kcnewby

Aaaaagh! I am so frustrated trying to choose the right place to stay around the Cinque Terre. I was planning Levanto or Portovenere but very open to other suggestions... I need help!
Family of four, two teens (19 & 17), have a car - coming from Greve, staying 3 nights (1st to 4th Oct). Going to Venice from there.
I have planned all 4.5 weeks of our trip, booked all accomodation but this is the last one.
Would like something that we can walk arround in the evening. A few places I have looked at have a double bed and a sofa bed but they say for four?? My son is 191cm and daughter 177cm so I am sure they would prefer beds to themselves.....
Does a double bed in italy mean the same as our Queen or is 'double' universal?
Any thoughts much appreciated...

Andrew

Do you have to be in one room? Or are you trying to stick to a budget?

Last September, I stayed in Levanto at a little B&B called Affittacamere Marco - not even listed on Trip Advisor (yet!) I think. I was kind of taking a chance on it, because there were few reviews anywhere. It turned out to be decent enough, a GREAT deal and located pretty well close to the center. (I assume you can park nearby, somewhere - I didn't have a car.) The cost was something like 45 Euro/night per room, when everything else I could find was like double (I booked near the last minute). It wasn't amazing but clean and convenient. You may actually be able to fit four in one of those rooms, you can ask, though it might be tight.

http://www.bedandbreakfastmarco.com/sito-english.htm

The place was pretty empty in September (Levano's high season is August - big beach town) so I imagine it would be similarly empty in October. The lodgings that are listed on the big booking websites will be booked with people just training back to the Five Villages (like I did).

Beds in Italy can be different sizes, but assume "double" not "queen." I'm about your son's height and was comfortable enough in the "double beds" I slept in in Italy, though I wasn't sharing with anyone in Levanto.

Andrew

Oh, this might be a slightly better landing page for the B&B:

http://www.bedandbreakfastmarco.com/...mid=60&lang=en

kcnewby

Thanks Andrew,
Dont really have a budget set in mind. If it looks good we'll book it! and happy with two rooms if need be.

Andrew

Give Affittacamere Marco a shot. I'm not sure what your experience is with B&Bs, but just know that unlike a hotel, there is usually no one there to help you except when you check in, at an arranged time so you can fill out the check-in forms and get the keys. Affittacamere Marco was pretty much "self service," mostly a little family-run operation in this case. Don't expect a smooth, polished operation, but I've always found these B&Bs much more friendly because you're usually dealing with one of the owners not an employee of a corporation. I've stayed at a variety of places in Italy and elsewhere, and the B&Bs can be a terrific value and more pleasant than a stuffy hotel.

Having a cell phone that allows you to call last minute is helpful with B&Bs as well, in case you arrive early or late or something.

Levanto is a nice town, actually, just much more conventional than the Five Villages of the Cinque Terre. It's about a ten minute walk from the B&B or the center up to the train station (up a slight hill) and a quick train ride down to the CT. If you're up for it, you can also take a (long) hike from Levanto back to Monterosso, something I haven't tried on my two stays in Levanto.

KayF

We stayed at these rooms in Manarola, one of the Cinque Terre villages. Personally, if I was visiting the area I'd rather stay IN the CT, rather than nearby, but that's just me.

http://www.casacapellini-5terre.it/index_eng.htm

We had a double room with ensuite and a balcony with a wonderful seaview but it says they also have an apartment so you could check how many beds. There is a lot of uphill walking to reach Casa Capellini but all the villages are built into steep hillsides so that's hard to avoid. The room was pretty basic, we had to pay cash and no breakfast but we just bought something in the village. The view was the best bit.

Just noticed you will have a car. You can't drive into any of the CT villages so maybe your initial idea of a town outside might work better. There is a small amount of parking on the outskirts of the villages, you could always enquire with the accommodation.

Kay

kcnewby

Thanks Kay, I have seen this place, I think it will be hard with the car though. I nhave emailed them so we will see the outcome. Thanks

kcnewby

Anyone else?

jnjfraz

A double bed is between an American double and a queen. Two kid that size will not work in one of these beds. We usually stay in Vernazza at this place http://www.giannifranzi.it/ Small but clean rooms and not too expensive and we love this amazing little village. You can drive in or take the ferry.


We also really like Portovenere and have stayed at the Grand. A little to old style for us.

Sometimes the choices are so good that it's hard to decide on from another.

I have a great restaurant list for the Greve area. I'll send it to you if you like... [email protected]

Kiddo

Hi Kcnewby, We stayed at this place about 2 1/2 years ago. It's about a 5-10 minute drive outside Levanto. We enjoyed it and especially loved the breakfasts outside on the patio.

www.agriturismovillanova.it/