I stayed at the President for ten days on vacation with my sister.
This hotel is very modern - it must have been refurbished recently. It's immersed in the beautiful Pineta, surrounded by pine trees.
Cicadas chirp so loud around there, it's almost like a sound effect.
I had a Classic Room with balcony, overlooking the pool side (not directly above it), shaded by a huge pine tree frequented by wood and sparrows. The rooms are beautifully appointed, and - unusual for continental Europe - there are electric kettles with instant coffee, tea and herbal tea, so you can make yourself coffee in the room. The only thing missing in the room is an iron and ironing board, which is usually provided in hotels either in the rooms or in a shared area. I think the hotel offers a laundry and ironing service, but if you need to iron something quickly for the day, that's not ideal.
The bathroom was huge and had a walk-in shower and bidet. Everything was spotless -the level of cleanliness at the hotel is simply stellar. The Air Conditioning was very effective.
I had to work from my room two mornings and the WiFi was super fast, even when using a VPN.
The housekeeper who serviced our rooms daily was wonderful and it was a joy to see her every morning.
Breakfast was varied and there were always staff replenishing items, clearing out tables and keeping an eye on things. I usually stick to a vegan diet, although when I'm travelling I compromise and eat vegetarian; my only minor criticism is that there wasn't much available for vegans at the buffet, however I am sure if you asked they would offer more options.
The pool was beautiful, we used it a few times after the beach, which is only a 10 minute walk from the President - umbrellas and sunbeds are included in the rate if you book directly with the hotel. Unfortunately we never ate at the pool bar/restaurant, which serves food at lunchtime and throughout the day, but we ordered drinks most days from the two excellent bartenders.
The spa is absolutely fantastic - small but impeccably clean and well-maintained. The emotional showers were out of this world.
The service at the hotel is exceptional - the staff are really friendly, helpful and well-presented, everyone wears smart uniforms and seems to take real pride in their jobs. That's not something | take for granted, as often hospitality staff are students who act as if they are above their job.
The whole experience at the President is top notch and really stands out for a hotel in a place like Lignano (a place I know very well from growing up nearby).
If I have to offer some minor constructive criticism, I would say that irons in the rooms are a necessity; also, the hotel could do a better job at publicising the daytime and evening events, some of which are only listed online when you scan a QR code found in your room. Some signage around the hotel/lobby/lift would be more useful.
It goes without saying that we are already planning to go back, only next time we will stay longer and book half board so that we don't have to eat at the local restaurants, many of which are on the mediocre side. I have no doubt that the President's dinner options would be far superior. Also, next time I will certainly spend more time at the pool and make the most of the fantastic facilities on offer.
