My husband and I are heading to Tuscany for 5 nights, after which we want to spend 2 nights in the Italian Riviera. It's a pretty last minute trip and I have a few questions, so any help would be much appreciated:
1. We were thinking of returning our rental car in Pisa after our 5 days in Tuscany, and then taking the train from Pisa to the Riviera for 2 nights, then train back to Lucca for our last night so we have a short trip to Pisa airport the next day (our flight home is at 1.25pm from Pisa the next day). Does this seem reasonable?
2. Where to base ourselves? We are deciding between Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, and Camogli. We primarily want to see Portofino and Cinque Terre (we don't plan to hike all 5 towns -- some combination of hike, train and boat, ideally). Since we wont have a car, proximity to the train is important to us. We generally like charming places that are not too overbuilt, very walkable, and have good restaurant/cafe options (we would like to stay within $300/night, but we are booking with only 2 weeks notice so the options are somewhat limited). Do any of the 3 aforementioned towns stand out as the best option?
Many thanks in advance!
Help with Cinque Terre / Portofino
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I always love staying in Santa Margherita. It is beautiful and you can get to most places with relative ease. I love to walk to Portofino along the water or take the ferry.
Check out the Hotel Continental http://www.hotel-continental.it/eng/prenotazioni.htm
I'm a fan of SML, but the train station is uphill from the center. There is a bus and usually taxis.
Rapallo, for me, lacks charm.
Does Camogli have a train station?
It all makes good sense, but be aware that SML, Camogli etc are a long way from the CT. It would make more sense to enjoy the Portofino peninsula or the CT in your short time, but not both.
I've stayed in both Camogli and SML.
Camogli has a train station and I found it to be smaller and more charming than SML. Both are lovely, however.
You can walk to Portofino from SML--a flat walk of a few kilometers along the beautiful coastal path.
Camogli fits your stated needs but Portofino does not. You will find it beautiful but very crowded with daytrippers and much more glitzy than the other towns you mention. Food will be very expensive but be aware that none of these towns offer extensive budget eating options.
If you want more info, you can take a look at my trip report; it includes details of our stay at both Camogli and SML, as well as a visit to Portofino.
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/ligurian-coast-lake-como-moscardini-missoltini-and-much-else.cfm
More info and opinions here, on a thread I began before my own trip:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/ligurian-coastcamogli-or-sml-or-best-base-and-general-advice-sought.cfm
ps..I found Rapallo to be less charming than any of the towns mentioned. But I only got a glimpse on a visit of an hour or two, so perhaps it is not fair of me to comment..
www.metropole.it is my fav family hotel perfectly located
1 block downhill from SML train station on the sea just roll
my bag down do not have to take a taxi walk 1 block to ferry
Last year paid 120 euro per nt for sea view at Red Lodge there
awesome breakfast better than all the others for price for me.
www.torrettas.com for something remote romantic my #2 Manarola
Thank you all. It looks like it will be SML or Camogli.
Bobthenavigator: I stayed in Monterosso once about 8 years ago when traveling with friends, so thought I would try something different this time. Plus, we are booking with only 2 weeks notice, so there is virtually nothing available directly in C.T.
It looks like Cenobio dei Dogi or Hotel Continental are the two options we are choosing between...
thanks again for the replies.
qwovadis: Thanks. Unfortunately Metropole is fully booked for our days. Torrettas looks absolutely lovely - i've send an inquiry but suspect they will be totally booked too!
If you go to Hotel Continental, make sure you ask for a room facing the water on an upper floor. You won't regret it. I am so envious. Have fun!
* * * UPDATE * * *
Per this recent thread (Oct), there's been flooding in Cinque Terre area ....
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/travel-warning-le-cinque-terre-hit-by-floods-cutting-off-towns.cfm
For all who have or are planning to visit in coming weeks, check to see status ..... and trails between towns may take awhile before reopening.
The OP was posted on 1 September "with only two weeks notice", so I'd guess that they've been and got the t-shirt by now. From zeppole's post of today's date on my thread of "5 days in Liguria", things are pretty bad there and it may not be weeks before travel is possible or welcomed, it may be months.