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Back to Grand Hotel Villa Balbi
Dear In Italy,
Thanks so much for your follow up and help. We had a wonderful time!! ...actually better than
wonderful!!!
The tours in Rome (Vatican and Coliseum) and place we stayed (Hotel Villa Balbi
in Sestri Levante) were incredible and the people were so helpful and friendly! We cannot say enough
about the tour guides. Alvaro,
our tour guide for the Coliseum was exceptional. He is an archaeologist by schooling, and gave our family
such incredible insight into the different rulers, architectures and times when the "layers" were
built around the coliseum....This was great! Rome was one of our favorite cities besides Sestri Levante,
milano, and the Cinque Terre Region -- what hikes!
Anyway, thank you so much for your help. it was invaluable! We'll have to tell you that we drove
through Italy beginning our excursion in Germany. We got a flat tire on the Autostrada, just after we
left the Hotel Villa Balbi and the hotel was so helpful in getting the right people to us! It
was a little scary, but we were towed and had a new tire on in less than 3 hours. They were wonderful!! We
really like the hotel and "beach town" too, because it seemed like we were the only Americans there,
so we got more of the international feel with may German, Dutch and Scandinavian families there at the same
time. We will go back soon - and now know where to spend our time - Rome, Cinque Terre, and definitely
the Hotel Villa Balbi!
Thanks again for all of your help!!
Best Regards.
Inga B.
Dear In Italy,
We had a lovely holiday and the Villa Balbi was beautiful. It was one of those holidays we were very sad to leave behind. Your information prior to our trip was most useful . We also liked a restaurant called Don Luigi just a few yards down the road from the hotel. This was unusual for Sestri Levante in that it was dark. Most of the restaurants were very brightly lit - which we were not fond of. They made very good pizzas with thin bases and their vegetable anti pastis were excellent.
All in all we had a great holiday and we will use initaly again.
Thank you,
Rosie W.
Hello,
We had a great time. Everything was as expected. Hotel Villa Balbi was our favorite. Air, hotel and car were all up to the task. Thanks. Will recommend InItaly to all our friends.
Thanks and regards,
Don R.
Dear Jessica,
We had an incredible vacation this last twelve days and the accommodations found through your website were essential to a great experience. The Grand Hotel Villa Balbi in Sestri Levante is elegant and beautiful. Our room there was one of the best I've had in all my travels, a huge top-floor room with a painted ceiling, antique furniture and an ocean view. We watched and photographed a stunning sunset, right out of our windows! Our day tours of the Cinque Terre and Riviera di Levante were the highlight of our trip. Portofino is quite simply one the world's extraordinary sights. It is beautiful from every angle, and the walk up to the castle on the headland opposite provides an awesome view of the bay and beyond. A note about touring by car, the Italians are impatient and erratic drivers and the road signs are very difficult to decipher. However, we would not have been able to see the villas and gardens outside of town, or tour the coastal towns of the Riviera any other way and it was well worth the aggravation. Just know that driving there is not for the faint of heart.
As mentioned, your website was invaluable to the success of our trip and I will definitely use it again when we return to Italy. Thank you so much!
Leslie S.
Dear In Italy,
Villa balbi and the entire seaside town of sestre levante was worth the trip. villa balbi was like stepping into a time warp. a grand old princess waiting to be explored. when you walk into the lobby off of a palm tree lined street you are immediately hit with a 15 foot wood carved fireplace. the hotel has been, and is still being renovated piece by piece. right across the street from the beach our room had a view of the sea unsurpassed. late afternoons i sat in the window and came back with a great tan in only a few days. italy is old, the villa is grand. a living tree grows thru the dining room adding a special touch. the staff were great. the location is perfect for a train ride to cinque terre and a hair raising car ride to portofino{get there early to park right in town and before the cruise ships }restaurant right across the street was fabulous, starting with some complimentary champagne and amuse bouche. the fish was superb and to top off the meal the best tira missou{?}i have ever had and a bottle of lemongello and orangegello. our room had a water stain which seemed to be old but noticeable. i am sure they fixed the roof. i highly recommend the villa balbi.[hidden treasure is portobello restaurant on silent bay].
Fran L.
Dear In Italy,
I am replying to your recent e-mail requesting feedback about my husband's and my trip to Italy. Hotel Villa Balbi was a great place to spend the first part of our trip. Staff was helpful but made no recommendations for anything unless asked specifically. The room was perfect with a gorgeous view from the terrace. The private beach was very enjoyable and the staff there was very helpful as we attempted to communicate in a mix of English and Italian! We loved the restaurant next to the Hotel. I think it was something Mer or Mar. The food was very good. Very few shopkeepers that we met knew English..not that it stopped us! The hike through Cinque Terra was absolutely beautiful! No one at the train station spoke English...this did not even slow us down!
Margot H.
Hi David,
This was a beautiful hotel, museum-like with 20+ foot ceilings and oversized rooms. The breakfast was good and the outdoor eating area beautiful. Nice pool and grounds. The reception could have been friendlier. A cooking class was advertised on the internet and when I asked about it I was told there was no classes. There was no classes in the area either. This was disappointing. Also there was an exorbitant charge to use the beach facilities across the street. About $50./day for a family of four. Lunch was about $50. more. But overall a good experience.
I highly recommend booking thru your online service, we rec'd free mini bar use, newspaper at our door and other extras. Way to negogiate the deals!
