Santa Margherita Ligure Apartment or Hotel?

This is basically in the same area and may be a bit less expensive. Great location and easy access to tour boats to Portofino, etc.

https://www.miramarerapallo.it/

Thank you, Rapallo is an option. Unfortunately that hotel is sold out for our dates.

IF you can find an apartment with an elevator or on the ground floor, then there is no reason not to avail yourselves of it, but given your need to convenient travel to the train station, I think you would be more comfortable with a hotel. Look in Camogli too.

In 2018, I stayed at the Hotel Metropole which is virtually across the street from the train station. It was nice hotel and I never heard any trains. It was a short walk into town with a large choice of restaurants.

The hotel location was great for a day trip down to the Cinque Terre.

I love SML! Your hotel is lovely and located with a fantastic view over the bay. You are situated for amazing walks in the evening...and they have a beautiful terrace and breakfast. While it is not close close to the train station..I don't know your mobility for walking or how much luggage you have...it is not a bad walk at all..all along the seaside promenade. I have never rented an apt there..always a hotel..and have stayed there 8 times..onetime for only a night..but mostly 5 to 8 nights. Perhaps ck with the hotel re transport to train station. And yes..once I had to take a taxi up the hill to my hotel..the Continental..and iit was not inexpensive. SML is a pretty town..and I love the idea of staying here for CT. They have a pretty lido and while an apt might be nice for your length of time..I also think you will be pleased with your hotel.

I just want to add that staying at the Grand will not in detract from the authenticity of your stay. sML is a very local town and your walks..dinner..shopping and interaction with locals will be wonderful. But if you enjoy the daily market shopping interaction if you have an apt. I understand.

Thank you for adding your thoughts to this post.

I have two ideas for staying at the Grand and wonder if anyone can help.
How do I find out the cost of taxi service?

How do I learn about scooter parking. I’m wondering if we could rent a scooter and use it for local spots such as the train station but I couldn’t seem to find any information about parking except it’s very difficult for cars.
We could use the scooter for the train station and a visit to some nearby towns like Camogli and Portofino. I would enjoy that.

Thanks TM

The walk to the train station is along the water and it's likely to be lovely and barely noticeable in terms of all the walking one does on vacation. ETA: I see bus stops all along the route, so there is likely a direct bus for much of the way--did you ask the hotel?
Do you have experience driving a scooter? I would not want to learn in such a bustling area. I consider it something for remote islands but not on busy, winding roads. The public transit in the area is great--buses, ferries, etc.

I prefer to stay in a hotel. I’ve had experiences renting apartments in Paris, owner lived in Nice, and once in Bordeaux where all the instructions left in the apartment was in French. Thus, a bit difficult because I’m not fluent in the French language so I don’t find renting apartments in other countries easy in case you need to reach out to them.

I love SML and we have been there twice. We have stayed at Hotel Metropole (4 stars) and it was like a 2 min. walk down from the train station. Very nice hotel with a pool and a little private beach. They have a lovely breakfast buffet and I remembered their poach pears were amazing. You’re within walking distance to the town square and near restaurants and shops. It’s in a great location especially if you are taking the train or bus for day trips.

You can take the train to visit the Cinque Terra towns which we did one day. Also, there is a bus at the train station that can take you to Portofino. We have walked to Portofino and then taken the bus back. Last time we were in SML we did the reverse and took bus there and then we walked back to SML. The road has tiny sidewalk so you have to be very careful but it’s a very scenic walk. It wasn’t expensive at all for the fare.

If we visit again, I would stay at Hotel Metropole.

Check out the Hotel Laurin - we stayed there last September. Wonderful views of the port, many restaurants in walking distance, can walk to ferries. Everyone working there was so nice and helpful

I did look into the hotels closer to the train station.

Both Hotel Lauren and the Metropole seem very nice. Thank you for suggesting them.

The apartments I really like unfortunately did not have air conditioning. Perhaps windows open is enough to keep the place comfortable but noise levels from the street with windows open might bother us. So hotel it is.

I must make a change soon as rooms are becoming very limited.

The Grand looks so amazing I just might keep our stay there and if DH is having a bad day we’ll taxi to the train.
Thanks for all the replies.
ATM