Jill

We are 2 single women traveling to the Cinque Terre area in Mid-September and would like some advice on what town to stay in for our "base". We would like to have some "night life" or night time activity and don't know what town would be best for that. Any hotel recommendations around $80 would be very helpful! Thank! Jillian

amy

I've stayed in Monterosso twice which is the largest town of the 5 and there wasn't much night life there except for the nightly games of boules and the evening passagiata. There is a kind of happening bar just past the boules court that caters to international youngsters that was hopping until late.

ellen

You might want to stay in larger towns near Cinque Terre, such as Santa Margherita Ligure or Portovenere. Both are a short train ride to the Cinque Terre towns and have more hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Surlok

I'd choose Portovenere instead of Sta. Margherita Ligure. From Sta. Margherita, you'd easily reach Portofino, or Genoa, whereas from Portovenere, you'd be close to both, the small villages of Cinque Terre and also Tuscany. Besides, I find it much more appealing than Sta. Margherita. <BR> <BR>Surlok

Jeanette

I agree with the above poster. I was in all the places mentioned last March and I would definitely choose Portovenere. I stayed in Rapallo and liked it better than S. Margherita, but would have prefered Portovenere after I was there a while for lots of location reasons AND because of the lodgings etc. there. Food was great throughout.

amy

the other plus of portovenere is that some of the boats that ferry between the 5 towns also include portovenereas a stop and the boat is a nice (albeit slow) alternative to the train. It certainly is a beautiful way to see all of the towns.

Sean

Hey There, <BR> Monterosso is a fine town, with decent nightlife. There are 2 bars that are open till 2:30. It is a fine mix of international tourists and locals. One of the bars is right on the cliffs over-looking the sea. <BR> I am an American whi is living in Monterosso. I started a tour of sorts that goes through all the towns, one by boat, the others by foot. It includes all kinds of fun excursions and we have beer at the end of the dayn and meet back up at 8 to be shuttled up to a mountain-top reataurant for an incredible dinner with plenty of food and wine over-looking the village and the sea..all included for $35 <BR> You can also nice apartments to yourself for $25 a person often with washers and kitchens. You can e-mail for info...Happy travels another good source os www.fishnet.it <BR>

DidntHaveTime

I didn't have time to search to confirm my belief, but I thought I had learned from previous threads that there is no train from Portovenere to the CT. I thought you had to bus or drive to La Spezia to get the train. Non e vero?

kate

Quite right 'didn't have time'.There is no train service to potovenere. you can catch a boat from the 5T towns or get a train to La Spezia and then take a bus.

daniele

we can help single women for accomodation (appartments or rooms) but for night life i can tell you only to meet italian men.Someone will be better than you can hope.