Hotel Rex

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Hotel Rex on Via Del Littorale, I wasn’t expecting much from the exterior. It’s one of those classic Italian seaside hotels that doesn’t scream luxury from the street, but you know what? That turned out to be completely misleading. The moment you step inside, there’s this immediate sense that someone actually cares about the details here, and I mean the kind of details that matter when you’re tired from traveling.

The location is actually pretty brilliant if you know Livorno at all. You’re right on the coast road, which means you can literally walk to the water in about two minutes – and I’m talking about the real Mediterranean, not some tiny hotel pool. The staff mentioned that Via Del Littorale gets a bit busy during morning commute hours, but honestly, once you’re settled in your room with those double-paned windows, you barely notice. What I really appreciated was how close you are to the old Fortezza Vecchia if you want to explore the historic bits, but you’re also just a quick taxi ride from the train station when it’s time to head to Florence or Rome. The parking situation is way better than most places in Italian coastal towns – they’ve got their own lot, which is honestly a godsend if you’re driving.

The rooms have that comfortable, lived-in feeling that good four-star places manage to pull off. Nothing too fancy, but everything works properly (the AC actually cools the room, imagine that), and the beds are genuinely comfortable – I’m talking about the kind where you don’t wake up with a crick in your neck. The breakfast spread is solid too, with proper Italian coffee and those little pastries that somehow taste better when you’re eating them while looking out at the sea. I stayed there during shoulder season in late September, and the whole place had this relaxed vibe where the staff actually had time to chat and give you real recommendations instead of just handing you a tourist map. That 8.4 rating makes total sense once you’ve been there – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place on the coast, but it absolutely nails what it is trying to be.