Baia Blu RTA Residence

A private olive grove gives Baia Blu RTA Residence its setting in Lerici, overlooking the sea on the Gulf of Poets. The atmosphere is more practical than theatrical: rooms for a straightforward stay, apartments when you want space to organise yourselves, and enough outdoor room to sit down properly after a day in salt water.

The residence suits divers who prefer a base with a little independence rather than a large hotel routine. English, German and Italian are spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the useful things in a language that works for you. Pets are welcome too, including dogs and cats, with fenced gardens and outdoor spaces available to them.

You are in Lerici, Italy, on the Ligurian coast. The residence has direct access to the sea, while Baia Blu Beach is around 300 metres away; San Terenzo Beach is about 0.9 miles away and Venere Azzurra Beach about 1.4 miles. That gives you several stretches of coast to choose from, with sun loungers and parasols at the beach directly in front of the property.

Lerici town centre is about 1.2 miles away, with its medieval castle, restaurants and seafront promenade. For dinner away from the residence, Carpe Diem is about 0.7 miles away, while La Baia Blu is around 0.2 miles away. Cinque Terre and Portovenere are within reach for a day out, and the surrounding area also opens onto the wider Gulf of Poets and Tuscany.

The choice is essentially between a room in the main building and an apartment in one of four separate buildings. The rooms keep things simple: a large bed in the double room, or a large bed and a single bed in the triple room. They make sense for couples or for a shorter stay when you would rather leave the cooking to somebody else.

The apartments are the more useful choice when four people are travelling together or when you want room to spread out. Each has a kitchen with a dishwasher and microwave, which means you can keep breakfast supplies, cold drinks and the occasional post-dive snack to hand rather than relying on restaurant hours. Garden-view, balcony and terrace options let you choose how much outdoor space matters to you.

Air conditioning runs through the accommodation, while free WiFi is available throughout the property. The rooms and apartments also have a private bathroom, shower, hairdryer, wardrobe and flat-screen television. Tile or marble floors are a sensible detail for a coastal stay: less drama when wet feet and beach sand make an appearance. Rooms are non-smoking, and the apartments with private fenced gardens are particularly practical if you are bringing a dog.

Breakfast is included and served as a buffet, with continental, Italian, gluten-free and American choices. Expect both sweet and savoury food, including homemade cakes, filled brioche, focaccia, cheese, cold meats and fresh fruit. When the weather allows, breakfast moves into the Giardino dei Limoni, which is a rather better way to start a diving day than arguing with a vending machine.

Ristorante Baia Blu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace, with Mediterranean cooking and a focus on fresh seafood. The dress code is casual, so there is no need to pack a jacket for the meal you eat with salt still drying on your hair. One lobby bar serves cocktails, wine and beer, giving you somewhere to settle with a drink without heading into Lerici every evening.

The outdoor swimming pool sits in the garden with sea views, offering a quieter surface interval than the beach when you have had enough sand for one day. A sun terrace, garden and outdoor furniture give you places to read, dry off and watch the light change across the water. There is also a shared lounge and television area for the occasional evening when your legs have formally resigned.

The coast is available for more than looking at. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, boat excursions and equipment hire are part of the activity mix. On land, you can take a bicycle, go hiking or join excursions to Cinque Terre and Portovenere. Horse riding is available off site, while a golf course lies within 3 kilometres. The combination works well for a couple where one person wants another outing and the other would prefer a chair, a view and no timetable.

Baia Blu RTA Residence offers free private parking on site, with an electric-vehicle charging station. Pisa International Airport is about 46 miles away by road, with the drive listed at roughly 50 minutes. The nearest train station, at Sarzana, is about 6 miles away. Car hire is available through the property, and an airport transfer can be arranged on request.

The main building contains reception, the rooms and the breakfast room; the apartments are spread across four buildings. Check-in runs from 16:00 to 19:30 and check-out from 08:00 to 10:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time, show photographic identification and present a credit card at check-in. Luggage storage, a concierge service, laundry and ironing are available, while daily housekeeping is offered for an additional charge. Children of all ages are welcome, cots can be requested for younger children, and there are no extra beds.