We are planning a trip to Italy in mid-June and want to hike in the cinque terre area. We will have 2days/nights to stay in cinque terre. I have read that Monterrosa is over-built and that the other towns have few accomodations so we are thinking of staying in Levanto or Portovenere instead. Has anyone stayed in these towns? We will not have car and therefore will get around by hiking, training and taking boats. Are Levanto and Portovenere too far to use for exploring the cinque terre? <BR>

No, they are pretty much side by side, and there is train that connects. A beautiful place to spend a few days.

I think it is a bit of an overstatement to say Monterossa is "overbuilt." It is a small village/town which you can walk from end to end in about 15 minutes. It may have more tourists becuase you can drive to it but it is still a lovely place to stay and is certainly not a big city--or even a good sized town. we have also stayed in Portovenere and although it is very nice, I prefer Monterossa. Have a good time ----Cinque Terre is very special.

Bonnie, I will assume from your email address that you are American, as I am. When you say "overbuilt" in America, you envision Miami beach, etc. To say Monterosso is overbuilt would be an exaggeration. It has more hotels and restaurants than the other of the "five towns", but it is still very small, chanming and as Maggie says, you can get from one end to the other in 15 minutes walk. Although the other towns are even more charming, Monterosso was lovely and we like having a couple of choices for dinner. We stayed two nights, getting there very early the first morning. We only hiked that day. We stayed at a small hotel right on the beach called Bahia or something like that. We got a beach front room with a small balcony and kept our window open all night. There was a man on the next balcony painting all day. At night, after about 11, all we could hear in our room was the occasional clink of wine glasses and the waves on the beach. So, despite accomdating tourist, it is still a lovely small town. We were there in mid-July.

Bonnie, <BR> <BR>I have been to the cinque terre 5 times and have to agree with the previous 2 posts. One point of clarification: Although you can get to the cinque terre from Levanto easily by train, you cannot get there from Portovenere by train. There is a boat from Portovenere, but it is much slower, more expensive and prone to cancellation. The boat is definately worth the effort as a sightseeing excursion, but not as convenient transportation. <BR> <BR>I have always stayed in Venazza and stayed in private rooms that you can find by enquiring at bars or restaurants, otherwise, Monterosso is your best bet.

Beth,, <BR> <BR>My wife and I are planning on being in Monterosso..next month. <BR> <BR>We are considering the Baia...or the La Spiaggia. Rick Steves didnt like the people at the Baia..but it is listed now as a 3 star. <BR> <BR>Would you go back to the same hotel?,,,did you like it....any probs... <BR> <BR>Do you know anything abpout the La Spiaggia Hotel? <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR>Dick <BR> <BR> <BR>

Bonnie, <BR> <BR>My husband and I just returned from Cinque Terre and stayed in Levanto. The train station is very convenient and you can get the train to all the Cinque Terre towns. We had a car but took the train as there is little parking outside the towns. We loved it!

Message: Dick <BR> <BR>re: La Spiaggia. We stayed at La Spiaggia several years ago and had a great time. My husband and I are returning to Monterossa this fall and plan to stay there again. Andrea, the owner, is a great host, the food is good, and you'll have a great time. Ciao!!!

Margo... <BR> <BR>Thanks for the feedback on La Spiaggia <BR> <BR>Dick

Have you found hotel reservation in Levanto or CT yet? <BR>I would like to put together my last thoughts and any (hotel ) reservations for the Cinque Terre, too! We have decided on a first night in Levanto which we booked ahead at the Stella Maris which includes dinner. So far the hotels I have contacted in Monterosso are full and several have not responded, so I assume may be full. We did not want hotel that includes dinner as some apparently do as we have a number of very good restaurant recommendations we would like to try. <BR>Any recommendation for other hotels in Levanto or strategies for CT? We have 4 nights first week of May! I would be happy to later share how it turns out. <BR> <BR>Thanks

Maddy: My wife and I just booked four nights in early June at da Baranin B&B in Manarola. This place is relatively new, so there doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there about it yet. My impression is good, though, and I think it is one of the few places with rooms that you can book in advance in the CT. Everyone says to just walk into town and find a place and not worry about reservations. We are coming into the CT on a Saturday, though, so I'm not chancing it. <BR> <BR>Check out their (somewhat cheesy) website for more details: <BR>www.baranin.com <BR>

Dick, I must admit that we just walked into Baia one morning, asked if they had rooms, asked to see one and it was fine. We didn't spend much time in the room and didn't talk to the people running it much, but remember it being fine. Small bathroom, but they all were at the non-luxury hotels in Italy. I justed loved the balcony and the view. Plus, the price was right.