Portofino - has anyone been?

[Welshcake77]

I’m thinking of booking a weekend break to Portofino with DH in June next year. Just wondering if anyone has been and could recommend a hotel or at least an area to stay in?
It would be a surprise birthday treat for him so happy to spend a bit more on a really nice hotel.

I've been, didn't stay there. We stayed in Sestri Levante because hotels in Portofino were crazy expensive. Try also Santa Margherita Ligure for hotels, there's a shuttle bus running back and forth to Portofino all day.

I have been a few times - its a nice place to spend a few hours but heaves with tourists most of the time. I would opt to stay in Rapallo - although Santa Margerita is also a good choice...both offer boat transfer which ideally is the best way to approach Portofino. We have found the shuttle bus a nightmare on the occasions we have used it ...it runs irregularly although maybe OK in June - it is often heaving on the way back - sometimes difficult to even get on the bus and whilst its a very short journey from Portofino to Santa Margarita the taxi's really do take advantage of the tourists.

Dependent on what time of year you are planning to go I would also consider staying at Camogli - then catching the boat around to Portofino...the Cinque Terre is also a possibility and Sestri Levante is a nice place to stay (especially the hotel that sits on the double bay -forgot its name).

The last time we were staying in Rapallo - we stayed at this hotel which was really nice - turned back beds each night and we found the ambiance lovely. Europa Hotel Design SPA 1877

If budget is not an issue the Belmond is probably a good choice actually in Portofino....

Thank you both! That’s teally helpful. The boat is a great idea and definitely helps to widen the hotel options. I did look at the Belmond but at €900 a night for the weekend I want to go I might need a plan B

Welshcake - it’s a beautiful place and because of the way the land lies it hasn’t been ruined with huge modern blocks of flats like so much of the coast of Europe.

its pretty but ridiculously crowded which really spoils it

The boats to and from look incredible

Wow - do is 60 next year so saw this thread and had a look at a week there over his birthday in early June .Just over £11000 bed and breakfast !Gobsmacked ( much dearer than 2 weeks in the Far East flying business class )

Dh not do . And I looked at the Belmond hotel

We went a few years ago and stayed at Albergo Argentina in Paraggi which is a short stroll from Portofino but was about £150 a night.

We went into Portofino each day and night, so easy to walk or catch the shuttle bus.

Paraggi also had the benefit of a beach too!

Thanks for all your input! It’s not easy finding a hotel that ticks all the boxes but think I have found one in Santa Margherita.

Another question about getting there...have any of you travelled there from Milan? Or not flown in to Genoa? I can’t get direct flights on the days we can go (not flying from UK) so am considering flying to Milan and hiring a car. We would arrive around 2.30pm on a Friday and have to leave at 9am on Sunday. Is it worth it for such a short time?

Plan would be to look around SM the Friday afternoon, dinner out. Boat trip next morning, spend afternoon in Portofino, have dinner and drinks there then taxi back.