Once settled, we savoured our first sip of Italian wine at the pool bar before getting our bearings in the town. A short stroll found us at the old marina - with a handful of bars and restaurants - before reaching the old town within just 10 minutes' walk of the hotel. Here, we found charming plaza squares with outdoor restaurants and a vibrant atmosphere, as visitors of all nationalities enjoyed a selection of Italian cuisine at the choice of restaurants.
The next day we awoke to glorious sunshine, so went for an early breakfast before our day by the pool. Royal Hotel Sanremo offered a wonderful buffet breakfast with omelettes being made to order in front of us, perfectly paired with a glass of fizz! We lazed the day by the beautiful lagoon-style pool, where there were plenty of comfortable loungers to choose from, all very well-spaced out making the pool area feel incredibly relaxing. For lunch, we opted to dine at the pool restaurant where we tucked into tomato and mozzarella salad followed by fish with vegetables - the service was impeccable both in the restaurant and by the pool and we were kept very well hydrated (admittedly with both water and wine!).
The following day, we decided to be a little more active, hitting the boutique gym before hiring bikes from in front of the hotel and cycling along the seafront promenade right by the hotel. The combination of the smooth and safe cycle path and the stunning sea views meant there were lots of keen cyclists, as well as holidaymakers exploring the area, who, like us, were stopping at the numerous bars and restaurants along the way. We spent so long exploring the coast and stopping off for drinks, that eventually we settled to watch the sunset before returning to the hotel.
After our final breakfast, we bid farewell to this charming hotel and town to make our way to the station for our next stop. Within just an hour on the coastal train, we arrived back in Monaco, our familiar stomping ground. On this trip, we so welcomed the change of scene and an Italian addition to our usual French sojourn. It has even tempted us to consider returning and heading south to twin with Portofino as we've always loved the look of Belmond Splendido Mare... watch this space!