Hotel Ghironi - La Spezia

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Apr 2008

The hotel is way too far from the train station. Fortunately, they offer a shuttle to the station but it is not a "on-demand" service. It is only offered in the morning and in the evening but nothing in between. Nothing interesting to see around the hotel besides a huge industrial complex and a freeway! I would only recommend this hotel if you are desperate for a place to stay but stay at a hotel near the train station.

Guest name: Marc Vuong, USA

Average rating:  5.9

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Mar 2008

I put this hotel 3 stars, not more, sorry.

Guest name: LA, Latvia

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Mar 2008

We liked very much about advices which we got from reception. We were told without asking about tickets to Cinque Terre.

Guest name: Kimmo Haapanen, Finland

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: 

stayed in Jan 2008

Very good stay with friends ! I advise this hotel.

Guest name: LJ, France

Average rating:  7.4

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in May 2007

A good hotel, but was hard to find coming from the train station on the bus. Got lost but when we got there the hotel was fine. Staff very hewlpful and used shuttle to get to the train station when we left. Breakfast very good, plenty of food for adults and kids. La Spezia was a good location to use as a base for day trip to cinque terre.

Guest name: Digby Hancock, Australia

Average rating:  6.4

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Nov 2007

Albergo piuttosto vecchio, manca di ristorante che in un 4 stelle uno si aspetta di trovare. Location ottima per chi va a La Spezia epr lavoro.

Guest name: PB, Italy

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Nov 2007

Hotel Ghironi was just what we hoped for. We stayed one night and toured Cinque Terre the next day. The staff sold us our tickets to Cinque Terre and provided us with all of the information we needed to sucessfully tour the area. The hotel has a shuttle that took us free of charge to the train station to begin our tour. Breakfast in the nice common room was the usual Italian buffet breakfast. It was just fine and the room was nice.

Guest name: Michael Charney, USA

Average rating:  8.3

Guest type: 

stayed in Nov 2007

The hotel is in a convenient location and has friendly staff. The rooms could use remodeling. The beds and pillows were firm even by Italian standards.

Guest name: YS, USA

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

Not nice surroundings, but very friendly staff, excellent breakfast!

Guest name: UP, Finland

Average rating:  4.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

We booked this hotel expecting a 4 star hotel. The rooms (we had three booked) would be lucky to be rated a two star based on North American Standards. The rooms were large, but very old and tired. The location was ok, since the hotel provided a shuttle to the train station for our trip to Cinque Terre. The hotel is situated on the main road exiting the autostrade. The breakfast was fine and the staff friendly. The photos I saw for the hotel shows only the lobby area, which should have been a clue that the rooms are not at the same level.

Guest name: KW, Canada

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Personnel courtois,en autre le chauffeur du mini bus de l'hôtel très sympathique et serviable. Nous avions demandé une chambre tranquille et c'est ce que nous avons eu. Très bon déjeuner buffet. Excellent point de départ pour visiter le "Cinque Terre". Deux Québécois heureux!

Guest name: Richard Frenette, Canada

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Sep 2007

An excellent base for exploring Cinque Terre. Room (quad) spacious and well appointed. Staff friendly and helpful.Hotel much easier to find than we were anticipating. Great shuttle bus service. Would definately stay here again.

Guest name: KL, Australia

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

The reason for our stay in La Spezia was to be able to take the boat to Cinque Terre. The hotel offered a complimentary shuttle to the boat dock and a return shuttle from the train station. They were most helpful in giving us the information we needed. The area around the hotel was not very attractive and we didn't eat near the hotel---we arrived early enough to have time to drive down to Portavenere for dinner. But the room was very spacious and included an area for doing business in your room---an area as you entered the room had a desk, chair, lamp and WiFi capabilities. The breakfast room was large and the array of food was very nice. The shuttle to the boat dock was right on time and the driver was courteous and helpful.

Guest name: Pamela Zubrod, USA

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Oct 2007

This hotel was wonderful. The staff were kind and helpful, breakfast was a nice spread, the rooms were spacious and clean. We traveled in Italy, Germany and to Paris, and this was probably the nicest and cheapest hotel we stayed at (Price proabably b/c it isn't a big tourist stop). There was a free shuttle to the train station to see Cinque Terra (which is way we were there). I would definitely stay here again. iMitili was a great restaurant behind the hotel about 100 meters.

