do nearby, and 5th night free means you can stay 6 days for 12,000 spg points. That is insanely good redemption value. Florence, Montelpulciano, Montelcino, San Gimignano, Siena, and Arrezzo are all easy day trips (60 min) from this hotel. I don't expect it to stay cat1 in 2019.

Apologies for potato-quality photos.



Olive trees in the parking lot


Breakfast


Lobby rear


Lobby front