Andrew

Thank you! Those pictures are all from 2007 and 2011. I took only a few on my brief return last month and haven't posted them yet. I'm going through my new pictures from the riviera now and hope to post them soon. It's a lovely area! It's too bad the Via dell'Amore hiking trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is still closed.

MFNYC

Manarola has a ticket office. We bought a 1 day unlimited train ticket there. In other cities we used the machines with an ATM card (didn't have PINs for our credit cards) to buy train tickets.

neckervd

I gave the links to the timetables of the bus Bellagio - Como and of the trains Como - Saronno - MXP airport in my post above.
All you have to do is to open the links.

PalenQ

It's too bad the Via dell'Amore hiking trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is still>

hope springs eternal that it may re-open this summer but I believe Andrew saw it first-hand just last month or so and said it looked like a wreck -lovely seaside esplanade a km long -totally flat -not really 'hiking'.

PalenQ

Como - Saronno - MXP airport in my post above.>

And you can use the same train and change at Saronno to Madrid's Cordona station or vice versa - Como Nord is the terminus - right by the boat dock. This line is run by Milano Nord trains not Italy's national railway Trenitalia -just buy tickets at station -dirt cheap. Como's mainline Trenitalia station is about a mile away and trains could be more expensive and some demand reservations before boarding (except Regional trains).

nina88

Thank you neckervd and PalenQ... we'll just take the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and train to Milan Centrale. MFNYC, read your TR and the Manarola ticket office but is it always open? Read that it is not; maybe we'll just buy regional tickets in advance whenever I see it open. The apt. rental host that we're staying at is not that eager to provide info; reviews confirmed the situation. Most said they did not have interaction with the host; key was left near the door and paperwork left on the kitchen table! I'll try your airbnb for availability, thanks.

MFNYC

We went to the ticket office the afternoon we got there (Sunday), just to get info and it was open. We went again the next morning to buy tickets, and it also was open. Not sure what the actual hours are, but googled and found this. http://www.cinque-terre-tourism.com/...que-terre.html It lists email and phone, and also link to more info so maybe you can get some answers from this.

PalenQ

I believe if no ticket office open or machines you can IME then buy a ticket on the train from the conductor -find him first before he finds and possible fines you. Explain situation - why you could not get a ticket.

Paqngo

Hi nina88, Your trip sounds like a lot of fun. We did something similar last September. Train reservations were almost all done online. We went from Milan to
Monterosso al Mare and then took the local train to Manarola last September. I bought some of our tickets on my phone so I did not have to worry about the machines or having them validated. We stayed in Manarola at a small place we got through Manarola Vista Mare. It was Camera Maria. The room was smaller but the patio was great. It was right next to the water and we got to enjoy the sunsets every evening. We were also in Bellagio and stayed at a place I found on Trip Advisor- ANTICO ULIVETO Bellagio. This was a great place to stay. We walked all over and the hosts were amazing. The place gave us some room to spread out and the views from the patio were great. Have a great time and enjoy the planning.

nina88

Thank you Paqngo, unfortunately Camera Maria is not available; I really need to change our reservation with Arpaui Studio Apt. in Manarola. It's really tough to get some info from the host and I am concerned that if this is the way she handles inquiries, what happens when there is a problem? I read more about the reviews and it's really disappointing.

bvlenci

<i> It's too bad the Via dell'Amore hiking trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is still closed. </i>

I don't think it will be opening any time soon; it's been closed for over five years, along with one other of the lower trails.

neckervd

Some tickets are sold in bars or groceries close to the railway station (if the latter is closed). Ask local people!

MFNYC

We rented this studio in Manarola and we were pleased
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/857047

The only negative is that the bathroom is minuscule, the shower stall about as small as I've ever seen, can only stand in it sideways.

PalenQ

It's really tough to get some info from the host and I am concerned that if this is the way she handles inquiries, what happens when there is a problem? I read more about the reviews and it's really disappointing.>

It's a sellers market.

nina88

PalenQ, yeah it could be a case of a seller's market but one does not have to accept subpar condition or treatment. Anyway, was able to find a studio apartment (thanks to Paqngo) in Manarola.

PalenQ

agreed nina! Shoddy for sure.

PalenQ

that other place was probably full but proprietor felt no need to respond? For one-time clients who will not be in the area again?

nina88

PalenQ, was able to get a reservation but emailed the host to get clarification/more info as mentioned in some negative reviews. Never received a direct answer or got a response but took a week for a simple question. So if you're a one time client, no need for courtesy?

nina88

MFNYC, thanks for the B&B Casa Faccioli in Bologna tip. The suite became available and I just reserved it. Your Manarola apt. is still not available. I just googled street view and Casa Faccioli to try to "walk" from the train station... the building itself does not have any signage just a door with buzzers/buttons; how were you able to determine which one is the B&B?

PalenQ

So if you're a one time client, no need for courtesy?>

Of course not and a reason you do not want to stay there anyway.