I'm getting the idea that there are a lot of inclines in Vernazza. Thanks for the tips.

I've read, during my numerous days of Internet travel planning, that Franca Maria's place has thin walls. One traveler complained about the neighbors TV noise. Has anyone experienced this?

Hi again Googs, when and for how long are you going? If I had not visited Vernazza before I would worry about alot of the stuff you are worried about also, but really its not necessary. I promise you, all these little things will fade away once you are there. I did see another really lovely B&B but it is 15 minutes walk up the trail. If you are facing the village from the sea, its to the East, a little past the Tower Restaurant. It looks very nice, and definitely not noisy. I will try find the web address for you. There might always be some little quirk, (many steps to Gianni's, noise at Maria's, a shared bathroom at Barbara's) but you are actually staying in a real Italian village and that is the beauty of it. When we go there as visitors, we are just fitting in to their lives, catching a tiny slice of it, its wonderful! After all the sea air, the beautiful nature, the wonderful FRESH seafood and wine, and a 3-4 hour dinner you will sleep like a log!. I will try get you that website. A

Hi Googs. This one is a 15 minute walk up from Vernazza but would definitely not be noisy and looks very nice, just another option: http://www.eremosulmare.com

And have you looked at this website?
http://www.baranin.com

Best of luck!

This is the agency I used for reserving double rooms in Vernazza in early October - http://www.arbaspaa.com/apt_ver_english.htm

Eurotraveler, Did you stay at Apt #2 at http://www.arbaspaa.com/apt_ver_english.htm ?

Aine, You are absolutely right!

Googs - I have reserved 4 double rooms for our group of 8 in early Oct 2004. I have not stayed at Apt. #2. I am quite sure that it was a good review on this board that steered me towards Arbasbaa. Emails were answered promptly and I was given a cell # to call when I arrive in Vernazza.
Regards -eurotravler

I finally found a vacancy in Vernazza. My first three hotel choices were booked for my two weekdays in May. Very suprised, but now my dates are under one month.

Apartment #2 here I come.

Thank you all!

We stayed at Trattoria Gianni last fall (Sept); it was ok. I would urge you to open your suitcase (1, NOT 2) and take out every other item. When you've finished that, take out every item over 1 lb. It was a long way down from the train station and UP the stairs (to the top of) Trattoria Gianni. With 1100 lbs of suitcases. You'd think we would have known. Well...the locals were so amused, after the initial shock, that they, with wine in hand, followed us down to the hotel, and then, seeing where we were staying, began taking side bets, loudly in Italian, as to whether I'd succumb in the process. (This was day 6 of a 23 day trip (London, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Florence, Gubbio, Cortona, Siena, Montepulciano, Sorrento). Deb and I began to have words by day 7.) ....and then unpack again and eliminate anything brightly colored, metal or plastic. Hopefully you're down to about 12 items....might be lighht enough. I could go on....great number of amusing stories.

Ramblero, That is a riot! What a great visual. I am sure to pack light now.

From your trip last Sept. what was your favorite? I like Gubbio. Next month we plan to visit Siena and Montepulciano with the C.T.

That's impossible. We did enough planning (plus Deb had been to Florence & Siena before) so that literally every place we went to was one where I could have stayed for a month. I loved Gubbio, Cortona (have great "Under the Tuscan Sun" stories), Siena (site of one of 2 of the best dinners I've ever had in Europe, the other in Paris), Camogli/Portfino Peninsula, Montepulciano, Cinque Terre, Chianti Region - especially Rada in Chianti, Sorrento/Amalfi Coast and Capri.

I would be hard pressed to eliminate any of the places we were at.

Actually, our biggest disappointments: 1) Italian bread, 2) Italian wine(s) - particlarly Brunellos (we can get Italian wines here (CA) at prices equal to...or better than...what you'll pay in Italy) and the (identical) breakfasts served at the hotels. They must have a standard menu for tourist hotels..and have a bizarre concept of what tourists like to eat. Oh...and Italian road maps (which I believe ignore any town over 5000 people..or maybe because the cartographer's great, great grandmother was insulted by the printer's 11th cousin 5 times removed and have, in spite, removed all towns ever visited by said cousin. I dunno. But we'd be sailing through some little town and we'd say "Oh!!! THIS is kewl!!! Where ARE we????) it wouldn't be on the map.)

Anyway...just reading many of the posts on Fodor's makes me immediately slide into a wistful funque, wishing I were back in Italy. I WILL go back.....

I'm just back from driving in C.T.! The drive was so wonderful and a highlight of our trip. If you take a left turn just out of Vernazza (near the parking attendant), toward Monterosso, there is a very narrow winding secondary road. Beautiful drive when using caution and the locals are very friendly. Each one waved as I held back on areas where two cars couldn't pass without experience. This road wasn't as ominous as the #2 trail from Monterosso to Vernazza.

I did it! Thanks list!!

Googs: Good for you, its worth it isn't it despite what everyone says? Did you enjoy the Cinque Terre? Where did you visit in Tuscany that you liked?

Just a word from the flip side.

We drove from outside Florence to Monterosso 3 years ago for a day trip. We'd heard there was a large parking lot there, with no crowds like in La Spezia. The drive through the mountains once we'd left the main highway was a true nightmare for us.

It was nothing but hairpin curves and basically one lane around them. My husband drove, as the husband of the couple travelling with us literally had a panic attack - we thought he was having a heart attack. It really marred our visit, as the whole time our men kept looking up, searching for another way out (nope!).
On the way back up, we were nearly run off the side of the mountain by a tour bus barreling around a curve - it nearly hit us head on, and we had to back up down the mountain to allow it to complete the turn. It didn't help that my husband was just getting used to driving a manual shift again after driving an automatic for 20+ years.

Unfortunately, we now call it the Cinque Terror and our husbands have vowed never to return!