B&B around Genoa area

Genoa seemed like a good half-way point, according to the map, on our way northwest. "Edgy" is not what I'm looking for! Thanks for the heads-up.

If Genoa is 'edgy', I'd certainly like to know exactly where I'm going if I chose a B&B/restaurant there. I want old, historic, less-touristy places--been there and done that!

It's a fine balance, isn't it? Few tourists want to go to those places that are overrun with other tourists, but almost always there is a reason that popular places are popular. I'm reminded of Yogi Berra's famous quote "Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded." That said, now that we've been to Italy for a total of about thirteen weeks, we've started exploring some of the less well-known places that still have a lot of charm. Bergamo and Orvieto, for example. But we definitely started off by visiting the more popular places - Rome, Florence, Venice, CT, Lake Como, Siena, Sorrento. Linda, I couldn't quite tell from your last response if you're still considering Genova, or want a nearby alternative. If the latter, you might consider Santa Margherita Ligure. (BTW, am I the only that finds it curious that some people come to this board to bash the RS approach to travel? There are other travel boards as well, you know. Certainly, they have the right to. I just find it odd.)

Any particular reason you're planning to stay in Genoa instead of any of the much more attractive places nearby?

Of course, Linda, you will have to decide whether you want to spend your valuable vacation days experiencing something that's euphemistically referred to as "edgy". I'm surprised it wasn't also described as "gritty." :-)

I have definitely not ruled Genoa out--just waiting for a good suggestion for accommodations and parking, as we will have a rental car we'll have to keep 'safe'. This will be my 40+ trip to Italy, but I haven't yet explored the northwest region. Yes, Santa Marguerita is lovely, so is Porto Fino, but again--been there. I don't always agree with RS, as I still feel that every turn of the corner is a wonder in Italy. Linda

Two years ago I stumbled upon a nice place in Bogliosco which is on the eastern edge of Genoa. Free parking, clean, great breakfast, across the street from the Mediterranean. Hotel Villa Flora was great for one night. We found it driving by but they have a website : http://www.hotelvillaflora.it/ Bogliosco had a tiny beach down some very old stairs nearby.
Genoa was a huge port city.

So you've been to Italy 40 times??!! Wow! You should be the one answering questions, not asking them. I was assuming it was your first trip to Italy. Since you said you hadn't made it up to the northwest, have you been to Bergamo? It's extremely charming and we were among the few American tourists that I spotted there this past May.

Can't help you with B&B, we stayed in an hotel, but just to say that we enjoyed our few days holiday last September in Genoa. We stayed in a pleasant part of the city centre (by Piazza De Ferrari) and were able to walk to all the places we wanted to see (including down at the old port area). Maybe we were lucky but did not feel at all threatened and all the people we had dealings with were friendly and helpful.