I half-jokingly submit that one of the best things about this hotel is its proximity to the train station. After a long day of travel, taking trains from Florence, switching in Pisa and praying that we got off at the right stop, we found ourselves bleary-eyed and travel-tired on the platform of Santa Margherita di Ligure station as we watched the double-decker train chug away into the dusk.  We argued about taking a cab or not, and I checked my iPhone map and realized that the hotel was literally down the street. Downhill. Double points for convenience!

Lobby lounge, as seen from the front desk/reception

The hotel staff were fantastic – especially Paola, who gave us so much information and really took care of us throughout our stay. There was another really helpful guy at the front desk – his name started with an R, and he also helped us plan our day trip to Portofino. Santa Margherita di Ligure was the perfect home base for us as we explored the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre. It had just enough going on to feel like a vibrant little town, without being so far away from the picturesque areas that you spent half the day traveling. The ferry is walking distance and you can take it to Portofino, San Fruttuoso and other coastal towns.

My husband surprised me and upgraded us to a honeymoon package which included welcome drinks, fresh fruit, prosecco in the room, a trip to the spa (inside the hotel) for two (which he took by himself…. not my thing!) and a dinner out on the town at a waterfront pizzeria.

We treated ourselves to a junior suite. It was our honeymoon, after all. I was worried that the bed would be small and/or uncomfortable after reading a few reviews online. Ok, I read a TON of reviews online. But, we were pleasantly surprised at the comfort and size of the bed. The room was super clean and the bathroom shower was phenomenal! I’m talking ’bout great water pressure and spacious.  I really liked the built-in desk in the corner to save space. I could see it not being a great place to get work done, but for leisure travelers like us, it was great. There was also a sitting area and a ton of closet space to store your bags out of the way.

To check out some professional photos better than I could ever take, and details of the room, you can visit the hotel’s official website here (it will open in another window so you won’t lose your place!).

The only con was that we didn’t have a view from our room – it overlooked the parking lot. I never complained about it or requested to be moved, so it wouldn’t be fair to say that it was a negative.

Regarding the hotel as a whole, the decor was clean and modern and I liked the dark hallways/glass elevator. It’s a nice contrast to everything else in town, which is kind of your typical Italian sorta gaudy, sorta distressed, but pretty colonial-type colors. This hotel has the lighting of a sexy modern nightclub.

Breakfast was good and the breakfast cappuccinos were a must. They were made by the staff and brought to the table upon ordering. There was always a nice array of dishes to choose from – from cheese and meats, to cereals, assorted pastries like some pain au chocolat, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit and various different juices.

We would definitely stay here at the Hotel Santa Margherita Palace again if we find ourselves back in Santa Margherita di Ligure. The best part is that they have sister hotels in Milan (Hotel Napoleon), Rome (Hotel Siena), and Florence (Best Western Hotel River), and I would wager you could expect the same level of quality service at their other properties as well.

This is not a sponsored post and I was not compensated for my views. These are simply my opinions and views and it is not endorsed by Hotel Santa Margherita Palace or its affiliates.