Balbi Family Hotel - Genoa

7.6

The hotel is situated in a perfect location. Walking distance to old town and port. The building is very old and it was a problem that no elevator was available , since the hotel is on the 2nd floor. The breakfast was ok, although if you do not go early enough we might not find all the variaty. The main issue was with the heating, since the rooms are big and the heating is not enough. But the personel was very kind and they brought us special extra heating. Overal comparing price/quality is a very good choise. Have great time in lovely Genova.

8.0

Close to the station. Beautiful painted ceilings, breakfast good for Italy.

10

Very close to the train station. Is excellent therefore for late arrivals or early departures. We stayed for two nights and were highly satisfied. The breakfasts were also outstanding.

8.2

I enjoyed my stay, but the problem is the noise from the hall. There is not elevator, so it will be difficult to carry the big suitcase.

8.9

Hotel was indeed old, but well maintained and run. One problem that should be noted is that there is no lift and the hotel is on the third level so you must carry all your luggage up two long flights of stairs. The location is good, close to the train station, the old town, and the waterfront!

4.4

The hotel was a disappointment, and the price was definitely not justified. The pictures on the internet showed beautiful fresco paintings on the ceiling, but our room had faded, cracked and water-stained frescoes (perfectly understandable, given that the building is very old, but the reality definitely did not match the published photos.) The air conditioner barely worked, which made the room miserably hot and humid. The beds were comfortable, but the other furniture was sparse and junky (unfinished pine.) The room was soundproofed, but the noise from the street was very loud; although the hotel is on a narrow street that is supposed to have no automotive traffic, there were cars, busses and motorbikes whizzing by at all hours of the night. Breakfast, however, was nice, and the hotel was in a good location for walking around.

7.5

c est la premiére fois que nous avons Séjourné dans cet hôtel trés bon accueil trés bon conseil sur les visites dommage il y avait un probleme d odeur d égout dans la salle de bain mais une part ça nous n avons pas été déçus.

9.6

Bella stanza affrescata con una doccia stupenda.

2.7

very old hotel - 3rd floor - no lift - very old rooms - little bathroom - spooky

7.4

we stayed there in order to get the ferry boat to corsica early the next morning. no elevator. we had a quadruple room (parents and two small children). size and cleanliness was ok. we could not have a proper brakfast at 7.00 a.m., only a little bag and coffe from automat. people were friendly.

9.9

Centralissimo ma silenzioso, palazzo antico con atmosfera, si sta come a casa propria

9.9

Excellent value for money, especially for a large city. A good-sized room with efficient aircon and frescoes on the ceiling! Quiet location but near enough to walk to the city centre, museums or waterfront. Staff were really friendly and helpful. The Balbi is an excellent advert for family hotels. Only downside is the stairs to the lobby when you're carrying heavy bags - a small price to pay!

8.7

Good price for quality. The property is old, but completely clean and enough if you just want a place to rest. 400 metres away from Principe Railway station (the Genoa's main station)and very close to the historical part of the city. I just would like to suggest more variety on the "salty" part of the breakfast, by adding eggs or bacon. Very satisfied

7.5

Very good location (close to the main railway station and in the historical center), good interior matching the spirit of Genoa, helpful staff, but.... it was so COLD in the room this time so we had to ask for the heater (old parts of the building have a central heating which works unsufficiently). Next time we could come there only in summer.

9.7

Das Hotel liegt in Laufweite zum Bahnhof, auch mit Trolleys kein Problem. Allerdings liegt das Hotel nicht ebenerdig, man muss 2 hohe Etagen die Treppen hochsteigen. Es wurde uns gesagt, dass in Kürze ein Aufzug eingebaut werden soll. Unser Raum war gross, ging zur Strasse raus- aber trotz viel Verkehr war es ruhig. Die Angestellten( Chef?s ) waren sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. Wir waren rundum zufrieden, das Preis/Leistungsverhältns war sehr in Ordnung, das Frühstücksbüffet bot alles was man sich wünschte. Das Taxi zum Kreuzfahrtterminal kostete für uns 2 Personen und 4 Koffer 10 €- und das war auch ok.

