Grande Albergo Sestri Levante

I slept well and found the rooms very clean. The bathrooms have been renovated, though the rooms themselves are seriously dated and could use work. It’s a solid Italian hotel, just don’t arrive expecting a luxury resort. The location is ideal, right across from the private beach. Breakfast was good, with focaccia, fresh fruit and vegetables alongside the usual European options. The staff were friendly, and both check-in and check-out were quick and easy. I had a very pleasant stay and will definitely return to Sestri Levante.

We found bugs in the room as soon as we arrived, killing a spider, a strange creature and a mosquito. The room was shabby, the air conditioning wouldn’t go below 21 C, and the bed was very hard. There was no duvet, just a rough, thin sheet. The bathroom felt old and cramped, and its sliding door didn’t offer much privacy. We arrived exhausted at 12:15 am. The receptionist was rude and watched us unload our luggage without offering help. We had boxes to unload in the heat because parking was outside, so I asked for a trolley. He pointed one out but didn’t ask if we needed any help. After handing over the key cards and saying our room was on the 3rd floor, he left us to find it ourselves. Breakfast was so unappealing, with flies around, that we couldn’t eat. Coffee came from a self-service industrial machine. We checked out the next day, two nights earlier than planned.

The location is great, and the shower and breakfast were good. The pool looked cool too, though I didn’t try it. The hotel has good bones but needs updating. The beds were very hard, the WiFi was terrible, and the AC wouldn’t go below 22 C.

The staff made the stay for us. Everyone we met, from the front desk and restaurant to the beach and cleaning teams, was kind, welcoming and went out of their way to help. When our son got sick, the front desk quickly arranged a doctor’s appointment. On our departure day, a 24-hour train strike across Italy threatened our trip to the airport, and the staff promptly arranged a driver. We stayed at Grande Albergo for five nights in July 2023 with our 11 month old son. The rooms were cleaned very well, and the location is ideal, across from the beach and close to everything, including great restaurants. Sestri Levante is a real hidden gem. The beach is popular for good reason, so I’d book beach chairs ahead of time. We’ll definitely be back!