Balbi Family Hotel - Genoa

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Apr 2008

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.

Guest name: Carol Ann Taylor, USA

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Married couple and mother-in-law

stayed in Apr 2008

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.

Guest name: CM, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Gay Couple

stayed in Mar 2008

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.

Guest name: Andrew West, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Gay Couple

stayed in Mar 2008

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).

Guest name: James Kelly, USA

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Mar 2008

Great value; superb location.

Guest name: Teresa Otoya, Australia

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Nov 2007

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.

Guest name: Amit Bhatnagar, India

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Feb 2008

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

Guest name: JW, Italy

Average rating:  4.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jan 2008

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

Guest name: Majeda Rizk, Australia

Average rating:  7.5

Guest type: mom & son

stayed in Nov 2007

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

Guest name: BS, USA

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Nov 2007

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.

Guest name: CD, Germany

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Oct 2007

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.

Guest name: DB, Italy

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Group

stayed in Sep 2007

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.

Guest name: MB, USA

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

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.

Guest name: Ross Wright, Australia

Average rating:  6.8

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

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

Guest name: DM, Australia

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Jul 2007

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

Guest name: KH, Italy

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Jun 2007

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

Guest name: BM, Germany

Average rating:  7.6

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in May 2007

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

Guest name: Gianluigi Guida, Italy

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Apr 2007

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

Guest name: Ole Tjugen, Norway

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jan 2007

tres bon acceuil satisfait de sprestations

Guest name: Noel Peretti, France

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Group

stayed in Jan 2007

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

Guest name: DM, Italy

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Dec 2006

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)

Guest name: Alberto Cobre, Italy

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Oct 2006

Was the second time there.Will come back again.

Guest name: NK, Germany

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: 

stayed in Oct 2006

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.

Guest name: BJ, USA

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Oct 2006

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

Guest name: Alessandra Moscetti, Italy

Average rating:  8.3

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2006

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

Guest name: FIONA WATERHOUSE, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2006

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!

Guest name: ES, USA

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: 

stayed in Sep 2006

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.

Guest name: Hans JM Jacobs, Netherlands

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Sep 2006

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

Guest name: Anne Bermingham, Ireland

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Group

stayed in Sep 2006

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.

Guest name: SC, Spain

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2006

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.

Guest name: Ray Palmer, USA

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Jul 2006

Sehr gute Lokation leider ohne Parkplatz.

Guest name: OP, Germany

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2006

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!

Guest name: Mikhail Kanavichev, Russia

Average rating:  7.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jun 2006

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

Guest name: Tsatcho Filkov, Bulgaria

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Jul 2006

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.

Guest name: Paulo Speranza, Brazil

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Mar 2006

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

Guest name: William Holland, USA

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jun 2006

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.

Guest name: Almudena Suarez Maroto, Germany

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in May 2006

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.

Guest name: BN, France

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in May 2006

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.

Guest name: Antoine REMY, France

Average rating:  9.5

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Apr 2006

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.

Guest name: Anthony Hyatt, USA

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Mar 2006

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

Guest name: CR, Italy

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Feb 2006

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!

Guest name: DR, Canada

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Feb 2006

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

Guest name: JERRY LARSON, USA

Average rating:  7.4

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jan 2006

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.

Guest name: MP, Italy

Average rating:  8.2

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Jan 2006

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

Guest name: Massimo Lupascu, Italy

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Oct 2005

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

Guest name: Paola Santelli, Italy

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Oct 2005

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.

Guest name: RV, Netherlands

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Oct 2005

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.

Guest name: Barbara Maxwell, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Oct 2005

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.

Guest name: Jacqueline Quail, Canada

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Oct 2005

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.

Guest name: Shirley Accini, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Sep 2005

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

Guest name: SL, United Kingdom