We've just returned from 14 days staying half board at the Hotel Villa Balbi and we were very impressed with the standards of service, accommodation and food. All the staff worked hard to make our stay enjoyable and problem free, particularly in reception and the dining room. We lost a jacket on the airport bus and the reception team called the transport company and arranged repatriation a few days later. The hotel provided a good choice of food based on a set menu with additional daily variations. All the food was well prepared and presented and generally we were not kept waiting, even when being served in the garden, weather permitting. The rooms were spotless and of a good size & standard for Europe. The hotel has it’s own private beach just across the road and a modest pool in the gardens, both well worth using after a long day walking!

The town of Sestri Levante is a beautiful and interesting town with plenty to see and places to go, including two excellent beach areas and a small harbour. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and a good range of places to shop for all the usual tourists need, though it didn’t look like a Mecca for those that want to buy Italian high fashion! For a holiday destination it is ideally located for visiting towns within 50k north or south, using the excellent railways and by regular boat trips. We visited & walked the wonderful Cinque Terre region as far down as Portoverne over five days; took in several trips to Santa Margherita / Portofino peninsula; and other interesting locations in between. Make sure you visit the CT it is amazing and the small boats are good value, but you have to get to CT area to pick them up, through there are a few trips a week directly from Sestri, this is an expensive option. The only disappointment was the hotel quoted price for car hire, at 120+ Euros a day we stayed on the train, but didn’t manage to get inland to some interesting rural towns and villages. The only problem was mosquitoes, not the hotels fault but not an issue we’ve found to the same extent in Italy before, even around the lakes; we put it down to the autumn season and a few damp days.

The hotel is located close to the beach, the park in the back is nice, the old villa atmosphere is charming, our room in the old villa was large, classically furnished and really worth the money. Parking is reasonably safe. The hotel is frequented by tourist groups, the breakfast is modest and hectic. The entrance/service at the private hotel beach across the street has to be paid extra.

Stayed here for a weekend in july 2011.

Room was nice, with air-condition, and a decent looking bathroom.
This room had a sea view over the northern beach, which was very nice.

Service in the hotel was friendly and helpful.

Breakfast was nice, with fresh fruit, meat, cheeses, and decent coffee.

Beautiful building, but that's not where rooms are located. Room was nice, bathroom old, on first floor rooms, dinner and breakfast guests are just across the window, in the garden; noise and reduced privacy! Beach is disappointing, lot of dirty pigeons walking around.