I am planning a two day trip to Genova for 7 to 8 people in mid October. Anyone have any ideas of a good hotel to stay in that doesn't break the bank? We should have our own car, so we don't need to stay particularly near to the train stations. I was thinking maybe a two star hotel, and triple rooms are fine. I have found a few, so has anyone stayed in these hotels?

Hotel Cairoli
Balbi Family Hotel
Hotel Soana

Feedback would be great, and any advice about other hotels is great too. We'd like to stay near the city center (or Piazza de Ferrari) if possible. It's hard to find info on hotels in Genova, for some reason, and the last time I stayed there we picked a horrible hotel that I'd rather not return to!

Thanks!
Jackie

topping...

topping again--really, no one can help me out on this? someone's gotta have some experience staying in Genova (Genoa), Italy.

Thanks.

You might repost with Genoa instead of Genova. Have you looked at www.tripadvisor.com and www.venere.com? The latter shows hotel locations on a city map.

I concur that the venere site is very good. Now chose your dates carefully: there is a huge boat show from october 7 to 15 and all hotels are sold out.

Hi Jackie
We stayed at the Soana mid September. Value for money this is by far the best hotel we have stayed at over four visits to Genoa in recent years. We stayed in one of the refurbished rooms (the ones along the corridor to the right of the lift and reception)

Friendly, welcoming staff on check in and the room was immaculately clean with a small but workable bathroom and additional facilities often not found in 2 star accommodation such as an in room safe and bar fridge.

We booked through Venere and paid 70 Euro per night for a double room. Breakfast was not included but after eating outside the hotel on day 1 opted for the 6 Euro per person breakfast on day 2 and thought it reasonable value.

Soana is easy walking distance from Brignole station even with cases. In fact we walking from Principe Station on our Sunday arrival due to the shortage of taxis at the station but it is quite a walk from there with cases in tow and I wouldn't recommend it.

Good luck, enjoy Genoa, it's a fabulous city but one that seems to be often underrated regrettably.

You might try asking on the Slow Travel website. I wish I could help, but I always stay in Nervi or Camogli.

I was going to recommend the Metropoli in Genoa, but just went to the website, and the price jump I saw was just horrendous!!! €198/night!!! I paid €110/night for a quad room just last summer.

That was the only place I'd ever stayed in Genoa...can't say enough good things about it still. Even with the sticker shock.

Sorry don't have anything to recommend there that's actually budget...will be very interested in knowing what you find.

Some folks who just stayed with us gave good reviews to the Grand Hotel Mediterranee in Pegli, along the seafront, old style hotel, big rooms, close to the airport, easy bus to town centre.

thanks everyone--I've checked on venere, but I wanted to ask you guys as well, since you're advice is always valuable! I will look into the places mentioned (even the Metropoli, with it's high prices!). Since it could be that we just go for one night, maybe we can be a bit flexible about cost. Anyway, we just recently found out about the boat show, so luckily we do not plan to be there during that time!! We're going a few days later.

nessundorma, where do you stay in Nervi? i know it's a bit farther from the city center, but it looks like a nice area.

I'll dig it out. I can't remember the name as we now stay mainly in Camogli. I do recall thinking the hotel was overpriced, but maybe with such a large party you could get a group rate.

If you have a car, there are other possibilities for the area. I'll try to dig those out as well.

thanks nessundorma! i'd appreciate that! we will definitely have our own transportation, as we're driving, but i know last time we were there parking was a bit of an issue.

also, has anywone stayed here:
Hotel Della Posta Nuova - Genoa

It looks very nice, but I don't have a good sense of what the neighborhood/surrounding area is like. any feedback is appreciated!

thank you!
Jackie

mcnyc: Is the Metropoli walkable from the either of the train stations? or is it far enough to warrant a cab?

Jackie,

Hi! Sorry for the delay. Watch this space. I'll try to get you answer later tonight.

First of all, I stayed in the Hotel Astor in Nervi. It is a boring business-like hotel and about the only thing I can recommend about it is that it has a huge parking lot.

But what I wanted to say is that bed & breakfasts are often excellent in Italy. Clean and affordable. You might see what's available there:


http://www.travellerspoint.com/budge...en-ci-441.html

I thought this place looked nice:

http://reservations.bookhostels.com/...mp;NumNights=3


here's another link to B&Bs

http://www.bed-and-breakfast-in-ital...fast_genoa.cfm

Buona fortuna!

PS: If you like any of those B&Bs you should try to contact the owners directly if the booking agencies do not show a vacancy. Sometimes there is one if you try the hotel/b&b

Hi Holly,

I don't remember the train being too far. All I remember unfortunately is that there's a shuttle bus (volabus #100) in front of the hotel that took you straight to the railway station.

Sorry I don't have a solid walking distance to give you...

That's helpful. Thanks.

nessundorma, we took your advice and booked a bed and breakfast. it's called essiale, and it seemed nice enough. the 7 or 8 of us became 5 instead, so the bed and breakfast should be perfect with a single and a double. we go next week...i'll report back!