DAX

Been to Portofino by car years ago, but would like to arrive from the waterside. Has any one rented a boat or taken a ferry to Portofino? Does anyone know of a motorboat rental company or ferry name? Maybe even how much (for 4 adults). Any great 4 star hotel or better in Santa Margherita? Appreciate any help. Thanks!

richardsonsnm

try WWW.LHW.COM

tuscanlifeedit

We stayed at the Continental in SML some years ago. I thought it was gorgeous, elegant, wonderful. Very expensive, but not as expensive as similar hotels in say, Rome, Venice, or Positano. Their sister hotel in SML is the Metropole which is nice, but not quite as nice. The Continental is 5 star-ish and the Metropole is listed as 4 star, but if you stay there, make sure to specify a room with water view and balcony.

Taking the ferry to Portofino is very easy. There are several throughout the day, and the price is cheap.

I wrote a long piece about SML and Portofino for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last year. You can read it at
http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com...fino0810p1.asp

Steve_James

Dax - You can find ferry info on:-

http://www.comune.rapallo.ge.it/citt.../battelli1.htm

http://www.traghettiportofino.it/

I just ran a search for rental companies and found these:

http://www.giorgiomussini.com/noleggio.htm

http://www.motonauticaligure.it/inglese/inglese.htm

Hope this helps ...

Steve

mclaurie

Great article tuscanlifeedit.

i_am_kane

DAX, In May 2003, we took small ferry from SML (located just off Pz. Martiri delle Libri) to Portofino. The boat ride was about 10 min. If you need to take a bus back to SML, buy a ticket on the bus, or at a tabbachi - cost is about 1 euro. There is a bus stop in Portofino across the street from the Police Station.

I highly recommend Hotel Continental in SML. The hotel is lovely, spotlessly clean and well-maintained. We were fortunate to get a recently remodeled room on the middle floor with a large, private balconey facing the Golfo del Tigullio. Cost was $175 per night. The staff was professional, friendly and most accommodating.

Marianna

We stayed at the Hotel Laurin in SML. Our room was very nice, large, and had a terrific terrace with table, chairs and two lounge chairs. The view was great - directly across from the marina. It was a short walk to shops, restaurants, the ferry, town center, etc. The hotel has a roof top pool with a fabulous view. Breakfasts were very good.

Have a great trip!

DAX

Thanks everybody for your great replies. We're going to try renting a motorboat if the company can secure a slip in Portofino for the day.

Appreciate all the hotel recommendations. I've heard many positive reports about Continental & Laurin, but also some complaints probably because the rooms are not standardized (old vs renovated).