8.3

Strategic location: near to the station and to the old harbour. Cheap and confortable.

9.1

A train strike delayed our arrival by one day. We notified the hotel on the day of the strike and expected to have to pay for the lost night but the hotel re-arranged our booking without penalty. Great service

8.1

Staff couldn't have been more friendly or helpful

7.0

Very good location if you sleep just one night and you travel by train, 5 minuts walk from the railway station. property was on the main street and ours windows too, but during the night was relative quiet.Rooms were big, bathroom too, but very simple I think that for 80 euro per night you can find better option in Genua. There was just one interesting thing, like the fresks on the ceiling from 19 century, and doors were originally from 19 century too, which I don't think it's good for the hotel, because you are hearing everything trough them. Breakfast was nice, for those who want something more that sweet bun, you can have simple toast and joghurt.

6.9

Lovely breakfast room. Cup of teas were supplied to room when requested. Very easily accessed from train station. Easy walk to port and acquarium. A few restaurants nearby. This is a low cost hotel and represents reasonable value for money. If you are after plush, pay more and go somewhere else.

7.2

We stayed 3 nights at the hotel and the people at the reception were very nice. The buffet breakfast was OK. The only real problem are the 2.5 floors with no lift: the steep stairs were quite hard to climb or descend with baggage.

4.2

It's a shame to find a dirty room with broken or no facilities at all. My room was small and the door couldn't be locked properly (I could see the corridor from inside!). I know it's a 2 stars, but I've always found better places than this one...

9.6

It's just a few minutes walk from Piazza Principe train station, and also close to the city center. The rooms are clean, spacious and have wonderfully painted ceilings.

7.8

An usual and tasteful hotel with friendly staff convenient for the centre

7.2

Parking nearby is not easy. you have to be lucky to get a space close by.

9.2

We were only here for 1 night however the room was excellent - huge, clean and comfortable bed. When we were checking in there was another party who were also checking in, however there was an issue with the bathroom. To compensate, the hotel had booked them elsewhere (more stars) which was a short walk away - great service!

8.4

L'hotel est correct mais se situe au 3ème étage d'un très vieil immeuble sans ascenseur ! Les frais de parking du véhicule sont exagérés et excessif : 21 € la nuit .....

8.9

everythings OK

7.8

Quite a rough area of Genoa, however a very safe and welcoming hotel to stay at. Very good breakfast also. Genoa is a lot more expensive than areas on the Riviera such as Nice and Cannes....and would only stay in this town on a short term basis. Better quality elsewhere, however quite good for Genoa.

9.5

Hotel has character and old world charm. It has frescos on the cielings of the rooms and dining area. We had 3 rooms for 6 adults. They were basic clean comfortable rooms with air condtioning and pvt bath. Showers had good pressure and plenty of hot water. Air conditioning worked well. Our rooms had either views of street or a courtyard. Price included a basic contintental breakfast. Only issue to be aware of is that there is no elevator and you have to lug your suitcases up two flights of stairs. We would stay there again.

7.1

The hotel is very unique. It is in a historical building. The dome ceiling has paintings. If you like history, then this is a bonus. Staff are very helpful. Their advice on activities and food was brilliant. The hotel is located on the third floor and here is no lift at the moment. When you check out, staff are very happy to give you a hand with your luggage, but on the way in, if you have heavy luggage, be prepared. The lift is expected to be put in towards the end of 2008. The entrance of the hotel can not be easily identified. Hope when the lift is put in, the entrance will be improved as well.

7.5

The hotel was ok. Compared to the price and location in Genova. I found the staff very friendly.The hotel was spotless and the location excellent.Two minutes by walk to train station and airport shuttle. Vicoli and seaport was nearby and excellent restaurants also.But my room was very small, without a window because of a construction and I can't see outside from my room.I had not been informed about this construction. And lack of elevators.

