I was in Italy when it was 100 degrees in June and didn't have any A/C. When in Europe, live as the Europeans!

Hey,when its soooooo hot that you can't drink the red wine then you know that you are going to be miserable trying to sleep without A/C. Just my take!

The Italian houses I have been in dont have a/c and the Italians seem to survive. so long as the hotels have opening windows and fans you will be okay. generally you are out sight seeing in the heat of the day anyway so have to cope. Pesonally I hate to sleep with a/c on- it's not good for the sinus' But I come from hot Australia....

I've found that as long as it's not humid, you can survive in Italy without A/C. About 5 years ago I was in Umbria during the middle of a June heat wave -- daily highs were 95-100 -- and although it was hot, it was bearable if there was air circulation. That does <b>not</b> mean a fan, but rather good air flow through a room.

After going to Umbria, I went to the 5T (Riomaggiore), where it was less hot, probably upper 80's-lower 90's, but infinitely more humid. The hotel did not have A/C. I was taking 4 and 5 cold showers a day, and the ceiling fan, even when producing hurricane-force winds ;-) was useless because there was no air circulation in the hotel room. A similar siutation occurred in Venice a few years before that, with the same result.

I grew up in steamy, sultry, swampy South Georgia, so I was quite used to humidity. But I went to Italy to see fun stuff, not to shvitz in a steam bath. Go for the A/C.

One word of wanring though: the Italian hotels with A/C that I've stayed in have been hit-or-miss. Sometimes the A/C works well enough to hang meat. Other times, however, it just produces less-hot air than outside but certainly not enough to cool the room off.

With all the expense involved in an overseas vacation, I want to do more than just survive! I want to enjoy myself, including sleeping well even if it is hot and humid outside.

I've just come up with a grat idea. Space suits for american tourist. White, climate controlled suit fully isolated fron the environment. Built in windscreen wipers. And no need to ever worry again what to wear or which pair of shoes. Battery operated of course, rechargable on 230V.
Brilliant idea

Windshield wipers! It wouldn't rain during my vacation, would it?

I stayed at Albergo Barbara in Vernazza for a few nights in August 2002. The CT definitely gets hot during the day, but a cool breeze blows in off the sea in the evening. I wore jeans at night.
Albergo Barbara is situated in the square just off the tiny harbor. If you request a room with a view, you will get a room with a window opening up to the square/sea and the breeze should cool you off comfortably at night.

DH and I have returned to the CT several times since 2002 and we always stay with Carla and Matteo at Hotel Villa Steno in the old portion of Monterosso. They do have A/C but since we go in May or early June, we haven't needed it.

I think you'll be fine at Albergo Barbara if you get a room with a window facing the square.

I just got back from vacation and I didn't need a/c in Vernazza. It would have been nice...but the fan was plenty. I definitely wouldn't pay extra for it. As others have mentioned, it gets cool at night.

It did rain one night and the power was knocked out anyway.

I stayed at: Camere da Annamaria aka camere fontevecchia and had a wonderful stay!

We are also going to Cinque Terre in May 2008. How did you go at Camere Fontanavecchia. Was it expensive? We cant wait.