Miramare Apartments & Suites

Lucia welcomed us so warmly, even though we arrived very late, and surprised us with a bottle of local wine. She also took time to point out good places to visit, including local restaurants and shops. We’ll definitely come back. My wife and I stayed here as one stop on our driving tour of Northern Italy, and it was one of the best places I’ve stayed in a long time. The apartment was beautiful, spacious, clean, and well furnished with all the mod cons. We had a wonderful view of La Spezia and beyond, plus a private pool overlooking the gorgeous blue sea. Each apartment has its own router, which made it easy to keep in touch with everyone.

Deborah, who looks after the place, was fantastic from the start and helped us with advice about the area. We stayed five nights at the beautiful Mira Mara. It was super clean, with a great pool and fantastic views. Highly recommend it. A tip: taxis only use two pickup points in LaSpezia, and the walk up the hill is steep, so don’t try it with luggage. Deborah booked taxis for us, or you can call one easily. We also rented a scooter, which was a great way to get around!

The room and location were very nice, but there aren’t convenient places to eat nearby. The restaurant and market next door are usually closed, so bring food for breakfast and lunch or be ready to drive to get some. The air conditioning wasn’t effective, though I think that may be normal for most of the country.

The views were a highlight: the large windows made them easy to enjoy, and we also liked having a private patio. The pool was nice, not crowded, and had a fantastic view. The front desk lady was helpful. The location was a problem if you rely on public transport, since bus options are limited and taxis weren’t working while we were there. There’s no supermarket that we could use, even though there is one that was never open. A restaurant next door was okay. The bedroom ceiling was too low for anyone taller than 5’ 10”. The bed was two twin beds joined together, leaving a gap down the middle.