Hotel La Camogliese

Tranquil and friendly, the Hotel La Camogliese attracts couples and families, small groups, and a few solo travelers. The hotel is housed in a traditional dark-red villa with green shutters on a quiet street with no cars. The lobby and other common areas, with their cream-tile floors, commercial-drop ceilings, and laminated wood, have been stripped of traditional features, but rust-red accent walls and framed black-and-white photographs add a touch of style. A small lounge off the lobby has red armchairs and a dark-gray couch plus a mounted flat-screen TV, and the breakfast room offers a cozy glass-roofed seating area with books available for guests to peruse. Stefania, the owner, makes a point of greeting guests personally, and offers plenty of advice on what to do along the Riviera de Levante. 

The Hotel La Camogliese sits on a pedestrian-only street in the center of Camogli, with restaurants, shops, and the beach less than a two-minute walk away. The train station, buses, and Basilica Santa Maria Assunta are within a five-minute walk, as are Museo Marinaro and the Castle of Dragonara. The scenic Punta Chiappa is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel (there is some walking involved upon arrival), while the towns of Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo are about a 25-minute drive from La Camogliese. Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport -- the closest one -- is a 35-minute drive, as are San Fruttuoso and Portofino. The popular Cinque Terre are a 50-minute drive away.

The 21 rooms here range from Singles to Triples, and style is uniform across all room categories. Their white walls, white curtains, and white furniture are complemented by hardwood floors and light-blue accent walls that coordinate with the color of the bedspreads. Style is basic, and guests should be prepared for cramped spaces in some of the Single and Double Rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned, and include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges (which are lodged inside the white-wood desks), and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms also have balconies with beautiful sea views. Bathrooms, with their light tile and stand-up showers, are clean but small and don't offer much storage space. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided. 

Pastries, cakes, fruit, and local meats and cheeses are part of the free breakfast buffet, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Small pets are allowed for a daily fee, and nearby parking can be arranged on request. The front desk is only staffed during certain hours of the day, so guests should check ahead. Laundry services are available and the front desk can help arrange tour and ticket bookings.