Starhotels President

Starhotels President is a contemporary upscale city hotel in the commercial district around Brignole station, on the eastern side of central Genoa. It is the kind of hotel that business travellers and conference visitors like, with dependable standards, a modern look and staff used to guests who arrive late and leave early. It is also a sensible choice for leisure travellers who value comfort and good transport links more than period atmosphere. The location is practical rather than picturesque. Brignole station, with trains along the Riviera towards Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and the Cinque Terre direction, is close, and Via XX Settembre, the long arcaded shopping street, leads from this part of town to Piazza De Ferrari and the old city in about a quarter of an hour on foot. The Mercato Orientale food market is nearby, which makes breakfast shopping and snacks easy. The harbour and aquarium are a short bus, metro or taxi ride away. Rooms are modern, air-conditioned and generally larger than those in the older buildings in the historic centre, and the hotel offers the usual comforts of its class, including a restaurant and bar and meeting facilities. Some rooms face quieter sides, so ask when you book if you prefer calm over city views.

The main strength of this hotel is how smoothly it works as a base. Trains from Brignole reach the Riviera resorts in under an hour, buses and the metro run into the centre, and taxis are easy to find, so you can plan a mix of city days and coast days without difficulty. The airport is a short drive away, which helps for early flights. If you arrive by car, ask about parking before you book, because central Genoa is a limited traffic zone in places and parking can be tight and costly.

For a first visit, a sensible plan is to spend a day on foot in the Strade Nuove and old town, a day at the aquarium and Porto Antico, and a day on the Riviera, returning to a comfortable room each evening. Dinner can be found in the surrounding streets, where restaurants serve everything from classic Ligurian pesto and focaccia to simple seafood, and the district is calmer in the evening than the old lanes. As in any big city, use normal care around the station area late at night.

Breakfast at a hotel of this class is usually a generous buffet, with pastries, bread, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, eggs and coffee, and it is worth confirming at booking whether it is included in your rate. Families can ask about larger rooms or connecting rooms, and travellers with reduced mobility will generally find lifts and step-free routes easier in a modern building than in a historic palace. Ask about luggage storage if you arrive early or have an afternoon train.

Prices follow the trade calendar. Fairs, conferences and cruise arrivals can push rates up and fill rooms in spring and autumn, while weekends outside event dates, winter and high summer can offer better value, so look at flexible rates if your dates may change.

Overall this is a comfortable, dependable choice for travellers who want an easy base, modern rooms and quick rail access, and who are happy to walk or ride into the old town for atmosphere. Those looking for a frescoed palace or a harbour view may prefer one of the historic or waterfront hotels in this guide.