San Remo / Liguria

Moving my thread hijack from the 'Nice' thread to this one.

Looking for somewhere with range of terrain in Italy. Was thinking about San Remo, flying to Nice and transferring over there.

Going in April for a week with a mate, need somewhere with some variety, decent roads, and somewhere to get a beer and a bowl of pasta in the evening.

Any proven ideas welcome - cheers for the Vence tip AndyP - looks interesting, though to be honest we're really trying to stay in Italy.

God dammit. It's the silence I had feared.

I'll post something when I get time, have a two year old to entertain all day today though (who is currently asking "what doing, Dad? What doing?")

Lombardy's nice. Fly to Milan and take a train.

I wouldn't miss Genova, the old part is magnificent, and pretty close to San Remo.

Cheers fellows. Was thinking about basing in Genova, searched for bike hotels there and ended up looking at San Remo. Shall have another butchers. It's a pro haven too isn't it?

Right, have some time.

I spent a week in San Remo in 2001, when the Giro was there for a couple of days. The riding is good, with the flattish coast road that many will know from Milan-San Remo. It's a decent road but can get a bit busy in places.

If you head inland then you're climbing almost immediately and, frankly, there isn't much up in the hills so great for riding, with barely any traffic, but you'll struggle to find anywhere for lunch or to fill your bottles if that's a concern. I loved riding around there and would happily go back.

San Remo itself is quite an upmarket place so, like many Italian resorts, full of designer label shops but you can get decent accomodation and excellent food for reasonable prices.

I wouldn't stay anywhere else, the other towns along the coast are small and either too commercial, like Imperia, or too touristy like Laigeguila (spelt wrong).

We've stayed near Triora a couple of times (30km north of San Remo, all uphill). Great riding, on decent roads. Eating options can be a bit thin on the ground. Get's pretty hot in Summer. Lovely part of the world.

Thanks andy, sounds great. It shouldn't be too hot in april so hopefully carrying a couple of bottles will be enough and not seeing many towns / cafés won't be too much of an issue. Quieter the roads the better.

The price for a 3* bike hotel place was £225 for the week (£450 for a twin split two ways) which I reckon is pretty awesome value for a popular place at a time of year when quite a few people are on holiday.

Thanks for finding the time to post on this.

thanks gussio ;-)