We spent five nights at the Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia on the Ligurian coast just south of Pisa with our french bulldog Helga. The hotel had pros and cons, but overall it was an excellent value for the price, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and we would definitely stay again.
[Heads up! This post may contain ‘affiliate links’, meaning if you decide to book the hotel through those links, I get a small commission. This costs you nothing, and you can rest assured I’m not linking anything I don’t fully endorse! Also, it will help me to keep giving you great dog-friendly hotel reviews, so thank you!]
When to Go
As far as I can tell, we picked the perfect time to visit the Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia (Memorial Day weekend). Temperatures were in the upper 70s, and the sun was shining. It was warm enough to swim, the pool was open, and ocean swimming was possible although a little brisk.
It wasn’t too hot, or crowded at all! I’d say maybe 3-5% of the beach chairs were taken, and the pool is so enormous you can have your own little area without bumping into people.
Location
The Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia sits on the waterfront in a long string of coastal beach clubs that runs the length of the visible shoreline.
There are a few shops next to and near the hotel including a gelateria, a sandwich shop, a “Made in Tuscany” store with a nice wine selection, a little art gallery, a shoe store, a couple clothing boutiques, a barber, and a nail salon, among others.
It is within easy walking distance of a couple informal cafés with outdoor seating, a seafood restaurant, a pizzeria, and a beautiful little park with a cute play area for children.
In general, the whole area is very walkable, but most of the things you’ll come here for are located right within the hotel complex.
Tuscany Day Trips from the Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia
If you are looking to explore Tuscany from a “home base,” this may be the perfect place for you. Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia is a great launch point for day trips to Livorno, Florence, Pisa, Lucca (all of which we visited from the hotel) and a whole host of other fantastic spots like San Gimignano, Siena, Volterra, and more.
It would be ideal for those looking for a combination beach vacay, and Tuscan adventure and for families where some would prefer beach and others the interior and historic sites of Tuscany. Best of both worlds!
If you are looking for 1 of 2 things. A full out beach vacation. 2) A place to serve as a mid-point between Lucca, Pisa, Florence, Livorno. It’s a good launching off point to Tuscany if you have a car, and if you want the option to have a beach day/pool day for relaxation or kids.
Parking
There is free parking outside in the spaces marked off with blue paint. There are quite a few all along both sides of the road, and the traffic island in the center. We had no trouble finding a spot, but in the summer during high season it would be a good idea to book reserved parking when you make your reservation. It is an extra charge, but you don’t want to be driving all over the place looking for a place to park.
The Room
The room was clean, and adequately-sized. It wasn’t the most luxurious or spacious but there was enough space, good A/C, a coffee maker and fridge.
If you’re looking for a firm mattress, this is the place for you!
The bathroom was a little small, but finished nicely. The shower was also small (definitely one person only!) and the water pressure was… gentle. The toiletries smelled great – kind of a gender-neutral woodsy, spicy. I actually looked forward to a morning shower just for that!
The wow factor for the room was definitely the lovely pool/ocean view! The balcony was nice although the walls were not open or see-through, and there were no dividers on the sides between you and everyone else on the floor. Still it was a really lovely spot for morning coffee, and evening sunsets over the Ligurian Sea.
⛱ Mary’s Beach
This is the private beach reserved just for hotel guests. There are plenty of pretty blue and white beach chairs and umbrellas. Once you get past these and nearer the water, there’s a nice stretch of sand for those who prefer that to the beach chairs. You can walk all up and down the length of the beach, but the umbrellas you’ll see there all belong to other beach clubs or resorts. Each has a different color so you can tell.
The waves are small (at least they were when we were there) and the water is very clean and swimmable. There’s a nice gentle slope out so you won’t inadvertently get into deep water, but you also won’t need to walk miles to get deep enough to swim.
The sand is fabulous! There are just enough cute little shells, and no litter or stones that I could see. Just nice soft sugar sand. The area by the chairs is manicured daily to be perfectly smooth.
There are lots of private cabanas where you can change and lock your things up while you are enjoying the sun and sand. They even have a little lending library near the beach entrance.
Right up the ramp from the beach is a nice cocktail bar and restaurant!
The Pool 🏊
The full Olympic-sized swimming pool is another show-stopper! It’s absolutely enormous, and sparkling clean. There is a lane roped off for those who want to do laps.
There are plenty of chairs and umbrellas, and a huge pool deck here as well.
The Fitness Center 🏋️♂️
If you need to hit the gym, even on vacation, you’ll love this one! Not only is there a lot of nice equipment, but the view is absolutely breathtaking! When was the last time you had a hotel gym with a 180-degree view of the sea?
