Sonja

For those not wishing to rent a car, are SML and neighboring areas like Portofino and Cinque Terre easily covered by public transport? Any hotel recommendations in SML?

Ck

Any replies out there?<BR>

ruby

Any resturant recommendations for this area?

m kane

As I recall, SML is about a fifteen minute bus ride from Portofino. There's also a boat which takes about twenty minutes. Both are inexpensive, just a couple of bucks. SML is right on the train line that goes to Cinque Terre -- takes about an hour.<BR><BR>Hotel Continental in SML is nice.

sml

tp

Genevieve

Relating to this topic, if not driving, how do you get to SML on arrival in Italy, and which airport is best to fly into from NY? Is Hotel Continental centrally located?

Dayle

We stayed 3 nights in SML and did Portofino via boat and Cinque Terre via local train. No problems. We stayed at Hotel Laurin right on the marina and had a nice room with a large private terrace. Breakfast (included) left a lot to be desired, but hotel overall was OK. Had dinner one night at La Cambusa. Seemed to be very popular and was very good. Also had a wonderful long lazy lunch with lots of wine at one of the waterside cafes in Portofino but I can't remember the name.

Jim

Sonja,<BR>A terrific place to stay in Santa Margherita is Villa Gnocchi, a B&B high in the hills overlooking Santa Maragherita harbor. We will be staying there this summer for the second time.<BR>The owner, Roberto Gnocchi will pick you up at the train station. He speaks perfect english. Room with half pension is about 115 Euros/nite. It is a 10 minute walk downhill from Villa Gnocchi to town-Take the bus back up. Trains leave regularly from S.M. to the Cinque Terre and wherever. This place is also listed in Karen Browns book. I can't believe I'm telling you about this place. http://www.karenbrown.com/italy/villagnocchi.html