Alassio
We have not been back to Alassio for a few years, and we will have to travel back to this pleasant coastal town soon. If you think of travelling in August... be weary, even in the shoulder seasons accomodations can be tight to find.
Hotel Beau Rivage
via Roma, 82
17021 Alassio (SV)
Tel: 0182.640585 Fax: 0182.640426
Web Site: www.hotelbeaurivage.it
It was back in our June 2006 visit to Alassio that we stayed at the Beau Rivage, and this was a place to which we will return. When we did return a few years later, it was not as we wanted in terms of enjoyment, but the hotel remains a good pick in Alassio.
Located across the street from one of the best beaches in Italy, this small hotel oozes charm & friendliness. The hotel is located within the central area of Alassio. Ask for parking as the hotel has a small, gated private parking lot.
The hotel is in a former private residence that dates back to the 18th Century. There is a comfortable feel to the hotel. Our room was small but very nicely decorated. We had doors that opening onto a small patio that overlooked the water. There are three floors to the hotel, no elevator, but the staff will help you with your luggage.
Juanito Salade and his sister Adele run a top notch little hotel. Juan is present in the dinning room each evening to assist with the selection of wine, and the hotel has a good selection. The staff were friendly and helpful.
We took the half board option (breakfast and dinner) and you could not beat the quality of the food and the value. We couldn't wait for our dinners and found them all to be delicious. Compared to other half-board options we have had at other hotels we were impressed. Even though it is a small hotel they had a large number of desserts from which to select and the meals were one of the highlights of staying at the Beau Rivage.
In 2007 we stayed here and were dissapointed with the noise level due to the bars along the beach. Meals were also not quite as good. We will have to have another visit to see if this is a more permanent change or we just had a bad year.
Hotel Tirreno
Passeggiata Cadorna 24
17021 Alassio
Tel: (39) 0182-64-24-74
Web Site: www.hoteltirrenoalassio.it
Alassio books up early, so have some options ready! The Hotel Tirreno is right next door to the Hotel Eden so you have the same great "on-the-beach" feel even though this is larger, newer hotel.
We have stayed here a number of years. This is not a fancy hotel. If you are looking for something upscale, consider the Grand Hotel Alassio - although their reviews have not been good. The Hotel Tirreno is starting to show some wear, but it is still a good basic beach hotel with a location you can't beat. The hotel is kept clean and it has all the basics you need for a few days on the beach.
Most rooms face the sea and have a small balcony. The balcony is great to sit and have a drink and just enjoy watching the sea. The sound the waves will put you to sleep at night.
They serve breakfast in a large room on the first floor up, and the windows overlooking the sea. You can rent a beach chair at the beach in front of the hotel. (Alassio is pretty much all private beaches.)
Parking in Alassio is a premium. We were complaining about it to owner Federico Trucco and he told us that some who return reguarly rent a space at thousands of Euro per year. You will have to hunt around for a place on one of the roads or park along the highway.
Hotel Piccolo Lido
Lungomare Argentina 2 - 18012 BORDIGHERA (IM) – ITALY
Tel. +39 01.84.26.12.97 - Fax +39 01.84.26.23.16
E-mail: info@hotelpiccololido.it
www.hotelpiccololido.it
We enjoyed our stay at this hotel. The room was a decent size and what you would expect at a beach resort. The view was stunning as the water along the coast at Bordighera is a beautiful a aquamarine colour. Breakfast can be had outdoors although it is a bit of a scramble to get a table. The location was very good for us as it was about an hour to the Nice airport.
Bordighera is a pretty little town. There is a major drawback, however in that the beach and entrance to the water has sharp little rocks. We would be more inclined to stay in Alassio, which is a little further south, with its beautiful sandy beach. Alassio is a favourite of ours due to its great little shopping area and the fact that they have not overdeveloped the town with big hotels.
Genova (Genoa)
Hotel metropoli Genova (Genoa)
www.hotelmetropoli.it/en/home-page.aspx
September 2011
This was our first but certainly not last trip to Genoa. We absolutely loved this beautiful, overlooked-by--many-travelers city. We also loved the Hotel Metropoli who deserve the great reviews that they have received.
Our overall impression of the hotel was very good after seeing a very attractive lobby, lounge and breakfast room. Our superior room was large, nicely decorated, with a good bed and bedding. The bathroom was also very large. The room was bright and had good air conditioning.
There were several things that drew us to this hotel. The room rates, location, great reviews and breakfast.
We found the hotel to be extremely good value based on the lovely room and well above average breakfast. We knew from the Trip Advisor reviews and response from the manager we could expect better than the usual fare. When we find fresh fruit salad included in the buffet we know that the hotel is striving to reach a higher standard and in this case the breakfast was the cherry on the top!
When reading the reviews we were impressed at the manager responding to the comments good or bad although I only recall the good since there was so much of it. After arriving we really had the feeling they cared about customer service. All the staff were very friendly and helpful.
The location was perfect. Close to the duomo, galleria and grand palazzos. Genoa (Genova) tends to be missed by those that dread driving through or I should say above it on the autostrade. BIG MISTAKE!!! What we found was a very beautiful city with friendly people proud of their town. We were surprised to find so many English speaking people there considering the lack of tourists. Even though we had read about all the palazzos we were taken back by the stunningly beautiful and grand feel of the city. The duomo took my breath away and I have seen thousands of churches in Italy and France. The Galleria and the arcaded streets, with attractive multi-coloured neon signs, were filled with high end shopping.
As we sat having cocktails overlooking the main piazza we were pleasantly surprised at the great value of the bar. The drinks were very generous and the appetizers almost made for a full meal.
As far as a place to visit you can't get a better "bang for you buck"!!
Santa Margherita Ligure
Albergo Jolanda
via Luisito Costa, 6;
Santa Margherita Ligure (GE).
Tel: 0185/ 28.75.12, Fax: 0185/ 28.47.63
web site
It was back in 2001 that we stayed in Santa Margherita Ligure on a return visit. We find Santa Margherita to be one of the nicest towns along the Italian Riveria. From here boats can take you to Portofino and other coast inlet towns. It is a short train ride to the Cinque Terra.
Hotels can be hard to get in Santa Margherita Ligure but if you can get into the Jolanda you will certainly be satisfied. An elegant hotel with attentive staff. The rooms as very comfortable. The hotel is located only a few blocks from the water - less than a 10 minute walk.
The hotel has been expanded and updated since our first stay back in 1997. In 2001 we found it even better than we remembered.
There is a grand hotel feeling with reasonable prices. There is parking for 10 cars - be brave, it is a tight fit. The have Internet access in the lobby ... you can check out www.marcuslink.com while you are there!
We stayed here again in 2004 - this place is one of the hotels you can just keep coming back to.
OCA BIANCA
via XXV April, 21;
Santa Margherita Ligure. Tel: 0185/28.84.11
One night we walked down the street from the Hotel Jolanda and found the Oca Bianca -- one of the best restaurants in Italy. Eat there and it will be an evening that you will remember for some time. On our trip to Italy in 2001 we rated this as one of the top meals of the entire trip.
Angelo Frati operates the restaurant and his menu is superb. The restaurant has an great decor, the tables are roomy to enjoy yourself, and you will have great service.
Don't miss the antipasto dishes, they are outstanding.
There are over 200 labels of wine, we asked Angelo to select an appropriate wine for our tortelli with a gorgonzola cheese sauce... oh the food and the wine were great!