at last a five star experience in a city who was a hotel desert till now!

Brand new luxury hotel in downtown Genoa, next to the port, but in a residential and safe area. Modern architecture, quite unusual for Italian standards. Excellent service and breakfast buffet, rooms not too big (but I was in a standard double), very comfortable beds and huge bathrooms. Quite convenient rate at 176 euros on a saturday night. Best in town.

We stayed one night at the end of June on our way North from Florence to Switzerland. I cannot find fault with this hotel everything was perfect. The staff were always polite, we ate in the restaurant that night and the food and service was excellent and breakfast the next morning was really good by Italian standards, i.e. more than just continental. I would definitely recommend this hotel - didn't like Genoa much though!

THE BENTLEY HOTEL VIA CORSICA GENOA We stayed at the Bentley Hotel for two nights – 13 and 14 April 2008. This is the most luxurious hotel we have ever stayed in. I think it would certainly deserve a five star rating. The experience starts with booking in. Enter the marble lined foyer through the revolving door (the kind that senses when you approach) and approach the reception desk. Immediately, you are met with warm, friendly and efficient service from Italians speaking perfect English. We looked a bit scruffy in our jeans and parkas, but that made no difference to the quality of service. Our bags were brought up to our room immediately – even before we’d had a chance to look around. But what we did take in immediately was the size of the room and the television screen on the wall. Our porter showed us how it worked, from a computer keyboard; and how to operate the window blinds from a switch on the wall. Our room was warm, and well lit, both by two large windows and ample room lights. The bed was king size, with beautiful bed linen and huge pillows. The bedside table were modern and functional; they even had drawers in them. At the end of the bed were two tub chairs and a glass topped table, at which we ate our room service dinner later that day. The bathroom was amazing. Once again, all marble, a toilet with dual flush (not usually seen in Italy), bidet, modern wash basin with storage underneath, a bath and a separate shower in a see through glass cubicle with a huge shower head coming straight down from the ceiling. Heaps of hot water, and a towel rail (holding two huge, thick towels) heated by the water coming through the shower. In addition, a small light provided a seeable glow if using the bathroom at night, obviating the necessity to turn on the main bathroom light. We were tired on the Sunday night, and not used to the area around the hotel, so opted for room service. We weren’t really hungry, having eaten pizza at around 2 pm, so ordered two minestrone soups and a bottle of red wine. Placing our order through room service was easy. The phone was answered in Italian, but as soon as I spoke in English the rest of the conversation was conducted in fluent English. And what’s more, when I rang again the next morning to ask for some dry cleaning to be collected, the concierge remembered my name and spoke in English straight away. Our room service arrived promptly, on a trolley, with a waiter who opened the wine (recommended by the concierge who took our order) and then discreetly disappeared. Wrapped in our thick, white towelling bathrobes we ate our soup, which was accompanied by bread sticks, rolls and bread, plus tasty olive oil, and watched BBC TV on the wall screen. Breakfast next morning was delightful. The salon on the ground floor was quiet and the staff attentive but cheerful. A huge variety of yoghurt was available, and lots of healthy options in the way of cereal, fruit, fruit juice and low fat milk. For the hungry there were croissants and Danish pastries, cheese, salami and smoked salmon, and hot dishes held bacon, scrambled eggs and tomatoes. We were also offered freshly squeezed blood orange juice, which was absolutely delicious, and a choice of coffee, or tea (three different varieties). Although that day (Monday) was a miserable day, cold with rain and hail, I walked from the hotel to the ascenscore (ten minutes) and arrived on Via XX Settembre. I cruised the shops, but the weather was unkind and I went back to the hotel to get my umbrella. I arrived while my room was being cleaned by an energetic woman who was completely stripping and remaking the bed. Once again, she was cheerful, and although she didn’t speak much English she smiled at me as though I were a long lost friend. I gathered up my umbrella and took to the streets again. Every time I went in or out of the hotel I was greeted cheerily by any member of the staff I met. After lunch, which I had downtown with my husband and some of his work colleagues (including his boss) I returned the hotel via a supermarket across the road. Here I bought a bottle of wine very cheaply, and a soft drink. I could have bought some lovely cheese if I’d been staying longer, or some biscuits and cake, plus anything else I’d needed. The hotel has electronic minibars, so I had to be careful when putting my soft drink away, that I didn’t disturb any of the fridge contents. And this would probably be the only downside to our stay. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the room, comfortably reading and watching television. I opened the wine and had a glass, using the selection of glasses in the cupboard next to the fridge, which also held snacks and sweets. When my husband came back from work we had some more wine, and decided – after a quick walk around the area and discovering no restaurants near enough to brave the weather for – to eat in the hotel. And there we were again delighted. A solicitous waiter who was happy to discuss Italian wine with us, efficient, but not intrusive, service; and an excellent meal. We retired to our huge bed with its plump pillows and slept well until woken by the bells of the local church at seven am. We ate our last breakfast at the Bentley, checked out with a minimum of fuss and maximum of charm, the concierge took our bags out to the taxi and we left for the airport. But The Bentley Hotel will go down in memory as probably the most wonderful hotel we have stayed at – and it will take a really special place to supplant it.

Top notch small hotel worth the expense. New and modern. Spotless clean. Heavenly bed. Rooms are exactly as shown in the photos on their website. Best breakfast buffet I have ever had in Europe. My room had a large patio with a view of the harbor. Big bathtub. There was even a TV in the mirror in the bathroom. This hotel has all of the amenities a traveler could wish for. Classy bar and restaurant on the first level. Room service 24 hours. Helpful multilingual staff. Health/exercise/pool available (but I did not visit this area). Nice safe location within walking distance to shopping and museums. Take taxi from either train station or harbor.