From left: Boats in the port town of Santa Margherita Ligure; the harbor at Portofino. Carol Sachs A signpost between swaths of gorse and wild thyme marked the rugged descent to Punta Chiappa.

Eight Hotel Portofino Via Milite Ignoto, 30, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy Italian brand Eight Hotels has a centrally-situated property in Portofino, a short walk from the main piazza.

Portofino and Santa Margherita are well supplied with cashpoint machines and exchange offices. In an emergency dial 118 (ambulance), 115 (fire brigade) or 112/113 (police).

Portofino is located in Liguria, Northern Italy, close to my favourite city of Genoa. From Genoa, it's just a 40-minute train ...

Stroll back to Portofino harbour (6) and, having booked, meet an instructor from DWS Diving Centre (0039 0185 282578; dwsdiving.com), based in Santa Margherita Ligure, who will arrive by boat.

But back to Portofino, getting there from Santa Margherita Ligure proved to be no problem. A taxi ride takes about six minutes, ferries make the run in 15 minutes, which is about the same time the ...

From Genoa, travel by train to Santa Margherita Ligure and continue on by taxi, ... Another stylish alternative, just a short walk from the piazzetta, Eight Portofino, ...