My wife and I stayed at the Starhotel President in Genoa on the second night of our Italian Vacation as we decided to spend a night in Genoa on the way to Santa Margherita. We chose this hotel due to its proximity to the train station. (We decided not to rent a car)

We are both very active and believe the best way to see any place is by walking, preferably without luggage, so we did not mind the location or the 20 minute walk to the aquarium and the historic town center. Staying over a Sunday night meant the hotel was very quiet.

We arrived Sunday afternoon and checked in. The hotel is a business class hotel and is getting a bit dated but is still very functional. For the dated part, the key was a boat anchor that you left at the front desk – as we forgot our umbrella and camera and went back to the room for what seemed like 49 times it would have been nice just to have a card like other hotels. The rooms did not have a safe so we used the hotel safe in what felt like a procedure out of James Bond. The staff was very helpful and very pleasant. They provided us a tourist map and a walking route and offered to sell us aquarium tickets.

Genoa was nice and we enjoyed the aquarium and wandering around the old town. Sunday afternoon is date night at the aquarium so it was kind of cool to observe. There was a street market market near the hotel and we enjoyed the energy of the city. Genoa is not a tourist trap (like Venice) and has rough and gritty feel to it.

One of the reasons we stay at hotels like the Starhotel is that we utilize a hotels public space to relax in. The lounge and bar at the Starhotel are beautiful but there was no energy because the hotel was empty. As we were at the start of our trip we were happy to find a drink at a café. For dinner the hotel recommended a pizza place a couple of blocks away. The meal was outstanding.

I realize that beds are a personal choice, but both my wife and I found the mattress outstanding and had a great sleep.

On Tripadvisor we read a number of other reviewers panning the breakfast. Either the hotel has improved or we do not know what a good breakfast is. The breakfast was the best of our trip and consisted of a beautiful room, fantastic service, and a wonderful assortment of fruit, juices, cereals, sweets, breads and hot dishes. The Italian bacon was excellent, the eggs were cooked to perfection, and the breakfast sausage was outstanding. Now this is not quite what we get at home, but that’s the point of traveling, no? The highlight for me of the breakfast though was the espresso – what a wonderful treat as part of a hotel buffet breakfast. Based on the breakfast, if I would stay at this hotel again I would try dinner.

Overall a wonderful hotel and wonderful staff.

We booked this hotel through Superbreaks, as we found it offered a good deal for a stay in August. The hotel is a tall, modern building, in a triangular shape, just outside Brignole railway station.

The hotel is a typical business hotel, much like the Holiday Inn or Hilton, but offering better value for money. The location is excellent if you intend to travel outside the city, but also OK for central Genoa. The room we had was a 'superior', but it was smaller than I had hoped. Nevertheless, it was clean, orderly and extremely well soundproofed, which surprised me. Unfortunately the air conditioning unit was rather noisy, even on the lowest setting. The beds were OK, certainly nothing special, but comfortable enough to sleep on.

Breakfast was the typical poor quality selection you normally get in continental Europe, so sadly no surprises here: very fatty streaky bacon, frankfurters instead of sausages, and greasy scrambled eggs fried in excessive oil. There was a reasonable selection of cereals and also pastries of various types.

The hotel has an 'American Bar' which charges outrageously high prices for just about everything. Avoid it like the plague. There is also a computer with internet access, with an astonishingly expensive rate of € 3.50 for every 10 minutes. I suggest using the internet point in the 'Coin' department store in Via XX Settembre, which charges € 3 an hour. 'Coin' also has an excellent restaurant, which offers great Italian food at modest prices. This store is one of very few shops in Genoa to be open all day on Sunday. The hotel does have a restaurant, but it was closed for refurbishment when we stayed there, and anyway, is probably very expensive.

Genoa is not the best place for eating out, and many restaurants are either very pricey or very dubious. Apart from 'Coin', I also recommend the 'Kilt' restaurant, which offers a pizzeria and a self-service restaurant with a choice of dishes. There is one of these near the hotel, just two minutes walk away. The food is fine and the prices excellent. Highly recommended for an evening meal.

Genoa itself is a fascinating city and well worth visiting, but is really too hot in August. The temperature was 28 celsius every day, with very high humidity and harsh, burning sunshine. Whatever you do in Genoa don't miss the fabulous Aquarium and the Museum of the Sea. There is enough to see in the two places, which are near each other, for an all-day visit. A combined adult ticket costs € 22 and is well worth the cost. And if you love ice cream and pastries, you must visit the Cafe Mangini in Piazza Corvetto. This lovely place is one of Genoa's best kept secrets, and popular with well-to-do locals. Prices are very reasonable.

If you intend to venture into the 'old town', take care. This area is the focus of the immigrant population, many of whom are poor and willing to engage in illegal activities. Hold on tight to your belongings and avoid the area after dark.

Easy access by car or by train is the most interesting feature of this hotel. Otherwise, good business hotel with some flaws.
Excellent reception staff , overall efficient general staff.

We found some remnants of previous stays in our room ( a thong) . Room was smallish , but beds comfortable. Amenities in the bathroom were more than adequate , but the shower was dripping water without any enthousiasm. Rugs dated.

Once, the electric gate for the garage did not open and we waited reparation for ten minutes .

Breakfast is not memorable even though the room was very large and with good decor.

Phenomenal restaurant in the vicinities recommended by the reception.

Good rate for the room.

The other reviews aren't lying, I can honestly say that the beds (and duvets) are the most comfortable I have ever had in Europe. With most of the Italian hotels I've been to in the past being extremely old and small with equally old and small beds, furniture, the Presidente looks more like the Westin of Europe.

The rooms are extremely well maintained and nicely soundproofed as it is located accross the street from the train staion. The staff is friendly and the location is central to a lot of nice areas. if not the bus station (or train station as I mentioned above) is directly outside.

My only complaint would be the cost of dinner and/or drinks at the hotel. combined with the astronomical price of internet the hotel will take a bite out of your budget. Then again being a North American traveling to the E.U I did expect a rather nasty jolt with the exchange rate.

This place is a gem.