Seriously, the gym on the second floor has the best view in the house, AND there’s a huge outside terrace for photo opps and soaking in the breathtaking view! Your healthy habits will be richly rewarded!
Food in the Hotel
Breakfast
The breakfast buffet doesn’t disappoint. They cover all the bases from a typical Continental breakfast of breads, meats, cheeses, fruits and yogurt, to a more typical Italian breakfast of fantastic fresh-baked pastries, and even bacon and eggs for the Americans in the room.
I’m normally not a sweet breakfast person, but I’ll tell you… the chocolate croissants were magical!
Lunch
Even though we were on the go a lot, I was around for lunch one day and grabbed a salad in the restaurant. I was literally the only one in there! The salad was very nice, and satisfied my vegetable craving after several pasta meals!
Dinner
We had dinner in the hotel dining room one night as well, and it was excellent. Salmon with capers in puff pastry to start, carbonara for the pasta course, and sea bream fillet with crusty potatoes and veggies for the main. We had absolutely no room for dessert, but the table next to us had something made of dark chocolate and a creme brulée and both looked amazing. They were inhaled in minutes!
There were about a dozen choices in each category on the menu, and the average ran about €14 euros per dish. Of course, you don’t have to have all three courses, but we did because it all looked so good!
Be sure to make reservations for the dining room. It definitely filled up!
Outdoor Dining
There’s a beautiful little restaurant/cocktail bar on the way to the beach, and it has lots of outdoor seating with views of the ocean, and there’s even a giant chess set nearby. We didn’t take advantage of that area, but I wish we had!
The Grounds
The landscaping was very nice with flowers blooming everywhere in late May. There were also palm trees, but they looked in desperate need of a drink.
There are designated playground areas in the sand between the pool and the beach, and we noticed lots of kiddos and their parents taking advantage of the area.
Staff
The front desk, cleaning crew, restaurant servers, and staff in general was incredibly friendly and helpful. We had a couple small requests and they got handled immediately and with a smile.
Dog-Friendliness
🐾 Pet Policy
The hotel’s official pet policy says they take small dogs of less than 15kg upon request. Definitely mention you’re bringing your pet with you when you book.
There is an additional charge of €15 per night for your dog. This is actually very reasonable compared to most other hotels.
They didn’t weigh Helga, but it’s clear they welcome small dogs only. I did see several other dogs at the hotel and all were small – mini poodle, chihuahua, etc.
Access
Unfortunately dogs are not allowed in the pool area (even though we did see one being a very good boy under a lounge chair), restaurants, common areas, or the beach. As a matter of fact, there are no dog-friendly beaches in Tirrenia at all.
If you are determined to give your dog some beach time in Tuscany, you can check out this site which lists all the dog-friendly beaches.
🌳Dog Areas
While there are no specified dog relief areas on the hotel grounds, right across the street was a big grassy area with lots of room to wander and sniff. And just to the left of that area was a lovely path that led to a park area with pedestrian/bike paths, playground equipment, park benches, green spaces, and a poop bag dispenser.
Be aware that there are lots of cats outside, and they have zero fear! I had to be at the top of my game, steering Helga away from potential conflict.
Room Amenities
- There were no dog-specific amenities provided, like a bed, bowls, or treats.
- The balcony is definitely dog-friendly with no gaps or unintentional exit points!
- We did request a quiet room away from the elevators and got one.
- There was a shower, but no bathtub.
Overall Dog Rating
We give Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia 🦴🦴🦴 out of five.
I’d have to classify this hotel as “dog tolerant” rather than truly “dog friendly.” However, I’m grateful even for dog tolerance, remembering the days when dogs were pretty much forbidden everywhere.
There were enough dog-friendly green spaces and parks nearby to keep Helga happy, and she loved lying out on the sunny balcony.
The humans really appreciated the affordability, location, amenities, and food and beverage options. I would definitely stay again. There are a few things lacking – dog walks on the beach, a nicer shopping area, but the price, amenities, and friendly staff absolutely make up for it!
If this article was helpful to you, and you want to book your stay you can do so at this link and I’ll make a small commission (with no cost to you), for which I thank you!
Additional Tips
🚗 🚌 Getting to the Grand Continental Hotel Tirrenia
The bus stop in Tirrenia is only about a block and a half from the front door of the hotel – just a 3 minute walk!
- From Pisa International Airport – About 1 hour 10 minutes by bus, 15 minutes by car.
- From Florence International Airport – About 2 hours 15 minutes by bus, about 1 hour 5 minutes by car.
- From Lucca – About 1 hour 40 minutes by bus, about 35 minutes by car.
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