Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast Hotel

Built in 1901 and renovated in 2017, Excelsior Palace Portofino Coast Hotel has the scale of a proper coastal hotel rather than a small guesthouse: 123 rooms across seven floors, with a terrace, lift access and round-the-clock reception. You get a seafront base for the Ligurian coast, while Rapallo remains close enough for an evening wander rather than a logistical expedition.

The hotel team speaks English, Italian, German, Russian and French, which makes the practical business of checking in, arranging a transfer or asking about an excursion pleasantly straightforward. Wi-Fi runs throughout the hotel, and pets are welcome too. This is a useful combination if you want a polished base for diving and coastal exploring, with enough facilities on site to keep the non-diving hours occupied.

The address is Via San Michele di Pagana 8 in Rapallo, Italy, directly on the seafront. Rapallo town centre is about 1 km away, close enough for a walk to Piazza Colombo, Palazzo della Prefettura and Piazza de Ferrari. The hotel sits in the Portofino Coast area, but the actual base is Rapallo — useful to know when planning arrivals, taxis and days out.

The position gives you water at the front and the coast as your natural playground. Excursions can be arranged to Portofino, the Cinque Terre and Genoa, so the hotel works well for a few days built around more than one itinerary: diving when conditions and plans allow, then a harbour, village or city day when you fancy a change of scenery.

The room selection is aimed squarely at couples, with double beds throughout the listed categories and suites available when you want more room around the evening rather than simply somewhere to drop a bag. The Superior Double is the practical choice if you value the useful details: air conditioning, heating, soundproofing, blackout blinds, a minibar, bathrobe, slippers and a private bathroom with shower. That is a respectable recovery kit when the day has involved early starts, warm water and a wetsuit that has had the last word.

The Classic Double follows much the same useful pattern, while the Exclusive Double keeps the set-up simpler. Suites cover several styles, from junior to presidential, and make more sense when the room is part of the holiday rather than just the place where you sleep. The listed rooms are for two people, so choose with that in mind rather than expecting a family arrangement to materialise from a grand name.

Television, Wi-Fi, a safe, wardrobe space and a hairdryer are available across the room selection, although the exact equipment changes by category. Room service is available, and the hotel also has non-smoking rooms. Air conditioning matters here for the less glamorous part of coastal travel: getting proper rest after a long day in heat, salt and neoprene.

Breakfast is served as a buffet, with breakfast also available in your room if getting to the restaurant feels like an unnecessary expedition before an early start. There is a restaurant for proper meals, a bar for the less formal version of dinner, and a snack bar when you want something between meals rather than a full production. Bottled water is available, and dietary menus can be requested.

The food information is deliberately straightforward: breakfast, restaurant, bar and snacks, without a grand culinary story attached. That may suit you if the priority is to eat conveniently, have a drink, and get on with the evening. Room service adds another option when tired legs and damp kit have reduced your enthusiasm for dressing up.

The exact meal arrangement depends on the booking selected, so check whether breakfast or other meals are included before confirming. The practical point is that you can stay on site for the essentials, while Rapallo and the wider coast give you alternatives when you want to eat elsewhere.

Two pools give the hotel a useful post-dive reset button: an indoor pool for a quieter swim and an outdoor pool, including an infinity-style pool with hydromassage. Pool and beach towels are available, and the outdoor pool is seasonal. There is also a private beach area, so you can choose between water, sun and the simple pleasure of not having to organise anything for an hour.

The spa covers massage, facial treatments, hammam, sauna and jacuzzi. Add the gym and fitness equipment if you still have energy to spend, or take the more sensible route and head for the solarium. Billiards gives you something low-impact for the evening, while cycling and hiking offer ways to see more of the coast without turning the day into another timetable.

For couples or mixed-interest trips, the hotel can arrange cultural excursions to Portofino, the Cinque Terre and Genoa, and cooking classes are available. Tourist assistance can also organise excursions. In other words, the non-diver has options beyond waiting at the bar, while the diver has several respectable excuses for doing very little.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, check-out is by 12:00, and reception operates around the clock. An airport transfer service is available and can be arranged with the hotel, either as a private transfer or in the form offered for your stay. Car hire is available, and the property has parking, a garage and nearby parking options; parking is chargeable.

The hotel has lift access to the upper floors and wheelchair-accessible facilities. There is also a charging station for electric vehicles, plus luggage storage, concierge assistance, currency exchange and a wake-up service. Laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services are available, useful if the same kit has been working hard for several days.

Pets are accepted, and the hotel is family-friendly. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, JCB, Visa Electron, Diners Club and cash are accepted. Rooms and public areas are non-smoking, and the property is air-conditioned with heating for cooler periods.

You have access to an electric vehicle charging station, which is useful if you drive to the Riviera and want to continue your journey with fewer charging stops. The rest of your stay relies mainly on services already available at the hotel: parking, a shuttle, concierge services and activities arranged in the local area. The sea is directly in front of the property, so you can explore the coast from here without changing your base each day.