Enzian,

So you mean Nessundorma isn't just pulling my leg??? They really do wear those "knit suit" things??????

Well. . . I did see this ONE in Venice (Giudecca actually). But never in Bellagio, of course.

There....you have proved I was right!!!

Porto Roca is a fine place, well situated...you actually walk right past its terrace en route to Vernazza. Lovely hotel, but my taste runs to Villa Steno...I always recommend Room #5 with it's terrace overlooking the coast...Matteo is a master host....about half the rate of Porto Roca...a real bargain.
Stu T.

Truly, Krissy, if you're looking for luxury in the CT region, why not take a shot at the incomparable Hotel Splendido in Portofino...for $800 a night, you'll be awash in luxury. No, no, I never stayed there...but I did manage to sip a coke on its terrace. You can then take the train from SML to CT. Tell them I sent you..."you know, the guy and his wife who sipped cokes and spent a few hours on your terrace two years ago!"
Stu T.

Krissy---someone else here has been looking for advice on hut-to-hut Hiking in Switzerland. No one besides me has responded, and all I could do was point her to some guidebooks. If you can help her out, you will find her post under "Jenski" or, if tht doesn't work, "trekking". Thanks.

Ok, let me clarify my request. WE don't need a 5 star hotel, but we want something nicer than what we will be getting with the hut to hut switzerland stuff. A classy, smaller hotel or bed and breakfast, with a possible view and nice meals is probably fine for us. How much do you think we should expect to pay in september for 5terre lodging? Thanks for all your wonderful advise!

krissy,

We paid 170E for our room at Cenobio in late October..it is a 4 star...I believe that is an off season rate, but I'm not sure you wouldn't get that in September....

First of all, there may not be good restaurants in Cinque Terre (a friend of mine reported after a week there that Miky was the only he liked, and he did not like Porta Rocca) but there are certainly good restaurants in Camogli, starting in particular with Da Paolo, but there are several others, most with lovely views, as well as two much-prized gelaterias and a very fun pizza place right on the beach.

As for knit suits, one of my eccentric pleasures in Italy is to curl up in a comfy clean Italian bed after a hard day of touristing or hiking or driving and turn on Italian TV and try to figure out what the heck is going on. (I loved Luna Park. What was it about?) For several years running now, I've been fascinated by a non-stop informercial where middle aged Italian women are seen wearing knit suits both WITH and WITHOUT a nude-colored full (sternum to kneecap) body shaper, while a young blond woman screams hysterically into the camera that we all have to pick up the phone and buy one right NOW so we can all look great in Bellagio.

Rates for fine hotels in Liguria are easily found on the internet. You might also check out the high end offerings in Sestre Levante, a very friendly town with no fewer than two long sand beaches, with a very poetic lick of land separating them into two lovely bays, and closer to CT than Camogli. Some German tourists go there but mostly it's Italian families, and it's unpretentious and fun. It's got a couple of well-positioned villa-type hotels favored by honeymooners.

Also, I recommended earlier that a google search of "bed and breakfast" followed by "Camogli" (or any of the 5 towns of the CT) will give you most of what's available. And you'll get rates too.

I've never stayed in any of them in Camogli, but the typical Ligurian B&B is comfortable and cheerfully decorated, with a simple breakfast.

nessun,

Not that anyone would, but if some poor soul ever thought about wearing a "knit suit" on their next trip to Bellagio, they would certainly never do it now after reading these posts...and,.. I never saw that commercial on TV...are you sure about that?????

How late do you stay up? The presenter is blonde and sort of looks like Greta van Sustern.

Something tells me we are never getting Italian women out of those knit suits and body shapers. Especially the beige ones whose jackets have pale pink piping and scalloped hems.

nessun,

I stay up late enough to watch Greta and to see that she doesn't remind me of any blonde I saw on Italian TV selling body shapers...!!!!

I am glad to see you enjoy Camogli too..it is a charming little place with few tourists off season...I especially appreciate the quiet and serenity we find there...the faux painted facades of the houses remind me of a movie set..last trip we were sitting in the breakfast room at Cenobio when a fast moving storm came through...the colors of the water and the sky were just amazing..all the small fishing boats came rushing back to shore to try to beat the weather in...it was like a painting...

I think Krissy has checked out of this conversation (see "Special Lodging in CT"), but I'm very happy to have learned about Camogli, and knit suits. Thank you both!

enzian,

LOL!!

I"m still here, but now I'm more nervous about the hut to hut hiking than the CT part. Help!

Actually, I always have mixed feeling about telling anybody about Camogli. (The conspiracy of the knit suits has been out for some time).

Traviata, it's always possible I've drunk too many Negronis and drank too much Vermentino, etc by the time to be a reliable witness of late night Italian television. (I've often wondered: "Does this make sense if you're sober?") But I'm sure I didn't imagine that infomercial twice!

Have you ever seen the one where the women are wearing these full bodysuits that are constructed with ridges that supposedly massage away cellulite while you move around? There are all these willowy Italian models with long blond hair wearing these ridiculous bodysuits (like something out of a 50s sci-fi movie) while they are happily pushing a vacuum cleaner around. It's hilarious!

Anyway, what are you favorite restaurants in Camogli? I really like Da Paolo.

Nessun,

Have not tried Da Paolo but it was recommended by the desk staff..in late October, many are closed for the season...we had a great meal in a tiny little place with the unfortunate name of Spaghetteria, right by the harbor...simple place with opera playing, homemade pastas, and water view...

I must admit I,too, have mixed feelings about sharing Camogli...there are so few places left that are undiscovered and while I want others to experience something wonderful also, I don't want them to be there when I am there!!!

Dear N.,

I can keep a secret---don't worry. If you look at my posts on the "shall I do this trip" thread, you will see we have something in common. I appreciate your recommendations on places that are a bit out of the way for Americans. I wanted to add Cinque Terre onto the end of our Swiss hiking trip, but was put off by all the "too touristy" comments I saw here and elsewhere. So I was happy to find this thread. Camogli looks very nice, and I will look into it more. At this point, it's a choice between there or three days at the Swiss Open (tennis). The trip isn't until 2007, so I've got lots of time to consider. But thank you for letting me know about this place.

enzian,

Imagine...I am probably the ONLY person who has not been to CT....every year I say I am going to go, but, every year something holds me back and I find myself looking at quieter, less well know villages....I do believe that in this world, there is something for everyone...we are happiest when we find it...

I can tell you will like Camogli...