The Med

rubberduck

rubberduck

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Planning on going over to the northern end of Italy after xmas to use as a centre point from which to travel to see in the flesh some of the examples we are seeing online, so we know what we are really looking for by the end of the trip.
Any suggestions on places to stay (hotels ****+) & best central location to the leisure boat world out there. Also any tips on transport links, ta......
 
Italy is not really a problem with hotels in my book. Just stay away from train stations and roads and you could be okay all over the place.

I mean even a 1 star is usually very clean, and food is good more or less everywhere even if offered from a coffee shop.
Now if your Mrs is esigent then I suggest you look for higher stars.
 
Depends where you mean by northern Italy but if you mean NW (Pisa to Genoa sort of area) then I would actually base myself within walking distance of a train station. Trains are cheap in Italy compared to the UK and one runs all along the N/NW coast, stopping at seaside resorts. Driving in Italy is a pain.
The Cinque Terra is a must-do, maybe Genoa, Pisa, Portofino (no train station so a good excuse for a boat trip from Rapallo or Santa Margherita, if running in the winter)
I can thoroughly recommend the Viareggio Carnival in Feb (again by train) http://viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/media-gallery/fotogallery/
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en#
 
Genoa or Genova as they say
Google marina hotels there are two decent marinas one near the old town .
One is next door to the airport ,but you would not know it -google airport hotels as well
The marina /hotels are 5 min walk --
Maybe fly to Genoa from London ?
Motor way near to exit on daily scouting trips -return and have a coffee or stroll - looking /critiquing @ more boats :)
 
To be blunt, the Italian coast and boating scene from Imperia all the way to Pisa isn't gorgeous in my book. Portofino and Porto venere are very nice indeed, but I wouldn't burn diesel seeing the rest. I've only been once in 14 years of being based in the Med and it is only 100 nm from my home berth. MapisM who lives near Milan also gives it a miss. Sorry to be so blunt about it but just being candid.

If you stay in genoa then book the secret suite in grand hotel Savoia. Right laugh when you enter the secret room behind the bookcase on the left hand side of the bed
 
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While I agree that IT coastline has better places to offer when strictly speaking of "boating scene", actually Genoa is a town well worth visiting, and aside from Portofino there are several other villages along that stretch of coast which are real gems - including the world famous Cinque Terre.

But all that aside, if I understood what RD said in his OP, he's mostly going there for viewing used boats.
And in this respect, that area is up there among the best of the planet.

Good luck to him for his boat hunt, looking fwd to some pics! :encouragement:
 
OT is the name of the game so here we go again :)

I think if you are based in Spezia or where abouts you have a handful of close bays to view, Porto Venere stone throw away, and up to Portofino (40 nm), Cinque Terre, till about Sarzana.

For a few days or long weekend hops you have also Elba and Giglio which I also think are not that far away.

From Genoa upwards till Monte Carlo yes I agree there is not much to see.
 
jfm said:
To be blunt, the Italian coast and boating scene from Imperia all the way to Pisa isn't gorgeous in my book. Portofino and Porto venere are very nice indeed, but I wouldn't burn diesel seeing the rest. I've only been once in 14 years of being based in the Med and it is only 100 nm from my home berth. MapisM who lives near Milan also gives it a miss. Sorry to be so blunt about it but just being candid.
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Have to agree with that. The only bit of coastline between Imperia and Pisa worthy of note is the Cinque Terre. Whilst the scenery and Cinque Terre villages themselves are stunning, they are almost impossible to visit by private boat and its best done by land transport. Having said that, Portovenere at the south end of the Cinque Terre is lovely and very definitely can be visited by boat. Portofino is a rip off and much cheaper to stay in St Margharita next door and visit Portofino by taxi. The other issue with that coastline is that there is really nowhere to anchor if there is an onshore wind, other than the bay of La Spezia. Having said that there are loads of marinas along that coast so somebody must think its a good cruising area

As for the OP's question, I guess the obvious answer is Genoa and then rent a car to get around. Alternatively, the Portofino/St Margharita/Rapallo area is very nice and it should be possible to book a good hotel in that area for modest money out of season. Driving in N Italy is fine; its only in the south that it all gets a bit frantic
 
Deleted User said:
Having said that there are loads of marinas along that coast so somebody must think its a good cruising area
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M, not that this has any relevance to the debate, but just for the records, the reason is actually the same as for SoF, i.e. accessibility (particularly for N/NW IT boaters), rather than the beauty of the cruising area as such.
 
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MapisM said:
M, not that this has any relevance to the debate, but just for the records, the reason is actually the same as for SoF, i.e. accessibility (particularly for N/NW IT boaters), rather than the beauty of the cruising area as such.
Click to expand...

Yup fair point
 
The Cinque Terre were featured in one of Michael Portillo's railway journeys the other day, along with Portofino. I've not been to that area much other than Sestri Levante and a day trip to Portofino when I was a kid. But it looks like an nice area to visit, particularly by railway.
 
petem said:
I've not been to that area much other than Sestri Levante and a day trip to Portofino when I was a kid.
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Sestri is actually one of the gem villages I mentioned before, did you like it?
There aren't many places where depending on weather you can choose from two completely different beaches, exposed/sheltered to opposed winds and both at very short walking distance from most hotels.

Btw, I agree that railway is a good choice, but other than Cinque Terre, the area is great also for driving - particularly with a convertible or motorbike.
Not in the peak of the summer, though: traffic can be awful!
 
MapisM said:
Sestri is actually one of the gem villages I mentioned before, did you like it?
There aren't many places where depending on weather you can choose from two completely different beaches, exposed/sheltered to opposed winds and both at very short walking distance from most hotels.
Click to expand...

I was perhaps 13 or 14 and despite being a miserable teenager I liked the place very much. I think we stayed in the hills behind the resort and had amazing views down to the sea. I vaguely recall us walking to a beautiful village up in the hills and chancing on a bar called Diavalo where the proprietor had a massive nose! Funny the things you remember.

To my shame I've not been to the Italian Lakes so perhaps when I get the time I'll take take the wife there and also revisit Portofino and see the Cinque Terre.

So many places to visit, so little time.....
 
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