Ghironi Hotel is located in a mainly non-residential area (one neighbor being a large school) on one of the main roads leading from the center of La Spezia to the motorway. It is therefore easily accessible by car (there is free parking on the premises); in addition, there is a bus stop right outside the hotel. The premises around the building are well-kept and give it a park-like feeling―not a small feat in this area. Despite the proximity of a major road, the nights were pleasantly quiet.
People at the reception were friendly and helpful. The hotel is very well prepared for tourists visiting Cinque Terre: They have a boxed set of pamphlets, boat and train schedules together with additional information on La Spezia ready at check-in and are very willing to explain the possibilities and answer questions (in excellent English, by the way!). Day passes for the Cinque Terre can be purchased and a shuttle service to the train station booked (10‒20 minutes depending on traffic).
The rooms were unusually spacious, with a nice balcony to relax on, well furnished (in a distinctive style) and clean.
The breakfast buffet had a good selection of beverages, warm and cold food, both for health-conscious guests and those with a craving for sweet stuff. Some of the food is from local or fair-trade sources or from ecological producers.
In summary, Ghironi Hotel was an excellent choice for us and offers good value for the price.