7.8

Nice old hotel but quite a climb up four staircases. Very helpful staff with very nice breakfast. Wonderful location near the old section with the beautiful palaces.

9.6

The Hotel Balbi Family is a great place to stay while you visit Genoa. I was lucky enough to have a room with a muraled ceiling. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Try the nearby restaurant 'antica cantina i tre merli'. Great atmosphere and fantastic food. Avoid ‘Il Baluardo’ (pizzeria), near to the Aquarium. It claims to serve fresh seafood when it isn’t. Terrible meal; the locals eating there thought so too.

8.9

This was our second stop on our tour of Northern Italy and we were very impressed with the hotel. The location was ideal for exploring Genoa and the hotel was very welcoming and cosy. Our room was huge, very clean and the ceiling decoration was amazing. The bathroom was quite large and spotlessly clean. The hotel facilities were good and breakfast was fair - croissants, cereal, yoghurts, fruit etc. The only drawback was that the hotel was on the 3rd floor and there was no lift. This did not bother us, but it might put off people with walking difficulties or with small children. Overall I would happily recommend this hotel.

9.4

POSITIVE ASPECTS: Only 2 blocks from the central train station. Reception staff speak English and are very helpful and responsive. The included breakfast is substantial -- fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt, meat, cheese, juices, bread choices. Most importantly for us, you can have more than one cup of coffee! Our room (#2) was very clean and HUGE, with a fresco on the vaulted ceiling. Furnishings are simple but adequate. The bathroom was also large, although the shower cabinet was the typical European small. There is cable TV with one German channel and CNN in English - the rest are in Italian. There are 11 rooms in the hotel - I don't know anything about size and furnishings in the other ones. The reception desk is staffed from early morning to midnight. If you plan to be out after midnight, they give you keys to the street door and hotel door. Major museums and tourist attractions (renaiassance and medieval historic districts) are an easy 15-20 minute walk. There are several options for lunches, gellato and provisions in the immediate area. THINGS TO CONSIDER: The hotel reception area and most of the rooms are on the 3rd floor of a building with no elevator. If you have heavy bags this could be a problem. Some of the rooms are one floor above that, and accessed internally from the reception level. The staff told us there are plans to install an elevator, perhaps by the end of 2008. There are no good choices for evening restaurants if you are looking for a nice dinner. There are many restaurants in the medieval quarter, but you'll have to walk back there or take a bus (there are two bus lines that go past the hotel that run until midnight. Balbi Ave. is one-way, so you have to walk a couple of blocks to catch the bus, but the bus returns on Balbi).

8.0

Great value; superb location.

8.8

Nice stay. Staff was very co-operative. My office bag with numeric lock was not opening. The available staff tried his best to help me out. finally the lock had to be broken. However the support was appreciated. Leaving three floors climbing to reach hotel, every thing else was fine. Location was walking distance to the contone congrassi the conference centre so everything was fine for me.

10

Good location,the staff is wonderfull,the room was big with a beautiful ceiling.Breakfast is good.I recommend it

4.7

The staff (owner) was very helpful helped us with luggage as there is no lift but the hotel is very old and in urgent need of make over we would not stay there again as we have booked with venere about 10 other places that were excellent and above expectation but this one was VERY disappointing

7.5

The employees were very kind and extremely helpful and accomodating. I would go back to this exact hotel. Great value.

9.1

The staff was great! The hotel was on the 3rd floor, so alot of stairs and no elevator. The rooms were big and spacious with gorgeous renaissance ceilings. Breakfast was edible. They do try and accomodate you as best they can and are super friendly. Location was great located next to the main train & bus station. Seaport is just down the street. So great location if you are taking an MSC cruise. The quality of the hotel and rooms above average. For the price you pay and the accomoations we got was unbelievable. 1 night, 2 rooms, 7 people, $200.oo Hard to beat that! One last thing the parking for the hotel is up the street about 75 yards. It was about $20 a niight.

