Hotel Porto Roca was not that expensive when we stayed there. Wow. We have just resxheduled a teip to Italy from May to September and find the prices much, much higher. A family member liked staying at Albergo Stella in Monterosso and I believe it has parking.

We never had to take a taxi anywhere staying in La Spezia. The train went to and from all the villages and back to Florence. It was a short walk to our hotel from train station. I would do the train both ways next trip. It was very pretty from the ferry but when we hiked we got the same views.

The Riomaggiore to Manarola path is closed and will be for several years. You can walk out about 1/5 of the way westwards and see Manarola in the distance (and Riomaggiore is beyond a bend in the path so no longer visible).

The high paths are open but are time consuming.

I don't know if it's the best view but I would go towards Corniglia from Vernazza. You have to climb for awhile.

Then you see Vernazza from above, looking down on Castello Doria with Punta Mesco in the background.