Maryann
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for asking about our short stay in Villa Balbi. It was better than good.
If you have ever fantasized about having enough money to not only own a grand
villa in Italy but have enough to pay for the upkeep and a staff to look
after you, then this is the place to stay. Even our bedrooms were like a
fairytale; huge with high painted ceilings and full of antiques.
I also strongly recommend the restaurant recommended by the hotel which is
called La Terrazza and is just across the road next to the beach. In fact I
think it is associated with it in some way (perhaps owned by them?). The prices
looked reasonable so we thought we would try it.
However as soon as we walked in we thought we had made a terrible mistake.
It is a beautiful building, full of beautifully dressed Italians. As soon as
we sat down we were given a glass of sparkling wine each, followed by smoked
salmon (we eat it all the time in Scotland, but this was Italy!). We were also
given a sorbet between courses and to finish an Italian version of petit fours
and 3 bottles of different liquors - none of which we had asked for. They insisted
this was all complimentary, but we were convinced we were going to be presented
with a huge bill at the end. However they were right - it was all totally free!
The following evening we dressed up, went back and had a fabulous and relaxed
meal of wonderful presented crustaceans. If you do decide to go, I recommend
booking, it is very busy and many people had to be turned away.
As far as trips outside Sestri Levante are concerned, beware! I read somewhere
that the train journey along the coast to Monterossa etc was 'enchanting'.
In fact because of the mountains are like fingers coming right down to the
sea, we spent virtually all of the jouney inside tunnels, with only a few seconds
break every now and then in the open. Even then I wouldn't describe the views
as picturesque.
However ending on a much more positive note, I thought the shops in Sestri
Levante are wonderful, for men as well as women. Not designer shops, but clothes
real people can actually buy.
Hope this is of interest,
Isabel T.
Dear In Italy,
Our trip to Italy--Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, Sestri Levante - Great location. Things to pass along to you and future clients: Tho we had thought we booked a 2 bdrm suite, it was really a one bdrm with a sofa made into a bed in a sitting room. When I inquired, they said they didn't have actual 2 bdrm suites. We also had been told we booked the one suite with the terrace; our room did not have one. The bathroom was spacious and nice except for the shower, which was separate from tub and if you weighed much more than I (125 lbs) you would not have been able to enter and shut the door. Extremely tight quarters, don't drop the soap!! The front desk controls the thermostats in the rooms; our room was almost unbearably cold the 1st night and I spent a lot of the night attempting to adjust the temp. via the old radiator controls. When I complained to the front desk the next day, they said they would adjust the temp from there, so the room temperature was never exactly as I would have liked it tho after the first night I could shed the coat in the room. Didn't find the staff to be particularly helpful or cheerful.
R.G.
Dear Jessica
Thank you for your email.
We all had a wonderful stay at the Villa Balbi and found the reception staff extremely helpful particularly with resolving complications we had with our continued trip onto France.
The Villa Balbi is a great location and we fell in love with Sestri Levante and the CinqueTerre area and will be recommending it all to our friends.
We have put it on our list of "must returns" so please keep in touch with us re any special deals etc. In fact we are considering another trip next year around the same time.
Kind regards
Judy D.
Jessica
First... the driving directions that you provided for both hotels was superb. Found my way to both locations with ease
We had a wonderful room on the second floor facing the water at Grand Hotel Villa Balbi. Slept all three nights with the three sets of windows wide open. Not bothered by any vehicle sound and we are light sleepers. As other guests have commented, the shower is not really an option with no curtain without getting water all over. We found the staff helpful and pleasant. The breakfast is more of a continental style - lots of pastries, some fresh fruit and boiled eggs. Had a very nice dinner at the Terrace - located across the street in their new addition. Easy walk to the train station for our trip to Cinqueterre. Front desk staff spoke English fluently.
Overall, very pleased with the service we received. Will definitely contact your company for my next trip to Italy.
tim w.
When we arrived at the Balbi, we were taken across the street to its new sister hotel, The Neptune...we had a wonderful suite and the people there were quite nice. It had its own beach too.
The only thing I would disagree with is your recommendation of the restaurant, Il Brigantano. The food was simply atrocious and the service, while pleasant when they waited on you, was scarce.
One other thing of note. FYI the train does not go from San Remo to Nice anymore due to a major cave-in at Monoco's train station....just thought you might want to know this.
Thanks for all your help. Eurocar was great.
Kathleen S.
Dear In Italy,
Thank you, we had a good holiday. We thought the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi was ideally situated, right in the centre of where it's all at. Our room was spacious, with a great view but after struggling with the air conditioning for 3 days and nights) we asked for instructions from "Reception" they calmly asked for our room number and then switched it on from their central computer. If it don't work, don't wait that long. The pool in a super garden was worth commending though cars were parked very near to the sitting area. Recommended, take the train (10 min walk from hotel) to i) St. Margherita and take boat to Portofino, ii) take train to any of the stations in other direction (Portovenere) and take boat to villages in the Cinque Terra. It is worth going as far as boats go and be prepared to change boats to the peninsula end. Restaurants:- outstanding sea food, ridiculously low prices but avoid "first sittings" ( local children make a point of using it for pizzas) is the La Lanterna (book). If you want a change from seafood try the Don Miguel (2 Minutes from Villa Balbi) though they too serve great fresh seafood. La Bistro also recommended. Thank you for al your help, transfer from & too Genoa airport worked well,
The Smiths
Hi Julie,
We had a wonderful time in Italy! The people were very kind and helpful and the food was fabulous (so was the scenery). Here is a brief synopsis of our trip.
At Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, our room was beautiful and included a private (huge) terrace where we dined one evening at sunset. The staff was very helpful and the exterior gardens were exquisite.
Thank you so much for all of your help. We are definitely looking forward to our next trip to Italy (perhaps Rome next time?) and will be glad to contact In Italy for our accommodations.
Cordially,
Mary C. S.
Dear In Italy,
The Grand Hotel Villa Balbi was wonderful!!! Service excellent; their restaurant was excellent. The room was spacious and clean and nicely furnished. And the balcony was terrific. We did discover a little Italian restaurant quite by accident. We were on the Via Nationale (in the rain) looking for a restaurant you suggested at 500 Via Nationale. It was raining so hard we decided to stop in a little place called La Lanterna at 119 Via Nationale. This was a great find! Full of local color, great food, large portions, wonderful service, very friendly people and a surprisingly great winelist. Over 900 Italian wines listed!!! But best of all were the prices--extremely reasonable--downright cheap!!! We actually ate there 3 times for dinner and once for lunch. They even gave us a parting gift when we told when we were leaving the next day and it would be the last time we were eating at their restaurant. Can't say enough good things about La Lanterna.
The Cinque Terre were wonderful villages. This was the highlight of the Italian Riviera; better than Porto fino or Santa Margherita. The walk you described to the five villages was right on the mark. Thanks for your interest, please feel free to share our "find" with all your readers.
Rosalie and Victor C.
Hi cynthia,
Thank you for the welcome home. Bryan and I had the trip of a lifetime! The first thing I want to say is that, we were a little hesitant to book our rooms online because we knew no one that had used your services. But we took a leap of faith and what a wonderful surprise when everything worked out the way we planed it to. All of your suggestions and information was right on. There were only a few things that we learned on our own that may be helpful. I will start with the first hotel, Grand Villa Balbi. The hotel was beautiful and different. Our room was very nice and very big! We loved the bathroom and the whirlpool tub. Our only complaint is that there was no shower curtain and so you could not take a shower without getting water everywhere. One of the things the staff forgot to tell us was that you need to leave the room key in a slot in the wall. If you do not leave the key in the wall, the lights will turn off on you and if you've just arrived you are truly lost when it is pitch dark in the bathroom! That was from personal experience! The breakfasts were by far the best of the three hotels we stayed at.
As for the places we went to, we did a lot in two days. The first thing I want to say is wear good walking shoes because you have to be part mountain goat to walk to all of these places. One lady we met said that Italy is ultimate stairmaster and she was right. We went to the cinque terre on the first morning and we have a helpful hint. When you go to purchase your train tickets to get to the cinque terre get the pass they have displayed at the window. The cinque terre are a national park so the pass will allow you to go on the train and on your walks from town to town. If you don't buy the pass you will have to pay each time you go from one town to the next even if you are walking. The tickets were very cheap and well worth it. If at any time you do not get the right tickets for the train, do not panic because you can purchase the tickets from the train attendant. The last thing about the train stations is bring your own toilet paper!! It is not that they have run out, it is that they do not even have a spot for the toilet paper!! BRING YOUR OWN!! The next day we went to portofino and walked up to the castle and the lighthouse. What a beautiful view from up there. Well worth the time an effort. By the way, to your readers, it was raining the whole time but we did not let it stop us.
Bryan & Teresa F.
Dear Cynthia,
We did have a wonderful trip...Italy is a very special place. A few of my thoughts on the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi and not wanting to sound critical, it's just what we feel about the hotel...
While it is certainly an extraordinary building, we found it to be a bit overpriced for what it is advertised as. There really is not much of a beach, as it is side by side chairs on a very narrow piece of beach, and was very crowded. It reminded me of sitting in stadium seats (so close to one another), only you were at the beach. When we checked in and told the desk clerk that we may be leaving a day earlier (we had bumped up all of our travel plans a day, even prior to arriving at Villa Balbi) she became a bit defensive. We paid a cancellation of 50 euro, which we fully expected. It was just her attitude that put us off. Compared to other places we have stayed in the same price range, Sestri Levante, the beach, and the hotel just wasn't what we expected. Thanks you for asking for feedback.
Carolyn B.
Hello,
Grand Hotel Villa Balbi was tremendous. The staff, especially, was friendly and very helpful. We stayed in their "best" room - with a terrace - and I would highly recommend it. Sestri Levante is a lovely little town. We would recommend eating at Santi's, just minutes away from the hotel. The pasta was all home-prepared and it is rated in the Michelin Guide. Thanks much for the hotel recommendation!
Deb and Mike C.
Dear In Italy,
Had a terrific trip. Villa Balbi was a small Oasis. A quick two minute walk to the train station and we could be any where from Portofino to Monte Rossa within an hour. A great base to go out and explore the coast by boat or train and then come home to after long hot days to slide into their tranquil pool amongst the trees. Restaurants not great in Sesta Lavanti but you make do. Tip for kids take a backpack carrier (for hiking) a stroller for sleeping in while mom and dad enjoy another glass of wind, and a porta crib for that homey bedtime feeling. Alot of luggage, yes but well worth it if you are traveling with a toddler. Also any village or small town we went the first thing we did was find the local playground to let our daughter blow of steam between car/train rides. She loved it and speaks playground Italian now. Great way to meet Italian families.