8.8

L'accoglienza è stata veramente notevole: cortese e disponibile. La camera era molto ampia e bella (con il soffitto affrescato), anche se non troppo silenziosa. La colazione non era eccellente, ma non la definiremmo "inqualificabile" come avevamo letto... La posizionè è ottima per chi arriva a Genova in treno e si muove a piedi. Nel complesso, siamo rimasti molto soddisfatti.

9.0

This is a great hotel. The rooms are huge. The only thing wrong with the hotel is that the reception and rooms are on the 3rd floor of the building with no elevator. It is difficult to find because of the way the streets buildings are numbered. The neighborhood is OK and close to all the attractions.

8.1

Close to railway station - 5 minute walk with luggage. It was also within easy walking distance to the port and city centre where there was much to do and see. We were in transit from Cinque terre to Arles in France and needed a stop in between. Genoa was an interesting and lovely city and we could have spent several more days than the 2 we spent in this lovely city.

6.8

Many stairs to climb with luggage. No lift. Bathroom was tiny. Room had a wonderful painted high ceiling. Close to harbour, shopping and resturants.

8.9

Close to the main station in Genova. Very nice staff.

7.9

the room was spacious, calm and proper, but no sun light.

7.6

Cheap and in a good position. Beautiful ceilings. Second floor with no lift. Weird Toilet.

9.9

The frescoes were even greater than I expected, the hotel is very nice, good service and perfect location.

9.0

tres bon acceuil satisfait de sprestations

9.0

It is a very good place to stay in GENOVA. I hope to return here again in the future.

8.8

E' un hotel eccellente in cui stare. La posizione è ottima per il prezzo proposto, colazione abbondate e personale preparato gentile. Preoccupatevi per il posto macchina poichè è offerto separatamente in un garage esterno distante 3 minuti a piedi ma che nel mio caso era già tutto esaurito. Chiedete prima di farvelo riservare se siete interessati. (Attenzione che l'hotel è al secondo piano di un palazzo storico e non lo consiglio per portatori di handicap o persone anziane)

9.4

Was the second time there.Will come back again.

9.4

Hotel was convenient for us (near train station and easy walk to tourist sites) and seemed to be in safe area. Street was a bit noisy with window open and on weekend party nearby was also noisy. Staff was wonderful. Breakfast was good - especially the coffee! Having pc available was great. It is not at all fancy, but I would go back again.

8.5

La famiglia che gestisce l'hotel è deliziosa e spero che restino sempre così, e chissà che prima o dopo non riusciamo a tornare a trovarli. A. Moscetti

8.3

We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Balbi. The owners were very friendly and welcoming making it a lovely stay. Nice to get breakfast included for change too. The street the hotel is really near the train station, easy to walk to with luggage (although the hotel is up two flights of steps). The area is not the greatest but we were able to walk into the centro storico and piazzas which housed most restaurants etc. The room was huge with a nice bathroom and they also gave us a room with frescos on the ceiling as we requested

9.6

This is the place to stay if you need to be near the train station! My husband and I were traveling from Florence to Nice and wanted to break up the train trip - we decided to spend the night in Genoa. Our hotel criteria were that it be near the train station, safe, clean and cheap. We got all that and more. The staff at this hotel is absolutely FABULOUS! Yes, the hotel was clean, in a great location, had FREE breakfast (yogurt, breads, cereal, etc.), cable TV, good hairdryer, and not too uncomfortable bed, but the staff was just incredible. They all speak fluent English and they really go out of there way to help. The front desk woman recommended several great restaurants, made our reservations and mapped out how to get there. She also recommended tours and sights around town. All the staff really went out of there way to make it a really great stay. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. But alas, there are some drawbacks: No internet access, teeny weeny shower, and no elevator (would not recommend for people with mobility issues). Still, this is a really great, well run hotel - definitely highly recommend!

