Right on the beautiful Mediterranean with stunning. Reasonable prices. Underground parking for…read more$10/night. Friendly staff. Beach and resort like atmosphere and decor. Room was clean and comfortable. No fixed shower head, only a handheld shower which is not the most convenient way. The tub is however has a jacuzzi. Restaurant is just Ok and a bit pricey for the food you get.

Wonderful hotel just on Savona's shore. It's decorated in a unique way and the lobby makes you feel…read moresomewhat like a mermaid. The rooms are comfortable, especially the beds. If you can, choose a room with a beach balcony and I swear you won't regret it at all. It offers a buffet breakfast with a tremendous array of options from fruits, nuts, yoghurt, coffee, pastries, Nutella, etc. It's a very good place to stay if you're planning to move from Savona to Monaco or Nice (which is what I did). Something to bear in mind is that there is a parking lot, but sometimes all the parking spots are taken as there is a restaurant and a bar inside the hotel. There are parking lots on the area, but of course, you have to pay for them. I would die to return in the summer and take advantage of the hotel's extraordinary swimming pool and small beach resort.

I am a Director of an upscale travel agency, I have traveled extensively since the age of 12, and I…read moreconsider myself a demanding consumer. And yet I don't think I can add to the countless 5-star reviews that the extraordinary Denise and her exceptional staff have earned at this renovated castle. The renovation retained all the ambience of a 900-year-old castle while adding the amenities essential to a luxurious stay. However, it is the services that make the difference here. The daily itinerary is carefully planned by people who know the wineries, restaurants, and experiences like cooking classes intimately. And everyone is courteous, happy, and well trained, carefully attending to every detail of the property and services. Yet most mind-blowing is the dinner. For whatever reason, the restaurant doesn't get the one or likely two Michelin stars that I know it deserves. The menu is based on regional ingredients but uses Denise's expertise and creativity that I couldn't find at any of the many other tradition-bound restaurants we tried while in Barolo and its neighbors. I have read several reviews that rate a dinner at the Costello the best of their entire trip to Italy. So stop reading. Make your reservations!

We found this gem online while looking for a place to stay during a 4-day visit to Piemonte for…read morewine tasting. Located in the tiny residential village of Sinio its a little island by itself up on a breezy hilltop. Since this is a restored castle dating from the 12th century the stone walls are thick and windows are tiny to keep out medieval marauders and the rooms are all unique. We stayed in room 7 on the 1st (2nd the way we count) floor at the end of the hall featuring a large bedroom and sitting area that was a few steps below the hallway. It also had two small twin beds in a loft above so this room would be a good choice for family groups. The staff opened the wrought iron gate and greeted us at the top of the drive along with the owner. While the owner, Denise (who is American) checked us in and provided an extensive orientation while we sipped prosecco, the luggage was taken off to our room. One of the features of the property is an immaculately landscaped courtyard bespectacled with colorful blooms-an oasis of tranquility and beauty in an otherwise unremarkable village. The hotel also has an amazing restaurant open only to guests and we opted to try it our first night-oh my God! It turns out Denise is also the executive chef-perhaps her primary love-and we enjoyed a memorable 2-hour meal seated in the open-air Terrace tasting exquisite delights. We started by sharing the "into the garden pasta"-handmade ravioli artfully displayed with bits of shaved garden vegetables and herbs followed by a most delicious sole perfectly crispy on the edges and succulent with al dente vegetables and a beautiful sauce of lemon and passion fruit. Words just cannot describe how good this restaurant's food was. In fact, the dining is reason enough alone to stay here for anyone who enjoys the culinary experience of a master chef. We followed the meal with a decadent chocolate and cherry mouse cake that was the perfect finale to a beautiful evening. All in all a nice place to stay Positives: -great staff -unique, comfortable and quiet rooms with great AC -great restaurant - fantastic dinner Challenges: -tiny shower in our room (loft suite)-size of old time phone booth -breakfast NOT included and at 14€ per person per day it adds up -onerous cancellation policy (perhaps they've had an issue once people arrive to this small isolated town) -location a bit off the beaten path and very few other places to eat in tiny village-one pizzeria nearby that was nice

Short visit to Italy and going back to Portofino was my priority along with the Hotel Splendido…read more There aren't too many hotels that are destinations in themselves but this is one of them. Attention to detail is unparalleled among local hotels and the Splendido is in a league by itself. Just relaxing and taking in the views and of course dining were on the agenda and nothing disappointed. We didn't leave much except for a few drives to neighboring towns. Though I just got home I'm already looking forward to going back.

Portofino was the first destination for our trip to Italy last month. Arriving at Splendido after…read morean incredibly long day of travel was absolutely incredible. The views from check in (and our room, and the restaurant, and the gym) are absolutely stunning! The room was cozy and well equipped with a dyson blow dryer and the service throughout our stay was top notch. The breakfast buffet at Belmond hotels is always something that I look forward to and this was no exception. My only note would be that our room was right above the bar area so we could hear the music in the evening until about 12/1 in the morning from our room. If this is something that would be bothersome you may want to request a room further from the bar when you make your reservation.