Dear Cytnhia,
Another excellent place! As luck would have it, someone had not checked in to a sea view room on the 3rd floor, so we were able to take it at no extra charge. The room was HUGE and the bathroom very nice also. Service was super attentive and friendly. The town of Sestre Levante sold itself. It looked like a postcard. The weather was excellent and this was a great relaxer after the touring we did in Rome/Tuscany/Florence.
Sincerely,
Ray & Mary Beth I.
The Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, this 17th-century villa located right in the heart of town, was FAB! We loved our room & the terrific ocean view!!!!! Wonderful jacuzzi tub......at sunset my husband and i stood at the window with our white terry robes on and had a glass of wine.....people were taking pictures of us. It REALLY was a Kodak moment. We dined at Portobello Restaurant....very nice. Also, really enjoyed a hike in the hills around town...and, was also Sestri Levante was perfect for a stroll through town. One night we met friends in Portofino for dinner....on our way we drove along the coast to Portofino taking in ALL the WONDERFUL sights....really the prettiest drive we've ever done* Cinque Terra is quite a place! Then the drive home we took the autostrada & were home in 25 minutes. Thank you for your insight and help!
Di & Bryan H
Dear In Italy,
The Hotel Villa Balbi was nice and the staff very helpful. Lots of history in the lobby and old part. We had a nice room in the front with a very large balcony on the side. There really weren't many negatives, but I do think that the room could have been updated some - it was a little tired but the view and number of windows definitely made up for that negative. The balcony could have been cleaner. The bathroom did leave something to be desired though and should be upgraded. Typical of European hotels, the shower hook up makes me laugh with the little hand helds that spray all over the place. But in this case, the tub had a lip around the top and every time the shower was used, the water collected between the wall and the lip and flooded the floor. This was a little annoying - and is one reason why I always have said one requirement for all hotels should be to have an employee stay in each and every room and experience the pluses and minuses.
Overall, I would stay there again. The surrounding area is beautiful - from Sestri Levante to Portfino.
Thanks
RKD
Dear In Italy,
We drove west across Italy on the autostrada to the Italian Riviera, specifically Sestri Levante which is northwest of La Spezia. We passed a few snow covered mountains on the way and then arrived in Sestri Levante, a palmtree lined peninsula of beaches in the Ligurian Sea that is surrounded by mountains on three sides. We checked into the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, parked our car and spent three wonderful days strolling the streets of this lovely beachfront town. The women had developed a big urge to shop and capture some of the beautiful Italian clothing that we had been seeing for the last week. We would set off as a foursome. As the shops became plentiful, the guys would spend some time at a sidewalk café enjoying a glass of local wine. We would meet for lunch and then later in the afternoon for a cappuccino. The guys were immersed in the Italian lifestyle and enjoyed moving from café to café. We had truly become acclimated to the slower Italian lifestyle. One of our favorite restaurants in the area was Portabello. It is operated by the couple who own it and they give you great food and service. Your satisfaction is their priority.
We took a train ride to visit Portofino on a day trip. It was a great adventure. We must have passed through 14 tunnels under mountains in our 25 minute ride. Portofino is a most scenic village in a breathtakingly beautiful area.
I should mention that their lifestyle is very different than ours in the suburban U.S.. Here, the stores open at 9 or 10 AM and close at 6 or 9 PM. In Italy, the stores open between 8 and 9 AM, close between 12:30 to 1 PM., re-open between 3:30 and 4:40 PM and close between 7:30 and 9 PM. It takes some time to get into their groove when you are on vacation, since you would typically head out at 10 AM and end up arriving in a town that was shutting down for the lunch break as you were gearing up to tour. Most shop owners go home for lunch with their families and spend some time with them during the day. It is a wonderful, family oriented lifestyle. Many restaurants will serve lunch between noon and 2 PM then re-open for dinner around 7:30 PM. This is why you will see many folks strolling the streets at 5PM enjoying some gelati as a mid afternoon snack.
The Italian food and wines are extraordinary. I have adopted many of the preparations that we were exposed to now that we are home. A typical dinner would be a first course of pasta (try the spaghetti with Marinara sauce. You will be amazed at the simplicity and lightness of the dish. The portion is very manageable) followed by a second course of either meat or seafood, A side dish of a steamed vegetable drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper is a perfect accompaniment. Salads are simple and are offered with olive oil and vinegar only and it is perfect. Again, the Italian wine is marvelous.
We look forward to our next visit to Italy and will be sure to contact your Website and we begin to make our plans.
Joan and Mike I.
Dear In Italy,
Just wanted to let you know that my friend and I absolutely loved our stay at the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi--they gave us a wonderful room, with a balcony overlooking the sea and the service was great. Location could not have been better and we would highly recommend the hotel to anyone thinking of visiting this region.
Thanks again for all your help.
Leslie A.
Cynthia:
I just wanted to thank you for all of your help in planning our trip to Italy. Each of our hotels was even better than we expected. The Relais delle Arti was charming and the staff very helpful. We were married while at the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, and they were accommodating in every way! They prepared our wedding luncheon which was beautiful and delicious....everyone was as nice as they could be. Thanks for everything!
Pam and C. Ferrell D.
Dear Cynthia:
I must tell you that we were not really happy with either the hotel or the service.