8.6

A frescoed ceiling in a spacious room and a wonderful staff, within a few minutes of the railway station Genova PP, and a few minutes more to the centre: few hotels are better located and suited. On the downside: streetside is noisy, and internet facilities, for those wishing them, are a bit poor and expensive.

8.0

There was a problem with the air conditioning unit. Once we learnt how to fix it ourselves, we had no problems.

8.6

i was in a quadruple room, the same as in the page of venere. we had private bathroom with shower and hairdryer, a double bed and other two beds, minifridge, a little table and two chairs and air-conditioning. ceilings are painted with "frescos". good breakfast: bread, cornflakes, croissants, cakes... (buffet) it's an ancient building, no elevator and it's a second floor. a lot of noise if you don't close the windows, because via balbi is a crowded street (it's patrimone unesco and there are some universities, with a lot of places to have lunch) well comunicated: 1 minute from the station piazza principe and the bus stops to everywhere in the city. friendly staff: very familiar, ready to help us and inform us about whatever you want.

10

This was our first time to stay at Hotel Balbi. I was afraid when we arrived that I had to climb stairs (I am handicapped and I walk with a walking stick) but the staff was very healpful with the bags and I made it ok. They made us feel right at home. I would recommend this hotel to anyone, very close to Train Station.

8.7

Sehr gute Lokation leider ohne Parkplatz.

9.9

We stayed there in the end of August. This hotel provides the true feeling of the ancient city with a specific atmosphere of old times tune. Recommended for those who search for something special but not for those who prefer five diamonds all inclusive beach hotels. Try and enjoy!

7.0

Air conditioning noisy and not properly located, too near to the bed. No parking facilities, very difficult approach by car.

9.2

Very friendly staff. I didn't have to ask a single question - they were more than helpful, even letting me choose the room I wanted to stay in. They had some problem with TV reception, though (but no one is there to watch TV, right?). Decent breakfast. The only problem you might have is to climb up the stairs if you have lots of luggage. And the towels were a little too rough.

10

Very convenient location. The family was delightful and made our stay especially nice.

8.0

We have chosen the Hotel because of the Comments we found on this webpage and they didn't disappoint us at all. It is true that the breakfast was very limited (coffe, juice, bread/croissant, butter, cereales) which is not overwhelming, but the rest is perfectly as it's offered: The ceilings are just wonderful, the rooms are big, beds are comfortable, service very friendly, helpful and supportative in all situations. The street is noisy, better ask for a room not facing to the street, but we have to say that in the night it's calmer, only in the daytime there is a bus stop and this could affect a small siesta. Anyway, but the great and most important plus is, that's only five minutes from the central station (from there a direct connection to the airport every 20 min) and only five miniutes to the old city centre. in Balbi road, there is already a lot to see on the way to the city centre (university, library, royal palace) so it's worth the five minutes walk. Don't expect a luxury hotel, but it's nice, comfortable and very central, just perfect for a weekend/week trip to see Genua. We would stay in Balbi Hotel again. Almudena y Sven.

10

Tout a été parfait, de la réservation sur internet au départ. Merci au personnel de l'hôtel de Balbi Family d'avoir fait d'un déplacement impératif un séjour agréable.

9.8

Hotel excellent rapport qualitée prix, propre, chambres spacieuses,tres bien placer, personnel multilingue. Un seul bémol la litterie, matelas tres fin sur lit tres fin, mais on peux dormir quand meme!!! En résumer tres agréablement surpris, ormis le lit. A.REMY.

9.5

This hotel is a good value in a convenient location - just a few minutes walk from the Stazione Principe. The owner and staff are very friendly and helpful. I have stayed here twice and each time they have given me good service and good advice about Genova. You have to climb some steep stairs to get up to the hotel from the street but its worth the effort.

8.9

Qualità assoluta di medio livello, ma ottima la pulizia ed il rapporto qualità prezzo. particolarmente eccellente la disponibilità del personale

8.0

The staff are lovely and most competent. However, we found the room, while spacious and attractive, was quite cold. We were able to increase the setting on the radiator, but it made little difference. More importantly, you must inform possible guests that the hotel is on the third (fourth from the ground!) floor and up of the building, and there is NO elevator to the hotel. The staff was kind enough to carry up our one large bag, but nobody, guests or staff, should have to suffer climbing all those stairs with heavy bags!

