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Hotel Nuova Riviera, Santa Margherita Ligure - hotel reviewA friendly and efficient one-star, well positioned and well worth a recommendation.
The Hotel Nuova Riviera is a one-star hotel offering good value for money in the centre of Santa Margherita Ligure. We stayed there for three nights in March 2009, paying €75 per night for a double room.
Our reviewThere are a few downsides here. The Nuova Riviera isn't cheap for its category, and we were required to pay half the cost (non-refundable) in advance. There's no lift, nor any parking in the vicinity except to unload. But deficiencies come with one-star territory. After that, it's nearly all good news. Immediately after booking, we received a confirmation direct from the proprietors (as well as the one from Venere) with extra details about the hotel including how to walk there from the railway station. It took us ten minutes. The last bit is uphill, and this bit must be faced every time you return to the hotel, but the distance is short, the walk to the harbour and bus stops taking only 5 minutes, with several cafes or bars on the way. The hotel itself, behind wrought-iron gates, occupies a dignified cream-painted villa more than a century old, with a fittingly large palm tree standing outside it. We found no proper reception desk, but the management - a father and son - seemed to be alerted by a bell every time we entered and would emerge almost instantly. The greeting was invariably warm, so that we soon felt almost like returning members of the family. It's fair to add that we visited at a very quiet time of the year, when there were few other guests. The Nuova Riviera is peacefully situated. We were given a comfortable twin-bedded room two floors up with a balcony (and view, although not of the sea). There was a table, wardrobe and two chairs; television with BBC World, CNN and French channels as well as Italian; radiator (hot - this was the beginning of March); bedside lights which both worked (not always the case). Our en-suite bathroom, necessarily cut out of what would otherwise have been an exceptionally large and elegant bedroom, had a shower, toilet, bidet and powerful extractor. Toiletries were adequate. Towels were of the thin variety and were changed daily. Our breakfast, served in a bright first-floor room, was good. It included corn-flakes, yogurt, orange squash and a bottle of mineral water. There were the usual packets of dry Italian 'toasts', but also rolls, fruit, an above-average croissant and a boiled egg. Coffee, chocolate or tea were offered. Both father and son spoke some English, and we noticed a sign at the entrance claiming knpwledge of French and German too. They gave us some leaflets and maps (which included footpaths) without being asked and were prepared to make suggestions to guests who might need ideas, including advice on the Cinque Terre coast south of the Portofino area. Our hosts seemed proud of their district and (justifiably, we think) of their establishment. When we checked out it was raining, and they persuaded us to accept a lift to the station. Report and photographs by AH > More information / make a booking at the Nuova Riviera (Venere)
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