Firstly, the room we reserved is on two levels, with the upper level being the place where the bathroom is found. To get to the bathroom, you probably know that one must navigate an extremely tight, steep, and poorly lit spiral staircase. This is exceedingly dangerous, especially at night, and certainly should have been advised to us in advance. We were quite upset about this.
Secondly, the air conditioning did not work properly. It came on, and then turned itself off within a minute, even though we set it correctly. In consequence, we had to leave a door open which leads to the roof, and thus loads of mosquitoes poured in. Very pleasant.
Thirdly, the staff was less than helpful, extremely unenthusiastic, and inadequate, especially at night. On the night of our arrival, we asked for extra sheets and blankets, but we were told that no one could get them since the staff had gone and everything was locked. Is that what a first class hotel should offer? I don't think so.
Fourthly, we sent in laundry and were told that it would be returned that evening. Unfortunately, in spite of my inquiring, nothing came back, and no info as well. The next day, about 10 A.M., I was told that it would be arriving in the morning, and that I would receive advice about that shortly. Some 10 hours later, after nothing happened, I called the reception in a rather angry mood. The laundry arrived about 20 minutes later. Nice joke.
The town is ok, nothing special, but pleasant.
This hotel is not one we would recommend to anyone, and we certainly would never stay there again. You should do a better job with the places you represent.
Yours sincerely,
Phil G.
Cynthia,
Yes, despite all the potential problems, our trip came off quite well. We were most pleased with the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi. Everything was about as expected. It is truly a first class hotel and we would certainly recommend it to our friends. We especially appreciated the fact that all desk personnel and most restaurant personnel spoke very creditable english. We ate only breakfast at the hotel but they were among the very best we have ever had in Europe. All in all, a very good stay!
Robert L. M.
Dear In Italy,
I really enjoyed my two days in Sestri Levante. They were the final two days of my two-week vacation. I was touring around Emilia Romagna, so it was nice to relax in a beach resort to end another fantastic Italian holiday.
The town is very nice. There is a wonderful pedestrian area with lots of nice shops, bakeries, and restaurants. The Bay of Silence is quite beautiful. There is also a wonderful long and wide promenade along the waterfront on the Portofino-facing side of town. We enjoyed the early evening passegiata along with great bocci tournament watching. All the nonni were out walking with their grandchildren. We could use more outdoor walking and meeting places here in the USA. What a great way to end the day!
The hotel was nice. Our room was huge with a great big balcony. We could view the bay on one side and the town and background mountains on the other. The restaurant served wonderful seafood and other Ligurian specialties. The reception desk personnel were also very helpful.
Only one problem was encountered. As is typical in some Italian hotels, it is impossible to take a shower without getting water all over the bathroom floor even though the bathtub was large. (The second night I took a whirlpool bath instead which was great.)
Thanks for your help in securing the reservation.
Buon giorno.
Vicki B.
Dear In Italy,
We had a fabulous time in Italy despite the tragedy in America. We felt like Villa Balbi and Sestri Levante were the hidden treasures. Such a wonderful place and so convenient to Cinque Terre. The staff at Villa Balbi were extrememly friendly and we felt right at home. Thanks for the tip!
Megan H.
Dear In Italy,
The Balbi is the the grand dame of Sestri Levante. Our rooms were enormous and one could definitely accommodate 4 easily. I offered to take only one but since the reservations were made and paid it wasn't possible. We had jacuzzis and frescoed ceilings. Sestri Levante, like Mannioni, is off the tourist track. We did not encounter another American in either town and loved that. Again, the breakfast was superb, the staff enormously gracious and helpful. As at the Mannioni, parking was available and is a must as the streets are packed. It is a town where Italians go to vacation. We heard Verdi one night performed in the piazza with live orchestra and chorus no less.
Diao,
Michael R.
Dear In Italy,
We booked at the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, in Sestre Levant, and had the fun of being the second tenants in the new suite at the top of the old hotel. The suite is a huge room and bath above the 4th floor (at the parapet level near the flag pole) replete with a tiny balcony, and a loft room above that which was a timbered sitting room with sofabed, lounge chairs, tv etc. Again, a far cry from the four-beds-in-a-room we had expected, and again, just lovely and grand. Food there was also fabulous! In Sestri Levante, don't try the food at the Vis a Vis Hotel...while the rooms may have a great view, the restaurant is just awful!
Some finds we made on our own...a restaurant called Sergio's attached to the California Motel (no kidding) in Pisa, serves fabulous food and has a great wine shop as well. they ship, or will pack for carry with. The motel is clean and simple for an overnight, and moderate..has a great pool which the children loved.
The Hotel Trentina in Milan (www.htrentina.it) is an inexpensive, simple 8 room site whose owner-manager Paola and her Mom are gracious and helpful for city visitors. The hotel is just two blocks from the Metro so it is easy to get around the town from it, and it isn't far from the central train station. Don't drive there!
I've passed your site on to quite a few fellow travelers, and plan to be back to it again ASAP. Many thanks from all of us!
Diana H.
Dear In Italy,
Our first room was beyond belief beautiful and the view wonderful. We had to be moved for the second night and the room was not ready. The air did not work and there was no curtain in the shower and water would go everywhere. It looked like the room was being redone and was not finished-but the first night was better than hoped for. The food and service was wonderful--very helpful people that work for the Villa--I would send all my friends your way -thank you again for a wonderful two days of memories. I would suggest for visitor next time to make dinner reservations ahead of time-three weeks advance booking for the seafood places.