8.1

Nice location, close to main train terminal, good breakfast. Many steps to 4th floor with luggage.

7.4

The bathroom attached to our room had no lavabo, the lavabo was inconveniently located inside the room. The beds were not so confortable. Apart from that, the location is nice and very convenient, and the owner extremely kind and knowleageable.

8.2

Nice hotel, good prices....and in the historical centre...go for it

9.2

Il personale è gentilissimo, le stanze molto belle. Unico neo forse, dovrebbero insonorizzare in qualche modo le stanze sulla strada (l'autobus passa ogni 10 minuti!!). Per il resto tutto ok

8.4

Hotel Balbi is a pleasant hotel once you are on thee third flor. The communal entrance on the groundfloor is a bit of a turnoff. But the rooms are very spacious witj high ceilings. The frescoes are wonderfull. The hotel is in a pleasant straat because the university is there. There are many bustling cafés to have bereakfast of lunch. The hotel is just a short and pleasant stroll from the cenmtre of Genua. The staff is very helpfull in advising on where to eat and when wanting to rent a car. You will enjoy your stay.

8.5

The hotel was exactly what we required - an inexpensive double room near the railway station. The staff very pleasant and generally I would recommend this hotel to anyone, however there is one drawback. The hotel is on the second floor and there is no lift which is difficult if you are infirm or have many heavy bags.

9.8

Wonderful hotel with very friendly staff. Our room had a 20 foot ceiling painted with a beautiful mural. Breakfast was excellent and included with the room. The only downside might be street noise if one had a room on the main street and kept the window open. Next time I visit Genoa, I will be sure to stay at this hotel.

9.8

We had a very warm welcome and pleasant stay at the Balbi Family Hotel. The room was very clean and prices were very reasonable. Breakfast in the morning was continental and there was plenty to eat. The staff were very helpful with information on Genoa, places to visit and restaurant recommendations. The hotel is ideally situated near the station and, despite warnings about the 'dodginess' of the area at night, we felt very safe. We thoroughly recommend staying at this hotel.

9.9

The room was amazingly spacious, and, with a stunning painted ceiling! It was just fantastic!

8.8

The hotel is very close to the P. Principe Staion. The rooms are big. The breakfast is simple but fine. The only problem is to climb up the stairs with the luggage.

8.6

It is a very nice bed and breakfast type of hotel. Good location - 300 meters from railway station on a beautiful Balby street close to main attractions. Rooms are very big with high painted ceilings. New window frames reduce the noise coming from the street. I had a pleasant stay there.

8.6

We had a wonderful time at the Balbi Family Hotel. The staff were friendly and very helpful, even making recommendations for a delicious trattoria down the street. Our room was clean and comfortable and the painted ceiling was a fun touch.

9.6

The staff was very competent, willing and polite. The ceilings are magnifient! Sourounding is very nice, but we was warn, that in deep night can be dangerous. Parking for car is 200 m far from hotel, price 17 EU per night - it is save, You can leave unnecessary laguages in car. Aproach to the hotel by car is rather tricky, it is better to have good plan of town.

9.1

Really organised! Received a map and manager indicated where to go for all the sights and good restaurants! Spacious rooms with great fresco's on ceilings! Clean and friendly and great central location!

9.4

I confirm all the positive reviews I read on this site. We had a great very large room with vaulted frescoed ceiling! The furniture was a is basic but with a ceiling and a large space like that, who cares? Very friendly and helpful staff and nice breakfast. Very handy for railway station and within strolling distance to the harbour and city centre.Negative points: if you need absolute quiteness to sleep this might not be the place for you.