Guest name: HB, USA

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

The staff was very competent and friendly. The location was not the best, but I knew that going in. La Spezia, in general, is not the greatest city in terms of its beauty and surroundings. The shuttle service to Cinque Terre was very convenient (and free). The rooms were great and the breakfast was one of the best I've ever had in Italy. This is a great hotel if you have a car. Make sure to come in on the Autostrada if you want to find it easily however. It will be on your left side and you will need to make a U-turn after you pass it. If you want to drive around La Spezia, good luck. We spent an hour trying to find the hotel again after we took a little drive to scout out possible restaurants (not many). This city is one of the most poorly designed I've ever seen when it comes to driving (too many one-way streets and industrial zones that dead-end).

Guest name: Steve Hamrick, USA

Average rating:  9.3

Guest type: 3 friends

stayed in Sep 2007

A little hard to find from the directions but very pleasant & good service.

Guest name: MR, USA

Average rating:  7.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Ghironi was a 4-star hotel, on the far side of central city,so location was inconvenient being further from train station than we needed - this was our own fault though. Hotel ran courtesy coach, but departure times restricted trains you could catch to Cinque Terre, as they didn't always match. Service could be friendlier - varied a bit. Unclear directions to nearest bus. Suggest more details go up on website, e.g. bus number & destination, to and from train station. We only saw one bus at train station, & driver looked blank when we showed him Ghironi address! Obviously not the right bus, so we ended up using taxi. Had superb meal at fish restaurant only 5 minutes' walk away, the Mitili (I think)- recommended by hotel staff.

Guest name: JM, New Zealand

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Very nice Hotel. All of the employees were wonderful. Good place to plan a visit to Cinque Terre or to attend a congress in La Spezia. Shuttle and bus facilities are convenient. I confirm: the bathroom shelf is too small. That's all!

Guest name: JEAN-LOUIS BRILLIARD, France

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

The room was spacious and very convenient. The staff was very friendly, polite, helpfull and spoke fluent English (rare in Italy). They went out of their way to assist us. Breakfast was very good, more than we expected. The hotel is quite a distance from the station but the shuttle service (you have to book in advance)was very good, takes 10 min to the train station/ 5 to the boat marina. We found the hotel a good place for touring the 5-Terre and suroundings. We highly recommend the Ghironi hotel.

Guest name: MB, Israel

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Hotel is excellent in every way except for location. There are two railroad stations in La Spezia. If you arrive at La Spezia (Station Centrale FS), take the bus L or S. See http://www.atclaspezia.it/ for a bus map. Ride until you're on Viale San Bartolomeo and look for the Hertz Agency. Hotel is on Via Del Tino - one block from Hertz. Once you find the hotel all is well.

Guest name: WM, USA

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

A very nice hotel for the purpose of our stay. A bit noisy since next to a school. Good restaurant nearby.

Guest name: Donna Thomas, USA

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

I was unsure about the hotel due to some negative reviews - these fears were unfounded - it is not a very touristic area but the hotel was fantastic - the lady at the reception (Valeria) could not have been more helpful. The room was freshly decorated with an outstanding bathroom. She helped us with info on tours to Cinque Terra and info on restaurants and nearby supermarket. Highly recommended

Guest name: Peter Fry, Australia

Average rating:  7.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

high rate for average quality.poor location

Guest name: Mendy Spund, Israel

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Our room was very spacious and the breakfast room and lobby were very nice. The staff went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable! The bus stops are hard to find. Make sure you ask at the desk for specific directions for getting ON AND OFF the bus.

Guest name: WR, USA

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

A bit far from the trainstation. Perfect for the ones who travel by car, entrance of the city and close to the main road.

Guest name: Renato Morgado, Brazil

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

We had a very goood stay and thought the staff to be very helpful Many thanks

Guest name: Geoffrey Bailey, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Hotel was terrific for the purpose of Cinque Terre, the staff were friendly and helpful, the shuttle service was reliable. The instructions on how to find the hotel via driving were a little confusing and could be explained in a little more detail.

