We are planning a 2 week trip to Italy in April. We are starting in Cinque Terre. However, we can't decide whether to head west toward Nice and into France, or head South toward Rome.

Can anyone recommend a hotel in Cinque Terre under $200 USD with a water view?

Also, if anyone has gone West or South from Cinque Terre, can you share the stops you made and how you traveled from town to town (i.e. car, train, plane).

I can highly recommend La Torette in Manarola.

http://www.torrettas.com/

We were there in late June, and our "classic" rooms (we had 2 for our family of 4) were 130 euro. One room had a full sea view and the other had a partial view and a lovely deck which I enjoyed. Signor Baldini is a gracious and welcoming host. There were some major steps to climb to reach our room, but that was not an issue for us. Our room was small but very nicely decorated and furnished. The hotel has some lovely outdoor public areas on terraces. This is one of my all-time favorite places to stay.

The view of the La Torrette is Truly spectacular..

However ,if you are of certain age or have back problems or weak legs ,this hotel is not for you because you must walk uphill to reach the place.
Believe me walking uphill in CT is not easy.

There is another place that is on the lower part of the village.."The Marina Piccola" is also near the little beach and the rooms face the water.

We stayed 8 days in Manarola but we rented an apartment near the hotel.
Trip advisor had good reviews about theMarina Piccola.


http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_Riviera.html

I enjoyed staying at La Mala in Vernazza-

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

Try for room 26.

Trip Advisor reviews of La Mala-

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...n_Riviera.html

Another vote for La Toretta in Manarola. We loved having breakfast out on the terrace with a beautiful view of the water.

I live on the Riviera, and the trains running along the coast toward France truly suck, and don't get better until you cross the French border -- at which point the ambience and food takes such a nosedive until you reach Nice, you have to think carefully about what kind of European experience you want for yourselves.

By car, the trip to France is much more fun because not only is it MUCH shorter if you drive, you can veer off into the spectacular hilltowns just a stone's throw inland. (Apricale, Dolceacqua) or enjoy more lovely seacoast towns that are MUCH less touristy than le Cinque Terre and have better food (Cervo, Noli, Finale Ligure, Ceriale -- the list goes on and on).

But if you want real variety in your trip, the Riviera tends to have a uniform holiday atmosphere and sun-worshipping culture, either with a French accent and French food or an Italian accent and Italian food. So heading to non-coastal parts of Italy is the better bet.

If you rent a car and head south, there is plenty of scenic driving and wine country if you swing inland toward le Crete Sinese.

If you want to go by train, you can visit the spectacular art rich and history rich destinations of Pisa, Florence, Arezzo and Chiusi and Orvieto before arriving in Rome.

We travelled from Rome down to the Amalfi Coast, then back north towards Cinque Terre. We stayed in Orvieto, which is about an hour north of Rome on the train, then stayed at San Gimignano then Lucca, then Cinque Terre. After Cinque Terre we stayed at Santa Margherita Ligure then went on to Venice.

Our whole trip was done on public transport, mainly trains but buses when we needed to (e.g to get from Poggibonsi to San Gimignano). At the time we had rarely used public transport anywhere so were a bit daunted but it worked out fine. One tip I would suggest is printing out the stops so you know the station immediately before yours and you can get ready to get off. The trains don't stop for long.

We had a wonderful seaview in Manarola but the room was very basic - Casa Capellini. We were up the top of the village near La Torretta. It is a steep walk but all the CT villages are built into the hillside so you have to expect some uphill walking.

Kay

Thanks everyone for the information. Much appreciated.