Hotel Miramare

Giovanni at breakfast was the standout for us. He had our table ready from the first morning, offered coffee right away, and was so lively and kind. We'd definitely come back, especially because of him. We were traveling with our two grown children and our teenage son. The room had a queen bed and two pull-out beds, so it was a tight fit, but the view made up for it. From the patio and one window we could see the sea to our right, with the town straight ahead. It was cool in late March, but we slept with the windows and patio door open and could hear the bell tower in the mornings. The hotel is a classic Italian building, and its old-fashioned elevator was fun. Everything was kept clean and in good working order. The maids cleaned daily, management was there overseeing things, and the staff worked hard to keep the place tidy. They lent us an iron, and when it stopped working, a staff member kindly offered to iron our clothes. They also gave us useful parking instructions and reheated a late-night pizza for my teen. We enjoyed the street market right across the road on Thursday morning. There's also a small botega and a pharmacy behind the hotel for late snacks or pharmacy items.

The location puts you near cute shops and restaurants, but I wouldn't book here again. Saving money by giving up some amenities is one thing, but I still expect comfort. Our room stayed at 25 even with the AC set to 16, including at night. The soundproofing is poor, too. On the first night a DJ played very loud music until nearly 1, and it felt like having a club in the room. We could also hear people upstairs and in the hallway. The beach is close and looks pretty, but the water was badly polluted, so even that wasn't a worthwhile trade-off. Breakfast was okay. I barely spoke with the staff, though they seemed pleasant. There were only two plastic cups, no coffee in the room, and the rooms are small. The rate may be lower than elsewhere, but it felt overpriced for what you get. You're really paying for the location. Next time I'd stay somewhere else, even farther from the promenade, since Rapallo is lovely to walk around anyway. The internet wasn't very good either.

The receptionist at Hotel Miramare was exceptionally kind and helpful, a bright spot during a disappointing stay. Still, I don't think the hotel lives up to its claimed four stars. It presents itself as high-class, but to me it felt more like a three-star place. There was no parking lot, so we had to leave the car on the street, which made things uncomfortable from the start. Our room was tiny, with barely room for the bed and a small closet. Despite the hotel's name, the sea view was almost nonexistent unless you looked sideways. The beds weren't comfortable, and the bathroom windows faced straight into a neighbor's apartment, so we preferred to keep them shut for privacy. The elevator looked outdated and often got stuck. Cleaning started at 9 in the morning, which disturbed anyone hoping to sleep later. The balconies were shared with the neighboring room, raising privacy and security concerns. I hope this helps other travelers looking for a comfortable stay in Rapallo.

The location is perfect, but I wouldn't recommend staying here. Techno music was played incredibly loudly at the hotel and next door until 1 a.m. We couldn't understand why, since most of the guests seemed middle-aged or older. There are plenty of better-suited hotels in this beautiful part of Italy.