Guest name: Peter Dean, Australia

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

Fantastic hotel! The rate we paid was very reasonable for the price we paid. The information given at reception about the surrounding area and the shuttle service were superb.

Guest name: MP, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

The hotel is located quite a distance from the train station, but is handy for seeing the Cinque Terre by boat. The hotel shuttle services are also excellent, and the staff were extremely helpful in arranging shuttles, train times, and also making suggestions for restaurants. The room was larger than normal and clean and comfortable, although the double bed was really two singles pushed together.

Guest name: SG, Australia

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Aug 2007

More a Residence Hotel in an inudstrial area. Very clean and comfortable, friendly and helpful staff. Good breakfast.

Guest name: Helga Walker, USA

Average rating:  4.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

The first thing we noticed is that the surrounding neighborhood isn't pretty. This hotel is old with the lobby adorned with leather chairs and old worn out oriental rugs over the matte carpet. It is clean though. The room was dark and lacking of decor. Overall, no frills, just a place to sleep and don't expect much. It is also 1/2 hr ride on bus to the trains for Cinque Terre. Not good if returning after dark.

Guest name: TL, USA

Average rating:  5.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

Rooms are not charming, and the surroundings are not very welcoming, but La Spezia is a well located place for visiting the Cinque Terre area, and the hotel provides shuttle service to the train station if willing to visit the Cinque Terre. The staff is very welcoming indeed, speaking french and english, and provides helpful information.

Guest name: RJ, France

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

All of the employees were wonderful ...very helpful and informative. The location was not good ...it seemed perfectly safe, but it is in an industrial part of town and the train station is quite far away. They do offer a free shuttle to the station, but it does not run too frequently. All in all, it was a good base to venture out to the Cinque Terre, Portovenere, and points north. Breakfast was very good, and the free parking was very convenient.

Guest name: CC, USA

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Aug 2007

Fabulous hotel with very helpful, multilingual reception staff. It is not near the train up to 5 terre but you can get a bus (although we got a taxi for 10 Euro each way). They have vodafone wifi which i couldn't use (not the hotel's fault) because the credit card page wanted the card name starting with last name first and in Australia card's start with your first name. The hotel tried everything to help but it is privately run through vodafone so we were not successful. Keep that in mind if you will need the internet and don't have a vodafone account.

Guest name: GS, Australia

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jul 2007

L'ACCUEIL FUT TRES CHALEUREUX. LE PERSONNEL FUT TRÈS SERVIABLE. UN SERVICE DE NAVETTE EST DISPONIBLE EN TOUT TEMPS POUR LES DIFFÉRENTS POINTS D'INTÉRÊTS.

Guest name: Gilles Bergeron, Canada

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

nice hotel,I will return for the next visit

Guest name: Antonio Fernandes, Luxembourg

Average rating:  7.3

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Aug 2007

The hotel was of a good standard and staff efficient and helpful. The only thing I would say, is that had we known the location of the hotel, we would have not chosen it. We had to walk quite a way, in an industrial part of town, to reach the better areas. For people not wanting to leave the location the hotel would be fine.

Guest name: WM, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

nice hotel, not so far from the center. Hotel agréable, pas très loin du centre, accueil très sympathique avec une navette gratuite pour les cinque terre

Guest name: AR, France

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

Posto in un'ottima posizione rispetto alle principali strade ed autostrade ma un po' macchinoso da raggiungere la prima volta. E' un vero quattro stelle (camere spaziose, jacuzzi, Sky e wifi), con una sontuosa prima colazione ed un comodo parcheggio. Consistente turnover di ospiti, soprattutto stranieri, ma cortesia e professionalità del personale sempre all'altezza. Consigliato.

Guest name: Fabrizio Dall'Aglio, Italy

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jun 2007

As a family of four we stayed in a Quad room in which the hotel staff brought in a folding cot which they were able to easily set up in the area off of the main sleeping area where a dinette table was set up. It nicely provided our teenage son with a bit of privacy. The hotel was easy to find and it was easy to get to the train station with the shuttle service provided. The hotel Ghironi was the perfect base for visiting Cinque Terre. The breakfast was also good. A pizzeria down a short ally way from the hotel provided good service & food.