Thanks again
Ruth B.
Hello,
We enjoyed our stayed at the Villa Balbi - it was wonderful and very child-friendly! Thank you for all your help with the reservation.
Hilary H.
Hi ghia,
The villa balbi was a huge pleasant surprise. we had been travelling close to 2 weeks on our own, lugging the suitcases up and down the train platforms and steps. we were a little disappointed that we couldn't get rooms in 5 terre but oh, wow, sestri levanti was the much better choice. so continental and charming but very sophisticated and riviera like. the villa was more than we had hoped for. it was beautiful, restful, and a very professional staff. we absolutely loved it, and all of the town. we never felt we were being ripped off nor faced any antiamericanism as we did in rome. we felt secure and comfortable to walk the beach front at night and sit and enjoy food and drinks any time. The food at the restaurants we ate in was terrific and certainly freshly prepared. thank you for the suggestion. we will definitely contact you again for future travel. oh , we took the train from s.levanti to the 5 terre and had a wonderful full day. we saw all the towns, ate, climbed, hiked a wee bit and met wonderful people. the train was easy to do especially without luggage. we were glad we didn't stay for the 3 days in 5 terre because it would have felt, in my opinion, too confining because of the terrain. i got the feeling of being locked in. the coast and scenery was beautiful. it almost rivalled elba. we stayed on elba for 4 days and never wanted to leave. now there is one terrific wonderful island. then we ended our 3 weeks in rome. after lake como, venice, florence, milan, chianti, siena, san gimignano, s. levanti, and elba, rome was just a bummer. the taxi drivers were rude, the hotel was substandard, staff rude, crowds, dirt etc. if it wasn't for ancient roman ruins, i would never return to rome. i am not against cities, i go into new york city often for theater and shopping, but rome was so unfriendly and actually antagonistic to tourists. everyplace we went, we had to bargain prices (including some very nice restaurants). it was tiresome and not pleasant. prices were sky high - as one might expect in a city - but this was quite unreasonable. thank goodness for other tourists who explained that we should even turn down the substandard bread instead of paying twice for it. once for the bread tab and once for the service tab. rome had some beautiful sections which we found as we wandered and some marvelous architecture, but not enough to compensate for the rudeness and noise and complete mania caused by the cars and scooters that treated each traffic light as a flag to begin the race. but we will always remember s. levante and villa balbi. thanks for the interest.
Val W.
Dear In Italy,
Thanks for your help organizing our trip to the Italian Riviera (Riviera di Levante). Our hotel, the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi in Sestri Levante, was lovely and comfortable. Trains to Cinqueterre, Portovenere, and the Santa Margharita area were convenient and frequent (and for the most part right on time!). My only complaint is that Sestri Levante is not a terribly interesting or beautiful place. If I were to do this trip again, I think I'd try to stay in Portovenere.
The boat transport between Ligurian Sea towns is convenient and a great way to travel. The CAI trails between the Cinqueterre towns are marvelous and were a high point of our trip. There are also many other CAI trails in the area which are worth exploring for those who like hiking.
The food was not as good as the food I've had on previous Italy trips. The fish (expecially the fresh anchovies and local catch) was excellent, as was the trofie al pesto. However, the menu was virtually the same in every restaurant, and the quality highly inconsistent. The gelato was great. Your maps made travelling very easy.
Barbara L.
Dear In Italy,
Unfortunately our experience in Sestri Levante and the Villa Balbi was not memorable. We were disappointed with the hotel as well as the town. I had a different image of the hotel and the town based upon the descriptions and the brochure for the hotel. I envisioned that the hotel was in a quiet setting and off the beaten path a little. We were very surprised when we arrived to find that the hotel is right on top of the busiest steet in town in a busy, noisy section of town. Although it seems that we may have had the nicest room in the hotel on the top floor with our own very large terrace, it did not make up for our disappointment with the place in general. Our room was lovely, very large and nicely furnished. However, there was no air conditioning and it was so noisy there that we could not open the windows at night to let fresh air in. We were uncomfortable. The air conditioning (if the term can be used loosely) did not work at all for the first two days. The staff advised that it was malfunctioning. Eventually, the unit in the room was made operational but it simply made noise and blew air that was not cold. After one night of use we did not use it again. It only served to drown out the noise from the street. Our bathroom was large and very, very nice. However, hot water was always at a premium or there simply wasn't any. One night we discovered a horde of red ants in our room. The hotel is lovely but they supply plastic cups for drinking. It made no sense. An elegant hotel that supplies plastic cups. They did provide us with wine glasses upon request but it seemed that we always had to pull teeth to get anything. The staff at the desk was very friendly and cordial and I cannot blame the staff for our disappointment there in general. It is a lovely old hotel but I would never recommend it, primarily because of its location and the lack of air conditioning. I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must be in August. The Bay of Silence side of town was much more pleasant and quiet. It is unfortunate that the hotel was not located on the Bay of Silence instead. We visited other towns one day, including Santa Margarita and Portofino and were lamenting the fact that we were not staying there instead of Sestri. We actually cut our stay short because of our dsappointment with Sestri Levante. I would not return there. Oh well, you live and learn. I do think that you should provide a more accurate description of the town on your website as well as the hotel. There should be an indication that it is in the heart of the busiest, noisiest section of town and that the hotel lacks adequate air conditioning for those who are sensitive to these shortcomings. The descriptions provided are very misleading.