10

Great, I could not have had a better experience. In a great location and a very local experience...not an 'international plastic' hotel. I would recommendit to everyone who wants to experience a real Italian holiday.

9.7

A great place to stay, staff very helpful and friendly. The room was spacious and comfortable, great paintings on the roof. Very close to railway station and sites of the city. Great value for money, it was just a bit noisy as we were on the street side and it was a very hot night and we couldn't keep the window open. Recomend this hotel and would stay there again.

9.1

Hotel Balbi was nice and the owners were friendly. They gave us excellent directions to take a tour of the old city and their english was very good. The old city is quite beautiful and the hotel is very closeby. The hotel is also on a wide, well-lit street. Best: Try to get one of the rooms with a painted ceiling. Very cool. Rooms were also very clean. Worst: The beds need to be better. Some sort of mesh-spring with a thin mattress on top. Seriously this is my only complaint (well room safe's would be nice too) All in all though a nice hotel and I'd reccommend it. It is near the train station, and the train station is a little dodgy at night, but that's Genoa's problem, not Balbi's. We were also told it's not safe to be in the old city areas after the shops have shut, but we didn't feel too threatened when out.

9.1

This hotel is a very short, straight walk from the train station. It does not have an elevator, and you will be going up four long flights of stairs....The lobby is very large and inviting. It is obvious you are in a very old building, but some remodeling has been done. There is one room dedicated to the computer where you can use the internet for a fee - I think it was about 6 Euros an hour - high, but you don't have to waste time looking for a cafe that way. We had a room with a blue frescoe on the ceiling that really needs to be "repaired" before it is too damaged to fix. No air conditioning...but there is a fan, and that moves the air around fairly well. It was mid-June when we were there, and Genoa can be hot and humid! The shower was small, but worked well! The bed was not very comfortable, but we were only there for one night. The evening front desk manager spoke very good English; the daytime one did not. Breakfast was good if simple. There is a wonderful woman who will make you any coffee drink you want, as long as you pay extra....The room had another one of those amazing frescoes on the ceiling, and quite a few tennis trophies as well. The night desk manager was happy to try to make reservations for us at a restaurant, but we were in town during one of those "Bank holidays" so the restaurants he tried were closed. He then recommended we try a place on the pier, which we did. He promised us a lovely view - it was! Kind of a scary walk back to the hotel after midnight, though - not the best area for a couple of women alone and semi-lost! If I were in Genoa again and I arrived by train, I suppose I would stay at the Balbi if I had no luggage to speak of....

6.8

too noisy and it was very warm- did not sleep well

8.6

good price, good breakfast, ceiling something to see, staff great

10

The owener is very kind and friendly! Nice hotel!

9.2

From the other reviews, I got a very good picture of what to expect: the hotel was located on the 3rd or 4th floor of an ancient building very close to the train station, and that the rooms were almost palatial in size with original murals still painted on the ceilings...all of which was true. The ceilings were like 20 feet high and my huge quiet room looked out onto a not unpleasant inner courtyard. The hosts, Patrick and his wife, Roberta were charming and helpful. The only problem for this 76-yar-old was climbing up all those stairs: a 20-foot ceiling means more steep stairs per story! I was able to complete my business and leave a day early, which caused no problem. A big plus for me was having the internet available in the hotel.

9.5

An outstanding little family-run hotel. The rooms were charming; the location ideal and all the staff friendly and helpful. The ONLY criticism is that some of the rooms retained a faint smell of cigarette smoke...but for value such as this, such a fault can be forgotten.

9.8

This hotel is located in a great location, just minutes away from the train station and aquarium. Our room was absoutely huge with awesome ceiling paintings!. The breakfast was basic, but good. Staff were friendly and helpful. I would recommend this accommodation to other travellers.

8.7

all ok, more problem with the car bat the hotel is ok. the rooms is veru clear and the service is ok.thanks

9.3

Beautiful hotel, luxurious palace even, very near the main train station, wonderful breakfast, very charming and helpful manager. Huge bedroom with painted ceiling...! :-))