Grand Hotel Villa Balbi

“Отпуск”

My family and I stayed at this hotel in July 2026. The location is perfect, with its own clean and well-maintained beach. Special thanks to the staff; the service was excellent. We will definitely be back next year!

“HISTORIC HOTEL WITH AND OUTSTANDING LOCATION”

This hotel has a truly exceptional location, situated between two very different and equally great beaches and right next to the charming old town of Sestri Levante. The location is definitely one of the hotel’s greatest strengths, offering easy access to both the sea and the beautiful atmosphere o… more

This hotel has a truly exceptional location, situated between two very different and equally great beaches and right next to the charming old town of Sestri Levante. The location is definitely one of the hotel’s greatest strengths, offering easy access to both the sea and the beautiful atmosphere of the town. The old town of Sestri Levante is a real highlight – a charming and authentic Italian town with narrow streets, small shops, cafés, restaurants, and a relaxed local atmosphere. It is a wonderful place to stroll around in the evening and enjoy the true Italian feeling. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and always helpful. They were also elegantly dressed in classic white shirts, which complemented the hotel’s timeless style and added to the overall sense of quality and attention to detail. The hotel itself is an older, historic property where you can really feel the charm and history of the building. Breakfast is served in the lovely garden, and the traditional setting, including white tablecloths, adds a special atmosphere to the experience. Parking is available at the hotel for €15 per night, which is very convenient in this area. On one side of the hotel you find the long Spiaggia di Sestri Levante beach. The hotel has its own beach club here, and the water quality is very good. It is a great place for swimming, and you can enjoy a long walk along the shoreline if you like. On the other side is the beautiful Bay of Silence (Baia del Silenzio), a smaller and more intimate beach with charming houses close to the water. The bay provides calmer waters, making it a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. The rooms are spacious, which was appreciated, although the cleaning standard could be improved. The hotel also has a lovely garden with a pool, creating a relaxing area to unwind. There are no fitness facilities at the hotel, and we were not able to find any suitable alternatives nearby. Overall, this is a hotel with a unique atmosphere and an unbeatable location. If you appreciate historic charm, beautiful surroundings, and being close to both beaches and authentic Italian town life, this is a great choice.

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“Old world hotel without the charm”

Our visit didn’t start well, we were greeted at reception by a gentleman resembling Stanley Tucci in a cold, efficient manner. I speak fluent Italian but I had to ask him to slow down a couple of times, he never did. I understood that if we wanted pool towels they came at a cost of €5 each & anothe… more

Our visit didn’t start well, we were greeted at reception by a gentleman resembling Stanley Tucci in a cold, efficient manner. I speak fluent Italian but I had to ask him to slow down a couple of times, he never did. I understood that if we wanted pool towels they came at a cost of €5 each & another €5 every time we wanted a clean one. I have never been charged for a pool towel, I was asked to pay a refundable deposit in a 3 star hotel once but I am disgusted by this hotels towel policy. Considering that the rooms didn’t have balconies to dry them then I’d say they’d found an imaginative way to con the tourists. Another way is to charge €50 for a bed in the hotels beach club across the road, the man at reception was very eager to procure us 2 beds which we politely declined. Personally, I didn’t come to Sestri Levante for the beach, I am not a fan of black sand beaches. A couple of times a day someone would walk around the pool area with a notebook and pen, we assumed he was taking orders so we ordered a couple of drinks, he sullenly brought them over. There were no menus available, no QR codes and apparently they don’t do food by the pool either. If you intend to use the pool make sure you bring flip flops or sliders as there were pebbles all around and it was very painful walking to the pool as I had neither. Also, bring mosquito spray as I was bitten profusely in the shady, garden area by the pool. The rooms were nothing special, the TV aerial wasn’t connected & it wasn’t plugged in, it was a choice between having the TV on or the lamp, given the lack of English channels, we chose the lamp. The air conditioning unit was extremely noisy & there was a lack of sockets. Breakfast was ok, although in a four star hotel I would expect to be served barista made coffees not to press a button on a self service machine. I will say that the building itself was beautiful & that the rooms were very clean. The location of the hotel was also excellent, within a 10 minute walk of the train station & in a central location. Other than these points there isn’t much to recommend this hotel.

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“A shambles - and they do NOT have a private beach”

Grand Hotel Villa Balbi in Sestri Levante is officially rated as a 4-star superior historic hotel. Originally a 17th-century aristocratic residence, it features a large botanical park, an outdoor pool, and access to the private Bagni Villa Balbi beach In no way is this a 4 star hotel. Firstly i… more

Grand Hotel Villa Balbi in Sestri Levante is officially rated as a 4-star superior historic hotel. Originally a 17th-century aristocratic residence, it features a large botanical park, an outdoor pool, and access to the private Bagni Villa Balbi beach In no way is this a 4 star hotel. Firstly it is an out and out lie that it has the advertised access to the private beach. On checking in I was told that I could pay to access it, at the eye watering cost of $50 a day. I kid you not! I was told to “walk up the front and seek out the public beach if I wanted to use the beach without paying”. I did complain via the website during my stay as well as at reception, and was told there was nothing reception could do. I never heard back from management. Secondly the rooms are not the “individually designed 17th century rooms” as advertised. I guess the suites might be, but the standard rooms are basic and old fashioned (and all the same), located some walk up 14 stairs and along a long corridor in a new build box. Sadly mine had a few of two noisy generators or air con units. Not ideal. The large botanical park is a garden with the pool in it, adjoining the car park. Several basics I’d expect in a 3 star or even a budget hotel are missing. 1. There’s no glasses in the room (plastic toothbrush pots are provided, but binned when used and not replenished. I “borrowed” a glass from the neglected dining room.) 2. No water to drink in the room (unless you want to pay minibar prices). On check in I was proactively directed to the nearest shop to buy some. 3. No consideration for the tourist audience on the TV. 3 English speaking channels, two don’t work and the third is patchy reception. No other European languages. The TV is so ancient there’s no screen mirroring or casting from your own device. 4. Who puts pebbles by a pool!! Ouch! 5. Breakfast is fine. Basic but fine. At least there were hot drinks on day 2. I also encountered a number of issues during my stay 1. Cracked shower tray (gross) 2. After first day cleaning plastic drinking pots (see above) and shower gel wasn’t replenished. Had to request more. 3. Towels were not replenished after first clean. Had to request more. These were then subsequently removed after clean two!! When I requested more (for the second time) I was told to go to reception to get them and they wouldn’t bring them to the room. Not 4 star behaviour. I was shattered having spent the day walking sections of the Cinque Terre. When I arrived in reception they weren’t ready and I had to wait. Very poor. 4. The Connecting doors were open when I arrived in my room. I waited an hour for someone to come and lock (and had to ask twice) 5. Weirdly 4 pillows reduced to 3 after second housekeeping. I presume there’s an extra charge like the beach or the towel rationing… but I honestly haven’t the energy to ask. Location is fine (10 mins walk from the station, opposite the beach, one street away from the main restaurant street). The pool itself is lovely, clean and cool. Watch out for mosquitos there though, I’ve been eaten alive (despite the insect spray!) Staff friendly.  I didn’t eat in the restaurant or drink in the bar, honestly I was reluctant to give them more of my money. There’s honestly not much I can say to recommend it. There must be better for this price. (The hotel sent a post stay questionnaire and I gave this feedback. No reply)

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