Sincerely,
Gerald S. R.
Dear Julie,
The Balbi in Sestri Levante was wonderful. We enjoyed the property, beach and surrounding area. We were given a fresh fruit basket upon arrival and then a complete aromatherapy packet at the end of the first day. Everything was perfect. I will be returning very soon. Also, I have passed on your website to some friends. Grazie mille.
Jim S.
Ghia,
We were very impressed by your hotel; it was beautiful and the amenities were first rate. The view from our room was picture perfect! Thank you for a delightful stay! If we are ever on the Italian Riviera again, we will surely visit the Villa Balbi again!
Dr. Jeffrey and Gillian W.
Dear Ghia,
Villa Balbi was also beautiful, but filthy! We were shocked. For the price we were paying we at least expected the floor to be swept and the bed to be made. In addition, they were also doing construction near our room and the noise was piercing. We had a slew of complaints and wrote the manager a letter. However, since it was your booking we thought you should know.
Janice K.
Dear In Italy,
Thanks for your interest. Our trip was great.
As I had hoped, Sestri Levante turned out to be a perfect base for touring the Riviera Levante, and the Gran Hotel Villa Balbi is perfectly located within Sestri Levante. The Tourist Information office is two blocks away and was well supplied with maps and train schedules. The train station is a five minute walk. The local trains to Cinqueterre were frequent. There are many great restaurants within a short walk of the hotel. One we discovered on our own was Trattoria della Mandrella, where we seemed to be the only non-Italians enjoying their creative menu and charming service. There also are many nice shops in town including original Armani designs at the Blue Stage directly behind the hotel, and the long pedestrian-only corso is marvelous for strolling.
The hotel was excellent. Our room was in the original villa building. It was huge and beautifully furnished. It seemed that very few rooms have terraces, however our room had a huge terrace overlooking the beach and bay. The staff was extremely professional, helpful and efficient. The parking was extremely convenient, adjacent to the elevator lobby entrance, and leading out onto the lungo mare on which you can drive north directly on the coast all the way to Porto Fino. The included breakfast was adequate in variety, and is served in the light and airy main hotel dining room overlooking the "park", a beautiful setting. The dining room service is top notch. We also enjoyed a very nice dinner there one evening. There are several exquisite sitting rooms off the lobby, and the hotel bar is gorgeous. In warm weather there are outside tables on the lungo mare- great for people watching.
I highly recommend this hotel, and we hope to return some day.
David C.
Dear In Italy,
Thank you for your e-mail. We did have a great time in Italy!!! Since we have not been to Venice or Florence, we do not have anything to compare the hotels to except American hotels which would not be a fair comparison.
Grand Hotel Villa Balbi was a beautiful hotel!! I would recommend the hotel highly. The only downside to the hotel is the front sits on a major road and the noise level is quite high even late into the night.
Regards,
Keith W.
Dear In Italy,
Sorry to be so long to reply, but we had a marvelous time! We still rave about it to anybody who will listen. First of all, Sestre Levante is the PERFECT base for exploration of southern Liguria. We had a grand time and got from Genoa to La Spezia, including Cinque Terre. We got into Portofino twice, once by ferry and once by car. The shops and restaurants were absolutely terrific!
Villa Balbi was just wonderful. By contrast, we had just come from a week in Firenze where we stayed in graduate student housing, so the grand scale of the rooms was a most welcome change. We very much enjoyed every aspect of the hotel...from breakfast and coffee in the garden in the morning to a tall cool gin and tonic watching the sunset from the veranda in the evening.
Thank you again for all your help and we look forward to returning to Sestre Levante and the Villa Balbi again soon.
John and Connie D.
Dear Folks at In Italy,
I wanted to let you know that we really enjoyed our stay at Villa Balbi. Sestri Levante is a charming small resort town & the Villa was right in the middle, walkable to everywhere. We were in a large room in the old building that was beautiful and comfortable. They greeted us with a large basket of fresh fruit - felt like a film star! We made it a base camp for exploring the Cinque Terre (disappointing) and Portofino but it was so pleasant & relaxing, we could have been just as happy hanging out by the pool or on the beach. The breakfast was super & the staff was very helpful.
Thank you again,
Jan R.
Dear Cynthia:
We had a very good time at the hotel. The service is wonderful and the food, the quality of our room etc were excellent. I was especially impressed with Carla and Valentina who are intelligent and extremely helpful in all their efforts.
Several points could stand improvement. The beach front is closed off from the front of the hotel which is unfortunate. In our lovely room (# 830) the air conditioner in the downstairs area did not work leaving it a rather musty feel. We are recommending your hotel to others as an excellent base from which to explore the Ligurian coast. Thanks again.
B. Posner
Hello Hello!
Yes we are all back and had a wonderful time. Thank you for your help with the hotels, restaurants, etc.
Villa Balbi, AWESOME! They upgraded us to a ocean view with a huge private terrace overlooking the whole strip and Riviera. The service excellent, location as well. Nice people. A definite return.
Mark
Dear In Italy,
We loved each hotel, particularly Villa Balbi. We didn't hear an American speak until the day we left. The people at the hotels were so helpful with recommendations and reservations that it was all a breeze (boy did we learn you must have reservations if you wish to get a delicious dinner!). We loved Italy. Thank you for your assistance.
