Portofino or Cinque Terre?
 

We are going to Italian riviera (among other places) for 3 nights. We were wondering what is a better place to stay-Cinque Terre or Portofino? Is it realistic to find a $150 hotel in Portofino?
also, if we travel by boat-how long does it take to get from Portofino to Cinque Terre?
Thank you,
anna

How about neither? Try Santa Margherita Ligure, which is close to Portofino and on the train line to the Cinque Terre.

Last year I stayed in Rapallo so basically between Portofino and Cinque Terre and I visited both. I would choose the CT especially if you have budget restraints. Portofino is quite a posh area whereas CT was more laid back and although both are beautiful again I thought the CT was nicer.

I agree---neither !
SML is a great place but an hour from the CT. My choices are the villages just north and south of the 5 CT----Levanto or Portovenere[with a car].

Portofino was still one of the most wonderful bays I've seen. We hiked into from the hills above - which was a great hike, and at the end it opened up to this beautiful little village by the sea.