There's little choice of decent hotels on Imperia and the town in an excellent base for exploring the beauty and pleasures of northern Liguria. Miramare offers a useful base, is clean and has the facilities it advertises and we would consider staying there again.

However, we agree with so many that the building is shabby and can only rate 4 stars based on the pool (small but adequate) garden and self-catering suites. Expect significant noise (windows are double-glazed, which helps a bit), no hotel restaurant facilities, except for a simple breakfast and no reasonable car park. Against this the view is to die for, rooms are clean, linen ample, staff pleasant and you can park on the road outside without much problem (free).

The proximity of the station means that you can hop on a train to explore Sanremo, Savona, Genoa, etc. Drive inland and there are no end of wonderful mountain villages and towns to explore. Be aware that Imperia is really two towns, the quaint Porto Maurizio, to which you can easily walk from the hotel - no end of excellent eating places and opportunities to spend money - and Oneglia, the more modern town which is a five minute drive South, or one stop on the train - the place for serious shopping.