Guest name: ST, USA

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

spacious room for 4 (2 adults + 2 children). Very clean hotel (modern) and very pleasant and helpfull staff. Road is not far from the hotel, but noise is acceptable. Car parking is free.

Guest name: Aymeric GEANT, France

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Aug 2007

The staff really made our stay so wonderful from the moment they welcomed us to our room. They were extremely helpful with restaurant suggestions and happily booked us on their on-time shuttle to our tours and trains. This place is so gorgeous and spacious. I loved the lemon trees growing outside our balcony. My teenage boys absolutely loved the hot breakfast buffet. This place is a little out of the way, but definitely worth the effort. It is the best choice for a gateway to visit the Cinque Terre. They recommended the boat tour as a starting point to see the five towns, and it was a highlight of our trip. Thanks to your website and this hotel, our memories are great ones.

Guest name: Terri Freeman, USA

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in May 2007

The Ghironi was a nice, modern hotel. The rooms were very nice overlooking the parking area. The buffet breakfast was wonderful and was included. If you asked the waiter for capucinno, you could get that as well. The staff was very accomodating and very helpful. Although the hotel is in the middle of an industrial area, it was clean and we always felt safe, and there was a bus to the train station. A shuttle was also provided by the hotel. It was an excellent base for visting Cinque Terra, Portofino, Cumogli (don't miss it), and the bay of poets. There were a couple of nice restaurants in walking distance near the shipyard. One was very inexpensive and the other was moderate.

Guest name: Elliot Koffman, USA

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jul 2007

Very comfortable accommodation with larger than normal rooms for Europe. A big plus was an in room fridge. Breakfast was good quality including fruit and hot dishes.Downside was distance from rail station (3 kms) & the area the hotel was in ie a long walk from restaurants. Good parking + rail shuttle from 0930 hours daily-a bit late in the day.

Guest name: Ken & Yvonne Race, Australia

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in May 2007

The rooms looked to be very clean and tidy. However, there was a problem with ants coming in through the bathroom area somehow. A little distant from town, but a good base. Very good breakfast buffet.

Guest name: Chris Dunn, Australia

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jul 2007

Very enjoyable stay here and would stay again. The shuttle bus was an excellent service and the restaurant they recommneded was lovely.

Guest name: AF, Ireland

Average rating:  8.3

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Jul 2007

Travelling with 2 kids, age 4 and 1, this was just a quick stop on our way to Florence. On this purpose, the room was exellent, and as for visiting the "Cinque Terre" it must be the rigth place.

Guest name: KB, Norway

Average rating:  6.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jul 2007

Probably not the best choice for Cinqueterre, but it is definitely workable. Nice breakfast. It was hard to find, and easy to get lost as we walked away from the hotel in search for dinner. The staff was very helpful; if we had taken their tip to take the boat to Cinqueterre in the morning, and the train back we may have had a a smoother day. As it went, we went to Porto Venere for dinner, and access by bus on the way back from there was a bit dicey.

Guest name: David Pechter, USA

Average rating:  6.2

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jul 2007

Hotel Ghironi was advertised as an excellent jumping off point to the Cinque Terra area. If your destination is the Cinque Terra, either stay there or stay in a place by the train station. This hotel is all the way across town, about as far away from the train station as possible. It cost us almost 20 euro to get there. When trying to take the bus to the train station, following the advice of the man at the front desk, we ended up getting lost and wound up 10 kilometers north of La Spezia. Basically, this place is a fine hotel and has a great breakfast, but there is no real reason to stay here. It is not that easy to get to the Cinque Terra, besides a morning free shuttle that the hotel offers to the train station. The hotel is next to a busy raod and not in a fun area. The only redeeming factor was the breakfast, which was excellent. However, if you are staying here specifically to see the Cinque Terra, this place will be a disapointment.

Guest name: Allison Hughes, USA

Average rating:  7.5

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in May 2007

We stayed 3 days. It was great as a central location to go to Cinque Terre, as they also provided a shuttle service free to the station and harbour free of charge, as long as you pre-booked. Great breakfasts and charming waiters!

Guest name: Loriana Sweatman, Australia