aussiedreamer

As part of our 3.5 month European driving adventure we have selected a couple of place that we would like to stay somewhere nice to get the best views and maybe a little luxury.

We will be staying in apartments for some parts and B&b's for others. Early Sept we want to spend 3 nights in Venice before our two weeks at Lake Como, where we will be meeting up with some Aussie friends and driving to Croatia & up through Italy. We were thinking that we would like a nice hotel for those nights to really enjoy Venice.

And again when we get to Cinque Terre (with our friends - mid Oct) we would like to book somewhere 'nice' to get the most out of the views. Walking is not a problem and we would enjoy a swim in the ocean, enjoying great scenery and eating at casual cafes/bistros.

Any suggestions on towns or specific locations or specific hotels would be great.

Thanks as always,
AD

zeppole

In mid-October, you are likely to find the water too cold for swimming (unless you are very lucky), and I honestly think that you would be wasting your money to book yourself into a fancy hotel in the Italian Riviera -- only to find out that it was raining for several days. The culture of the Italian Riviera is divided into two parts -- the grand old style of Italian resort life designed for visiting royalty and the Italian wealthy, and the much more informal life of trekkers and sea lovers out of a few days of cheap fun with their families.

The grand old hotels still exist, although not in le Cinque Terre proper. (You should take a look at Portovenere for the one nearest, and there at least one other in Sestri Levante, and quite a few in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino and one in Camogli).

You can also find more modest hotels and b&bs with great views all along the coast, and le Cinque Terre only has modest accommodations, no luxury resorts. It might make more sense to pick one of those in case you end up spending most of your time outside le Cinque Terre due to rain. (When it rains, you really cannot walk the trails.)

If it rains, it is not far to visit Chiavari for an interesting stroll around a town with many porticoes for shelter. Personally, especially for mid-October, I would base in a town in between Genova and Chiavari, near the scenic Monte Portofino -- either Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino or Rapallo -- and take a train to see le Cinque Terre and hike for a day there. But you'll find it easier to take a train to small cities if it rains. Or, with a car, base in someplace like Lerici or Portovenere and day trip le Cinque Terre, but you'll be able to go Pisa or Parma if it is raining on the coast.

But go cheap on your Ligurian accommodations and blow the remainder on Venice, where you'll need it!

zeppole

PS: In case my writing wasn't clear, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great view in Liguria. In all the towns I've mentioned, and including le Cinque Terre, many accommodations in all price ranges have great views. That is because the towns are so vertical and stacked up with b&bs.

cambe

I would agree with zeppole who gives excellent advice about this area.

I was in the Rapallo and the Cinque Terre the 1st week of October last year and the weather was wonderful - lots of people swimming. However a friend went the following week and it rained most of the time!!! Weather in October is unpredictable.

I loved the Cinque Terre but it was casual - which for me was its charm. My favourite place on the Italian Riviera was Santa Margherita and you will find plenty of fancy hotels here but as zeppole says you don't have to stay in luxury to get a nice view.

Enjoy your trip

bobthenavigator

This is easily the the best hotel in the CT and in a fabulous location at the start to the hiking paths. Have fun !
http://www.portoroca.it/

zeppole

I came back to add that in mid-October, you don't need to book in advance, so my strategy would be not to book a hotel at all on the Mediterranean, just know the ones you like with good views, and follow the weather up to the last minute on the internet. If it's raining, go someplace else. Italy is full of great destinations in mid-October -- truffles in Le Marche and Umbria, wine production in the Veneto and Fruili, and the unusual art cities of Mantova, Ferrara, Urbino, Parma (great cheese and great art).

But I hope for sunny skies and warm weather too! Liguria is a lovely place, and if you are coming with a car, try to head up into the hills way for at least part of your stay.

HappyTrvlr

We really enjoyed Hotel Porta Roca in Monterossa with its beautiful views from our room and the dining terrace.The food was excellent too.When we stayed there they had a private section on the sandy beach below for their guests.

aussiedreamer

Thank you all so much. We like the idea of watching the weather and deciding then what we would like to do. I will look at all your suggestions.

We are fotunate enough to have plenty of time for exploring lots of small towns/villages. We are going to avoid staying in large cities and just do day trips in. (except for Venice )
Thanks again.

zorrosf

In Venice, we love the Londra Palace for its exceptional views and great location. But, it is PRICEY!

suze

www.lacalcina.com is a lovely 3-star in Venice.

zoecat

Check out La Mala in Vernazza. Try for room 26 or 31.

http://www.lamala.it/en/index.html

aussiedreamer

zoecat WOH, that looks perfect, exactly what I was after.

zorrosf, beautiful, but yes a little too pricy

suze, this looks quite nice and reasonable, thanks.

Thanks everyone.