The Vis a Vis claims a great restaurant and terrific view of both the Bay of Silence and the Bay of Fables. I can vouch for the view from the fifth floor Terrazzo Bar; it's splendid at dusk with a glass of wine, your honey or your notebook. However the rooms on floors 1, 2, 3 and 4 feel small and cramped to the point of being akin to a ship's cabin. We did see people going in to the restaurant on Friday night in tuxedos and gowns; but this was not the kind of experience we were hoping for. A short walk through a tunnel into the charming village of Sestri Levante cheered us up. Prima collazione was the usual ham & cheese plus yogurt selection. A pleasant staff but faded glory, and a music track from the '80s. Oh well. We checked out of the Vis and booked into the Miramar instead.

The best part of this hotel was its amazing 5th floor terrace with a view over Sestri Levante and the bay. It also has a good breakfast, a swimming pool, friendly attentive staff and a kids outside play area adjoining the outside bar area.
However, the rest of our experience of the hotel was disappointing. The rooms were tiny, especially considering the price that we paid. The free internet was useless as you had to log in every 5 minutes. The bathroom was clean but tiny. Considering the noise level at night, the walls must have been paper-thin.
All in all, I'd go back to Sestri Levante, I'd go back to the Vis-a-Vis for evening drinks on its terrace but I'd stay elsewhere.

The hotel is OK overall, my only cmplaints are:
- the internet connection doesn't work particuparly well, since you have to re-login every time you leave it idle for a minute or so.
- the rooms are small
- the deco/music of the entrance tunnel makes you feel like you are in a horror movie, and it makes the whole atmosphere of the hotel a little sinister :)

On the other hand, the view from the hotel is breathtaking.

Our 4 night stay at Vis a Vis was a highlight of my first visit to Italy. I traveled with the Wisconsin Alumini Association, and the last night of our tour was my birthday. I was surprised with a beautiful cake, flowers, and serenaded at dinner. It was a perfect birthday. The staff, hotel, and location are 5 star. Can't wait to return.