KimiG

We have a lovely trip to Italy planned in late September. Our plan was 3 nights in Cinque Terre, 3 nights in Piedmont region (Baur B and B) and a week joining friends on Lake Como.

I clearly waited too long to book my first, second and twentieth choices for hotel in Cinque Terre. Which means, it will be chaos, right? So, would you advise that we stay elsewhere on the coast and enjoy the 5 villages by day or go elsewhere? Our flights are in and out of Milan.

I'm leaning toward going elswhere and saving a trip to the CT for another time. What a lovely problem to have ,,, where to go? Grazie.

travelhorizons

Try looking in Portovenere. The boat that visits the five villages leaves from there...

ekscrunchy

Kim there are SO many other options on that coast that have easy transport options to the CT.
Try searching the threads here for info on Levanto, for example or, if you will have a car, the Lerici area. Or Portovenere, which although beautiful, would not be my own choice for a base. There is no reason that you have to stay within the Ct to experience those towns. And there is a LOT more to that coastline than the CT, especially in September when they will be heaving with foreign tourists.

bobthenavigator

I agree--look at Portovenere.
Check out Albergo Paradiso or Hotel Belvedere

Or, Levanto--look at Villa Margherita

macdogmom

We just spent 2 nights in Camogli and really loved the location. We took the ferry down the coast to Portofino. Could have easily visited Cinque Terre, but we had stayed there last spring (La Torreta in Manarola) and wanted to spend a little time in a different spot. We stayed at Villa Rosmarino, a beautiful hotel that does involve lots of walking.

immimi

Levanto is a nice town to stay in - quiet with good selection of
restos and accomodation. Easy access to the train that goes to the
CT villages.

cruiseluv

Another vote for Portovenere. We stayed 3 nights last summer and it was magical. I was very happy that we stayed there rather than at one of the CT towns, which we visited by boat.

dr_golf2000

We have a booking in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre for fall at L'Ancora Hotel. The rooms were reasonable and look nice and the view over the Sea is spectacular. I booked it on www.booking.com
The last time we stayed in Monterosso and like it there as well.
Good Luck.

KimiG

Mille Grazie.

Macdogmom, we have looked at Camogli and Villa Rosmarino - ferrys run to Portofino and to the CT?

I have also heard nice things about Lerici. Hotel recommendations?

Which is the lovliest town or lovliest hop off point to the CT. I am dreaming of lingering over lovely meals of pesto and local fish and wine in awe of the coastline.

scatcat

I always stay in Santa Margherita and take the train to Monterosso, then the boat to the other villages. Absolutely beautiful!! You can also visit Camogli in about 6 minutes by train from SML. Train from SML to Monterosso takes less than 1 hour.

Andrew

I stayed in Levanto in 2007 - while technically not one of the "five villages," it's within the park region, just one town north of Monterosso Al Mare, and the train pass/hiking pass you might buy for multiple days covers Levanto (at least it did back in 2007). It was quite easy to get back to the villages from Levanto by train. If you are an avid hiker, there's even a long trail back to Monterosso.

Levanto a nice town, larger than the villages, more of a conventional beach resort town (plenty of cars, etc. which you see few of in the villages). But it's also more likely to have conventional hotel options. Levanto was a pleasant town, but I would hope to stay in Riomaggiore or Vernazza next time.

The villages have rooms and apartments for rent but you might not find them on booking websites to book online. If you are gutsy, you could show up early in one of the villages and find just a place; I was afraid to try this in 2007 but I saw others doing it (this was October) and might next time. Late September will probably be fairly busy in the CT, and if you are showing up on a weekend I probably wouldn't risk it.

HappyTrvlr

The towns mentioned above are wonderful.
The Cinque Terre towns may not meet your expectations with so many tourists packed in small villages. I am glad I saw them all but much prefer SML, Portovenere, Camogli.

KayF

I would also recommend Santa Margherita Ligure, it's a lovely town, though very different from the Cinque Terre villages. You can easily visit them by train from SML. Portofino is also only 20 mins by bus from SML, there is probably a ferry as well.

Kay

zeppole

I wouldn't base in a town that doesn't have a train connection to le Cinque Terre -- which would exclude Portovenere and Lerici. If the boats aren't running -- a distinct possibility in late September -- you will need to adhere to local bus schedules to get in and out unless you have a car.

There are no end of beautiful towns on the train line where you can linger over lovely meals of pesto and local fish and wine in awe of the coastline. Starting from the nearest and moving north to the furthest, they include Levanto, Bonassola, Zoagli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli, Bogliasco and Nervi.

zeppole

PS: I'm surprised you can't find charming accommodations with a view in one of the five towns. I prefer less touristy towns than those, but in late September, le Cinque Terre is not booked out and if you want to stay there, I'm sure you can find something just as good as your first choices. You should also check back with your first 3 choices before you leave to see if they have had cancellations.

mike1728

Levanto, Levanto, Levanto!!!

The sixth village.............actually in my opinion, the nicest of them all. Best beach, great restaurants, lovely beachside promenade, easy acess to the CT (10 min. by train) and more options for hotels, B&B,s ect......going there for the 3rd time in September.

Mikek

qwovadis

Recentl stayed at the Metropole Sea View Room

120 /nt Awesome!

walk to cheap boats to PortoFino all the Cinqueterre

Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
Metropole, Santa Margherita Ligure: See 96 traveler reviews, 65 candid photos, and great deals for Metropole, ranked #2 of 25 hotels in Santa Margherita ...

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187827-d237279-Reviews-Metropole-Santa...

KimiG

Thank you. Thank you. Lots of great advice and lovely towns to explore!

kwren

I'm also following this post - thanks

Pilates

Did you try Mar-Mar? They offer apartments and rooms. Three of us rented one of their apartments years ago and I'd do it again. (FYI: Lots of stairs - that went straight up- in the one we stayed named, "Anna") Have fun!

http://www.5terre-marmar.com/home.asp