Monterosso - A Ca du Gigante
 

Has anyone been to this new B&B ? Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

topping for Sydney

Cigalechanta. Is there nothing more to say ?

Steve, it looks lovely! Any idea about prices?

Have emailed them overnight and will post more detail when I find out - I started by looking at www.fishnet.it which led me to the site.

Thanks for the fishnet site. Another one I bookmarked!

Steve, I am staying there next week and will post when I get back. (Wasn't able to find much info, but the website looks lovely. Fingers crossed.) We booked for 150 euros a night.
Cheers, Kiki

Thank you Kiki - we look forward to your report. Dont forget to get a CT Park card that allows use of trains, boats etc. I agree - the web site looks good and there is not a lot to choose from toward the 4 star end of the market in CT.

Have you returned yet Kiki. We would greatly appreciated your feedback on Gigante ? Thanks again.

Hi Steve, I have returned and am getting my notes together for a trip report.

But some quick thoughts on Gigante - it's located in the far end of the new part of town, which is more convenient to the beach, but less charming, although it is an easy walk to old town. Although it is not actually on the beach promenade, it is about 50 feet away. Unlike most of CT, you do not need to worry about stairs. (Porto Roca, which seems to be a favorite here, is quite a hike.)

The hotel is small and charmingly decorated (although it reminded me more of a VERY nice beach motel than an actual hotel), and Claudia was very helpful and friendly. The garden breakfast room was lovely. Rooms were pretty, but without views. They were quite small. Air conditioning (which was a must after a long day at the beach) and bathrooms worked well. All in all, I liked but did not love this hotel. While I would gladly stay there again, I think I would look around first. (Hotel Baia looked nice from a cursory glance, and they have rooms with balconies overlooking the beach. I think I remember some bad reviews though.)

We paid 150 euros a night which included breakfast (which we didn't try) and parking (which was very convenient, MUCH better than trying to park in the public lot).

On a side note: yes, the roads driving into CT are just as winding and crazy as everyone says. E, whose only request for this trip was a visit to the Ferrari museum, was in heaven. I just tried not to look terrified.

On another side note: Gigante is associated with a restaurant named Miki, which was excellent. The hotel made us reservations for an outside table, which was fabulous. Try the sea bass ravioli and the anchovies.

On yet another side note: While at Miki, we were seated next to an American family and someone who I realized was the famous Sean, recommended by RS and this forum. As I am not exactly shy, we started talking to him, and had drinks with him the next night. He is an absolute gem (oh so charming) and I would def recommend him to anyone who is looking to take a tour.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks Kiki. We have now decided to stay at Deiva Marina and commute the 17 minutes by train into CT. the hills behind Deiva apparantly are good for mountain biking and access to the Portofino end of the coast is also good. We will visit Miki. Thanks again.

Thank you, Kiki, for the information!

Steve, I don't remember if it was you mentioning Hotel Clelia in Deiva Marina? If this is the hotel where you will be staying, I would very much appreciate a little report after your return. Thanks!

Yes Myriam it is Clelia. We will not be there until early to mid September though. I will post at an internet cafe soon thereafter. Maybe I can get the Foodor Forums on my Blackberry browser and post ! There have been some previous positive comments in this Forum about Clelia some time back.

We just returned from Italy and stayed at A Ca du Gigante in the Cinque Terre. Wonderful hotel, great hospitality. You won't be disappointed.