Royal Hotel Sanremo

Guests are swept into Royal Hotel Sanremo's classic elegance from the moment they are greeted by doormen by the wood revolving door. The lobby's large area rugs, oil paintings, crystal chandeliers, and green-and-yellow striped seating introduce the classic decor, which is carried throughout the hotel, from an adjacent area filled with marble columns and gold-framed paintings to the parquet-floored with nightly live piano music to the stone-walled hydrotherapy spa. A popular destination for couples and families, this hotel has an elegant atmosphere, enhanced by its rich interior design, splendid sea views, and sizable grounds, which include a private park.

Perched along the Riviera dei Fiori, Royal Hotel Sanremo has exquisite views of the Mediterranean Sea and is a short five-minute walk to the city center. Aside from being close to commercial shopping and dining, the popular Casino of Sanremo is five minutes away on foot. Bikes are also available for rent at the hotel. For guests wanting to hit the links, the 18-hole Golf Club of Olives Sanremo is a 15-minute drive away. San Remo is surrounded by the Argentina Valley and Nervia Valley and Monaco is a 45-minute drive away. The closest airport is Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (a one-hour drive).

Spacious rooms have classic decor and elegant touches including parquet floors and fabric headboards. Decor differs in the color of the quilt and matching drapes, but all rooms have big flat-screen TVs, minibars, and tall ceilings. Most rooms -- but not all have balconies, and the best rooms face the sea instead of the city. The bathrooms are large and tiled in marble, either having a shower and separate bathtub or a combination. Suites afford even more space, including living and dining areas. Suites are especially noteworthy for their huge terraces (some with private hot tubs), but some of the terraces lack privacy.

Only open during certain months, the large pool is filled with saltwater and overlooks the sea. Comfy lounge chairs with umbrella shades are abundant and there’s a wooden sundeck facing the water for picturesque views. Although there’s no private beach on-site, guests can receive a voucher to easily access one by crossing the street.

Another place to relax is at the sleek and modern Royal Wellness spa, which offers an extensive list of services, including massages, a Turkish bath made of a mosaic of pearl tiles, and sensation showers with colored lights. A nearby Yacht Club offers water sports, surfing, and sail boat rental. There are also meeting rooms, a gift shop, a tennis court, and a small fitness center. 

For dining, multiple restaurants are on-site, including the gourmet Il Giardino, which has high prices to match. The Fiori di Murano Restaurant houses white round tables and floral fabric-backed chairs and overlooks the sea for a scenic setting. At night, the indoor Bar delle Rose, which is lined with button-tufted green leather, has live piano music for guests to enjoy with their cocktail.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but there are reports that it can be finicky in the rooms.