LHP Hotel Santa Margherita Palace & SPA in Santa Margherita Ligure

Warning - this is NOT a 5* hotel. If like us you opt to stay in the residence for space and privacy, you'll find yourselves staying under a residential flat with a child running around overhead late into the evening and 1st thing in the morning. Not the families fault. It's an odd choice to buy the ground floor of an apartment block. It's also right next to the train line with trains running past midnight. When I mentioned the noise at checkout, it was very clear this is a common complaint. There was no resolution offered (the difference between a 3* and a 5* hotel).
On face value, it looks stunning, has big rooms with comfortable beds and plenty of storage. Shame about the noise. I'm sure a stay in the main hotel is quieter 🙏.

Our room did not include use of pool area. Requested 50 euro pp to use the pool .ordered a cappacino in the morning and they charged me the full price of breakfast buffet 30 euro. Front staff was rude.

Warning: this is not a five star hotel. I think the reason there are so many negative reviews is because the five star is misleading. If it was a four star people would have rated this place better. But when you state you’re a five star it sets up expectations. With that said I’ll give you my pros and cons.

PRO: location is great. Staff is amazing, friendly, and attentive. AC worked but this is expected if you’re paying for a junior suite. Dinner at the restaurant was good. Service was great. Breakfast buffet was good as well and the staff are smiley positive and attentive.

CONS: The website doesn’t explicitly tell you but they have the main building and then an annex building. The annex building is just the lower level and first floor they’ve turned into hotel rooms and put there spa and gym in. The annexed building is a bit far from the main building and you have to walk down the alleyway. We were placed here. I think the hotel had purchased the building, renovated it, and then also rented the remaining floors to locals as the annex upper floors is residential to the Italian locals.

Another con: the furniture and decor is not of five star quality. In my opinion it’s very tacky and of low quality.

Word of advice. If you think you’re getting a good deal due to the price for a five star you’re wrong. You get what you pay for.

If you want a true five star experience book the imperial palace or the continental. But expect to pay double the price.

Lesson learned. Don’t expect to pay a four star hotel amount and expect it to be a true five star.