Hotel Stella Rapallo

We loved our four days here. The building has charm, the whole place was sparkling clean, and there's a deck on the fifth floor. The staff were cheerful and full of useful information, thanks Lucretia, Giovanni and the breakfast lady. The location worked well for us, between two grocery stores and ten minutes from the train station. The room had good soundproofing, air conditioning, plenty of storage, and a sweet balcony. Breakfast had lots of choices across all food groups, served in a pleasant room. Top notch.

The roof terrace is a nice spot, and getting to Portofino is easy, with a 30-minute boat trip costing 18 euro for a return. The room was decent, though nothing special, and the woman at the front desk was very kind and helpful.

Beatrice, Alice and Stephano made this a great find. They were more like Airbnb hosts than front desk staff, spoke perfect English, and went out of their way to help me understand the area and how to get around. I stayed five nights and used the nearby bus, boat, and train to see Portofino, Cinque Terre, and Sestri Levante. Rapallo itself has plenty to offer, including one of the area's better little beaches, though I liked Sestri Levante's more. Hotel Stella is an affordable base in a great spot for exploring the Italian Riviera.

Food and groceries are right across the street, and the city's main area is only a few minutes away on foot. The rooms were clean, the beds reasonably comfortable, and the staff friendly. Several spoke English. Pretty much as expected, a solid choice.