First time staying with you guys, really enjoyed it. Rooms are very comfortable and breakfast is…read moredelicious, great selection. Thank you.

From the owner: City Style Hotel Hotel Diamante Alessandriaread more

CINQUE TERRE, ITALY LA TORRETTA LODGE - MANOROLA…read more UP FRONT: When you visit Cinque Terre in Italy, (literally "five lands"), you have five choices on where to stay out of the five fishing villages. If you're like most tourists, you're going to visit all of them, but one has to be your "home base". After visiting all of them, I think your best bet is either Manorola or Monterosso. The scenery in both places is astounding. Manorola is small and quiet and has some cliffs you can dive off at the bottom of the hill. Monterosso is a bit more sprawling and has a good stretch of beach. We stayed in Manorola two nights. Got the tip about La Torretta on Trip Advisor. This hotel is a dream. From start to finish, it felt too good to be true. Check in was a breeze - it was only us in the lobby - and we sipped Prosecco on the patio while the front desk copied our passports and finished up the paper work. Our room #7 was at the very top with the most breathtaking view (see photo). Bed was very comfortable, and the bathtub (we didn't use it) is literally the biggest I've ever seen - HUGE. No problems with the room - temperature control was good, mini-bar was complimentary. Be aware there is no phone in the room, and if you need something, you need to go down the steps to the office or call down from the window as you see the hotel staff moving about the property. lol. I did that once, we needed towels for the room, but no phone, so I just called out to the maid while I was standing on the balcony. It worked. The hotel sits on top of the hill. You walk down the hill to all the shops and restaurants. There's everything you need, ATM machine, train station, pharmacy, and more. At the bottom of the hill is the ocean, no beach, but there are places where you can lay out and many people do. There's also swimming allowed and the water is so cold and refreshing. You can dive in from many areas, and climb to the cliffs where you will be afraid to jump, but do it, it's so much fun. It took me 15 minutes to get enough courage to get off the cliff, but with the encouragement of fellow cliff divers, I was able to do it. Kept going back up to the top to do it again. There's breakfast in the mornings, all kinds of goodies - meats and cheeses, croissants, pastries and of course coffee. The hotel staff work hard to make sure you have everything you need. But keep in mind, they are not at the front desk 24/7. They close at 9:30 PM and they weren't clear about that when we checked in - neither did they say there was no phone in room. When we left, we were taking a train at the bottom of the hill, and they brought our luggage down with a golf cart. All the good things that have been said in the reviews are true - nothing hyped up about this place. Worth every dollar we spent on the room. Recommended restaurant around the corner: TRATTORIA DAL BILLY

La Toretta was a diamond in the rough for us, as we had started to plan our trip towards the Cinque…read moreTerra area, a friend recommended this hotel to us. Coming in on the offseason, we were still greated by a concierge who met us at the bottom of the mountain, and drove us up to the wonderful views that Manarolla had to offer. We checked in, but before that, we were given gifts of food and champagne to celebrate our arrival there. The view was outstanding, and the hosts were more than generous. They talked with us about where we had been, where we were coming from in the United States, and also about what else we had planned. To top off how great of a stay we had... they gave us an upgrade to the honeymoon suite for free! The room was absolutely gorgeous! A giant tub in the room, fiberoptic lights in the ceiling, and a gorgeous breakfast spread for nothing?!? It was amazing. To truly make it, what it was... as much as everyone always wants to be connected to the world... I was glad that I could not get any wifi at the hotel. It was nice to finally be away from everything, and not to be bothered by anything or anyone. We were left alone... to be alone. Waking up and taking in the view from our hotel room left us enjoying the beautiful views of the sea. Not to mention a nice little gift of bottle of champagne that was waiting for us once we got back from visiting the rest of Cinque Terra area.... as the concierge said... "Just because" I would recommend this place to ANYONE visiting the area... it is a little pricey, however I can tell you that the service is top notch, and well worth the euro's in my book.

What an impressive and absolutely stunning hotel in the remote village of Alba two hours away from…read moreMilan. The rooms are all spectacular and large suite. There are no shampoo or hair conditioner but no matter, the mattress is firm, sheets are crisp and the AC in every room keeps the temperature at 18 degrees centigrade with near perfect silence from anywhere! The decor in the foyer is rich and chandeliers everywhere and the toilet at the lobby was all marbled with individual stalls and flowers galore. Do try. People are so friendly here.

Centrally located in the charming town of Alba. Attractive, spotless with many nice amenities…read moreincluding breakfast buffet, laundry and a cute, small bar. But hands down, the best part is the staff. From when we first booked in the US to our departure EVERYONE was gracious, helpful and knowledgeable. Their help started soon after our booking when they helped us arrange for a car from the Milan airport and never stopped. If you want a great hotel with first-class staff, this is your place!