Europa Hotel Design Spa 1877

Arrived to hotel with EF GO Ahead tours. Was rushed to room because dinner was scheduled and we had 15 minutes to get downstairs. Dropped off bags went to restaurant in hotel and came back to put everything in the safe end it was gone. Then took a shower that flooded the room up to the beds due to door not sealed. Changed rooms - hot and stuffy and in dire need of a makeover. Staff had no interest in assisting with my stolen items.

They turn off the AC on 10-15 but it is still hot. The bathroom is really small and the bathtub is hard to navigate. They need to rethink airflow in the rooms. They also piped in really bad smelling cologne in the lobby. Location was great and easy to walk to everything.

Only four or five minutes walk from the railway station with wheeled baggage and very easy to find, it is also only a couple of minutes from the beach area as well as numerous restaurants and bars, as well as the tourist ferry to Portofino and Santa Mergherita Ligure. The only downside at time of writing with regards location is the construction work going on right outside the hotel, however it didn't really cause much of an issue with regards noise or dust. Check-in and out were quick and easy and done with a smile. The double room we had was a fair size with a fridge, shower in a bathtub, comfortable bed and pillows, good wifi, a safety-deposit box and air-conditioning. Plenty of space. But no kettle with instant coffee/tea like most 4 start hotels I have been in when in Italy. Breakfast is strange. Advertised from 07:00 to 10:00. If you arrive at 07:00 there is cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, croissants, pastries as well as two types of cold meat and cheese as well as bread and hard boiled eggs. But sitting on the counter is a big metal food retainer of the sort used to keep scrambled eggs, bacon/sausages normally......but nothing in it except hot water and a spoon in front of it. I asked and was told that they don't fill it until 08:00. Don't know what with but presumably bacon, sausages, scrambled egg or similar. So if o go for breakfast at 07:00 to 08:00 you won't get any of that, only if you from 08:00 onwards. I felt like returning for a second breakfast at 08:00 !! Rather strange way of ding things, advertising breakfast at 07:00 but the full breakfast buffet is not actually available until 08:00. And that is my only gripe. Otherwise, a decent hotel although by no means cheap and yet not luxurious.

An excellent hotel experience. The hotel is well positioned - just a minute from the sea front promenade, 2 minutes from ferry terminal, equally close to the old town and an easy 5 minute walk from the station. The welcome is tremendous : the manager and his staff are keen to put everyone at their ease, and nothing is too much trouble for them to do for their guests. The rooms are comfortable, clean and well appointed. There is a spa. The evening meals are fine dining - with prices to match. The breakfast is good without being exceptional. The hotel is close to the railway line so there is a little noise from that direction - but nothing the hotel can do about that. Similarly there is nothing the hotel can do about the long-term road works being done on their doorstep, but screening and arrangement of dining tables in the gardens greatly reduces the effect. Rapallo itself is a great base for visiting Genoa and the Cinque Terre and the Europa is a fine place to do that from in Rapallo.