Hi Keedie!

I am getting married at the Villa Durazzo on 4/16/05. We are having our reception at the Hotel Miramare. Our wedding planner Carolyn (www.destinationitalia.com) has been getting everything in order. She went to both places to check them before we signed contracts. We (and all of our guests) are staying at the Best Western Hotel Laurin.

Send me an email so we can chat. I also found this site today that has a write up about another couple that got married there too.
http://www.destinationidomag.com/art...p?ArticleID=13


http://www.destinationidomag.com/art...p?ArticleID=13

Hi Brooke! I just saw your response yesterday, have sent you an e-mail. Can't wait to chat.
keedie

I would highly recommend a lunch at Hotel Splendido, sit outside on the patio overlooking the MED. Liguine and Lobster, great experience!

Please see my trip report "Mostly Emilia Romagna" posted yesterday for some suggestions. I visited the Villa Durazzo - lovely location for a wedding.

For those who have taken the train from Genoa to Santa Margherita - is it difficult to purchase tickets upon arrival? Trenitalia.com does not seem to have an advance purchase option for that particular journey. Is the train station in Santa Margherita far from town and how convenient is it to get from the station to a boat or cab in order to go to Portofino? I am looking for the most convenient transfer from the Genoa airport to Portofino, but hopefully this can be done less expensively than via private car or cab.

Thanks

Hi M,

The train station in SML is up a hill from the sea level of town. We took a cab from the station to our hotel, the Lauren, and it was very short. We walked with our luggage on the return, although there are some stairs to deal with gonig uphill.

Without luggage you could easily walk to the marina for a boat to Portofino. Maybe 5 minutes.

Santa Margherita Ligure is a beautiful town. From there you can visit, Rapallo, Portofino, and Camogli. All of these are a short drive away. Pisa and Florence are 2 1/2 hours away. I would recommend a car. There is a magnificent hotel in SML which I believe is the Imperiali, it is not on the water, but a large white hotel, 5 star, halfway up the hill overlooking the harbor. September is a down time for the Italian Riviera, shouldn't be so hot and crowded. There is a magnificent church on top of a high hill in Rapallo, you take a finicular to get there. It is worth seeing. Enjoy.
Alberto

mgertz: There are ticket machines and windows in the Genoa train station. Very easy to purchase tickets to SML.

sera and Dayle,

Thanks for your replies. I was also wondering about pleasure boating options from Portofino - the hotel where we are staying (Splendido) offers 1/2day and full day sailing and motor boating but the prices seem very high. Are there other options for getting out on the water that are less expensive, other than the standard ferry boats that go to the Cinque Terre, etc.?

We are planning a visit to Riviera di Levante and hoping to base in Santa Margherita and Monterosso.

Many of you speak of Hotel Laurin in SML. Any remarks on Hotel Regina Elena?

SML seems like a perfect spot to travel from to see the nearby towns of the Riviera and then to drive east to CT, park the car and walk/hike.

Would love to hear remarks on the above hotel, and any restaurant suggestions in these towns.

Thanks, as always.....

The Laurin is better located in the heart of town--the Regina Elena is at the north edge.

Hotel Laurin is best situated within around the corner from the shopping district.
Boats can be rented there inexpensively.

Alberto