Domina Inn Piccolo - Portofino, Italy     

One of the best places we stayed during our month long vacation which brought us to many good hotels. We liked it so much we extended our stay a day. Unlike the other reviewers, we found the hotel very modern and the hotel - both rooms (we had two double rooms as we travelled with two teenage children) and the lobby-breakfast areas appeared to be newly rennovated in a modern Italian style featuring black and white which seemed to reflect the stones from the beach just across the road. We got a good price - we had not made reservations and called in the late afternoon as we travelled in that diretion, paying about 200 Euros per room with breakfast. Breakfast was ok - you have to ask for yogurt, ham, chesse, eggs, etc. and they bring them. If you don't ask, you won't get any and there was no extra charge for this. We found the bay wonderful - clear clean water and there was not trash from the enormous luxury boats moored nearby as reported by another reviewer. There was some stuff in the water (appears natural - we have the same problem at our summer houts) which was removed each morning by a worker. The terraced rocky private beach area was wonderful to relax in before getting warmed up for a swim. The hotel provides nice beach lounge chairs and has a cafe where you can order drinks, a latte, sandwhiches or even keep your private bottle of wine in the frig. Town is just a few minutes walk away where there are soom good restuarants and shopping and you can take a tourist boat to visit a near-by scenic small village. The hotel is located just on the road and we had a room with a window to the bay and road and experiened no traffic noise or problems, but I am sure there is more traffic in August when Europe vacations. We met three receptionists during our visit - two were very helpful and friendly and the third must the the sour-puss who the other reviewers met - really a prententious unfriendly sort! When heading for the beach in the morning, he called out to me to say "Madam, you must leave the hotel today - you cannot stay any longer as we are fully booked". Geez - it was only 10 am and we certainly planned to leave by the noon check-out. We had not asked to stay another day and his unfriendly attitude was a contrast to our otherwise very pleasurable stay.

The receptionist was far from polite, the room was shabby and very small bedroom area. The bathroom is tiny, too. Definitely needs renovation.. If you have to stay there don't stay on on the first floor, your only view is a wall.