P.S. A helpful hint for American men who want to blend: don't wear white tennis socks and tennis shoes...it gives you away in an instant!
Kenneth A.
Dear In Italy,
Our accomodations at the Villa Balbi were great!! It's a wonderful historic home, and the location is great for exploring the cinque terre and neighboring areas. The meal that we had in the restaurant was also quite good. My only complaint is that our room smelled terribly of cigarette smoke. I would recommend the hotel to anyone who wants to check out a slower-paced town where you can relax and mingle with the locals and other vacationing families.
Thank you again for you help,
Johanna S.
Dear In Italy,
Thanks for your inquiry. Yes, I have some suggestions. We left the Italian Riviera for the French Riviera, and the French cannot compare. We stayed in Antibes, France and were robbed by the taxis in Nice and Antibes.
In Sestri Levante, Italy the Hotel Ville Balbi was superb and the staff very friendly. We enjoyed the town, and the the beaches were delightful. I do not think the traveling public is aware that it is easy to move about the Italian Riviera by train. Even the directions you sent me assumed we would arrive by auto.
One of the most exciting hikes my wife and I have taken is the trail along the coast from Riomaggiore, up to Vernazza. Indeed one can hike on up to Monterosso, however, I am 60 years old, the trail often very difficult, and the wonderful village of Vernazza was about my limit. This trail was the photo highlite of this trip, and I would encourage those that like to get off the beaten path and expend some energy.....do it! Also, all points easily reached by train.
Best regards,
Joe K.
Dear Sarah,
Sorry so long getting back to you. We were disappointed in Grand Villa Balbi. Staff did not speak English or did they want to try, ocassionly one did. The brochure led us to believe we would have are own private beach. We instead had to go and make arrangements the first beach was packed like sardines and no openings available. We then had to go down the block. And finally got somewhere.The staff was not helpful we had nine in our party the luggage got all screwed up and we had to take it to the rooms ourselves. The place in Rome was excellent from the moment we walked in the door. Places for us to go eat, train schedules, subways do's and don'ts highly recommend and is certainly worth 4 stars.
Sincerely,
Marianne C.
Dear In Italy,
The Villa Balbi was gorgeous - the frescoes throughout the entryway were magnificent. The area was beautiful - we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Mindy K.
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you for following up. The hotel was wonderful and was exactly what we expected. We had thought that the town would have been a bit more lively... but we figured we were in off season. We still thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
There is a restaurant on the same side of the street as the hotel that is up one block, towards the castle hotel. It has a pig over the entryway. (I can't remember the name). Anyway, we had some of the best food there as anywhere in Italy.... I would recommend it.
Thanks again for helping us with our lodging.
Patti G.
Cynthia,
I really enjoyed my stay at Hotel Villa Balbi. The hotel was wonderful. The room was clean. The swimming pool and private beach were very nice and comfortable, and the building itself is very old and I was very interested in its history. I also thank you very much for giving me appropriate directions.
I would like to say THANK YOU again.
Best regards,
Toshiko S.
Hello everybody,
Just wanted to share with you our great experience in the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, in Liguria, Sestri Levante. The atmosphere is unique and fantastic, the restaurant offers you simply the BEST food you can get around and the scenarios are marvellous!
Two adjacent bays (Baia dei Silenzi and Baia delle Favole) separated by a thin and flat piece of land and if you're lucky you can see the two of them united in a small square, a joy-to-see event.
If you like walking and hiking then, you have a little climb available, well equipped where the common habit of people walking around is to cheer you when you meet. Friendly but not noisy are the people from Liguria and the warm hospitality we've received in Villa Balbi is an example that the big hotel companies should use as a case-study.
The building in itself is a patrician villa with the best atmosphere you can imagine and the restaurant offers you marvellous foods (never heard about pesto?). Go there, experience the luxury hotel, and offer yourself the best souvenir you can imagine.
S. Mariotti
Dear Cynthia,
Sestri Levante is a quaint seaside town centrally located for trips south to Cinqueterre and north to Portofino. The pace is slow. Be sure to join the locals for the mandatory evening stroll along the parklike walkway paralleling the beach. The bocce games are numerous and intense. Hotel Villa Balbi is a magnificently maintained villa, with views of the harbour and beach. The rooms were lovely and spacious. An evening cappuccino at the bar, which also served some great Grappas, is a must. Breakfast in their atrium diningroom or patio (when it was warmer) was plentiful and service was excellent. Not so, the service at the front desk. The administrative staff was inattentive and positively rude at times. Add to that the fact that there is no one to assist you with your bags at any time of day. Moving luggage to the upper floors in the normally charming 2 person elevator was quite a challenge. Better service is needed.
The five tiny towns of Cinqueterre are not to be missed. Park in Riomaggiore, the southernmost town and most accessible from the main highway. Hiking between the first 3 towns is relatively easy. All the paths and trails are well marked. On a Sunday you will find many Italians strolling in their Sunday best. The last two towns are further apart and walking is much more strenuous. The casual walkers are no longer in evidence. Your reward is breathtaking views from olive groves, secluded coves and solitude. There is a train which runs between all the towns. Buy an all-day pass if you plan to visit them all. We took a water taxi back to Riomaggiore. It was a bit more expensive but it gave us a completely different view of the coast, not to mention an appreciation of how far we had walked.
Ginny C.
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