azure0327

Two weeks until my trip to Bella Italia! Can't wait... I had everything booked but now I am starting to have second thoughts about my hotel choice in Monterosso. My first choices: Villa Steno, Pasquale and Locanda il Maestrale are completely booked. I tried a few others but the only hotel that had a room for 6 nights was Albergo degli Amici. Unfortunately, the hotel has not received good reviews recently. Also, I am concerned that Monterosso might be too touristy. I would like to stay somewhere quaint and charming with easy access to CT and the rest of the Riviera. I have found hotels available in Santa Margherita Ligure, Portovenere and Camogli. They all sound wonderful which is why I am having trouble figuring out which town to pick from... Your thoughts for those of you who have been in the area? Thank you in advance.

tuscanlifeedit

Ok, please remember these are my opinions and not everyone will agree.

You wrote, "I would like to stay somewhere quaint and charming with easy access to CT and the rest of the Riviera."

I guess the CT is quaint and charming, but access to the rest of the Riviera isn't easy. Although both the Golfo di Tigullio (almost Camogli and definetly SML), Portovenere, and the CT are all a part of the Italian Region of Liguria, they are not all considered part of the Italian Riviera, which isn't a real geographic area, but a sort of generally defined one.

That said, the eastern regions of the Riviera generally are thought to end at Rapallo, just beyond Santa Margherita Ligure.

Portovenere and the CT are much closer to one another than either is too the Riviera. Portovenere is at the very border, bascially, of Liguria and Tuscany.

So, you might also want to base your choices on where else you will be traveling.

Back to quaint and charming: Camogli is maybe, but remember that Camogli and SML are resort towns. SML more so than Camogli, which was a small fishing village before it became a tourist destination. It is a small town without "easy" access to anyplace else.

SML is my favorite place for summer travel, including September. I would move there if I could. However, it is not quaint. Charming yes, but quaint no. Great food, wonderful transportation connections to Portofino and Camogli, leisurely strolls, beautiful shops, but quaint it aint.

The CT is qaint, I guess, but heavily touristed.

Portovenere is beautiful, quaint and charming, but 6 nights there would be alot. The bigger hotels on the way into town aren't charming at all, but having a pool would be nice. But 6 days? Too many I think.

Nor would I want to spend 6 days in Monterosso. But that is me. I think the CT is over visited. Lovely views are great hiking are good for a couple of days, I think, but it wouldn't be my choice for a longer stay.

Why not do three days in SML and 3 in Monterosso?

I am a big fan of SML and have posted a link here before, more than once, to an article I wrote about the area. I am embarrassed to do so again, but it might help you decide:

http://www.postgazette.com/travel/20...fino0810p1.asp

azure0327

Hi Tuscanlifeedit (Debra),

Thank you for your thorough response and for providing the link to your terrific article. You have given me much to think about and consider. I know 6 nights in one place might be too much but I was hoping to settle somewhere that could be used as a base for taking daytrips throughout Liguria. Dividing the time between Monterosso and SML sounds like a good idea though. Thanks again.

azure0327

ttt

bobthenavigator

I always prefer Portovenere or Levanto as a base for that region. SML is lovely as a general base location but is an hour from the CT.

azure0327

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your input. Have you ever stayed at Royal Sporting or Hotel Belvedere in Portovenere? Any recommendations? Hotel Paradiso looks nice but they only offer a full board rate in September.