Albergo Santa Maria

The staff were really friendly and helpful, and they told us before arrival that the air conditioning wasn’t working, even offering us the chance to cancel. It was fixed during our stay, and they said a thunderstorm had caused the problem. We paid extra for a sea view and balcony, and it was absolutely worth it. Our room faced the seaside. We could hear the train a little, but it didn’t bother us. The bathroom could use a deep clean, since mold can form in the grout and damp spots. The location is great for the beach, town center, and station.

The staff were lovely throughout. They were always friendly and lent us beach towels and a charger when our adapters wouldn’t fit the room’s narrow sockets. The stay itself was very expensive for the quality, and the neighborhood didn’t feel like the best part of Chiavari. Our room looked worn and dated. Don’t be misled by photos of renovated rooms: it seemed to us that fewer than 20% were actually at that standard. There were stained bed sheets that looked like they might be blood, stiff curtains that were almost impossible to pull, sockets that didn’t fit our adapters, and cupboards and fixtures that seemed close to falling apart. The room faced the side, with both trains and the road. We had booked a train-view room and got the usual noise warning, but the constant heavy road traffic was far worse; the irregular trains weren’t a problem. Single-glazed windows and shoddy shutters made it worse, and noise came through badly from neighboring rooms and the corridor.

The rooms seem not to have been maintained or renewed for years. There were plenty of stains on the carpets and worn, stained bathroom furniture, and the windows did little to keep out air or noise from the railway right behind the place. A noisy air-conditioning unit also made it harder to sleep. The staff, on the other hand, were extremely kind and helpful, five stars without hesitation. The location is good too, near the beach and with a sea view across the road. For the price, I’d call it barely acceptable value.

We had a beautiful week, with plenty of lovely gourmet surprises. The food was delicately prepared with imagination and attention to detail, from the delicious starters and salad buffet to the first and second courses. The service staff were attentive and helpful.