Grand Hotel Portovenere

This place is very special. It’s a hidden gem that I want to keep all to myself but they deserve the business from everyone. The service is phenomenal and the rooms are updated and well maintained with very nice views. The staff are absolutely wonderful and attentive, from the restaurant, to the front desk, to the cleaning crew, to the porters. The location is a bit away from the popular touristy areas but still good. There is no train station in this town but the ferry is right in front of the hotel and taxis are easy to obtain (or you can rent a car). The area itself is beautiful and peaceful and quiet at night (the restaurants all shut down before midnight so no real nightlife). Staying here is like living inside a dream. A great place for artists, dreamers, and those that want to immerse themselves in a picturesque Italian coastal town, while still staying in luxurious and convenient accommodations.

This is a quaint hotel in a perfect location close to Cinque Terre. It is situated near the ferry service and great restaurants/the local harbor. It is very easy to reach all five towns within an hour from your hotel and when you come back, you get a respite from the crowds. Our room had a beautiful view of the harbor, but the decor/environment could be updated. The staff was superb and helped with all our questions and always had great recommendations. If you're looking for someone to stay outside of La Spezia, definitely look here.

5-star location/views with 3-star food. The rooms themselves are tiny, but the view from our window was idyllic. The setup of the restaurant / bar downstairs was nice — overlooking the whole port; however, the food quality (breakfast as well as evening / room service) desperately needs work. Staff are lovely. As a base for your visit, I could not rate Portovenere highly enough. It’s a perfect jumping off point for those that want the experience of a beautiful, quiet port city (visited by mostly Italians!) with easy access to the 5 villages of Cinque Terre via ferry.

Overall this hotel does not feel like a 5 star and is very over priced for what it includes. For £500 a night this didn’t even include parking a proper gym, a swimming pool OR EVEN BREAKFAST. Feels like we were extorted and could have paid the same price for a stunning hotel in Lake Como. The staff are nice and room size was decent but the decor is very basic and feels like a cheap hotel.