I have heard Vernazza but then also heard that it is very crowded - I have also heard Manarola? Where is the best place to get a hotel in order to experience Cinque Terre at its best? And where do I go about searching for a hotel online for Cinque Terre? I am finding that it is harder to find hotel info for Cinque Terre on the Internet compared to Rome, Florence and Venice.

Thanks!

Depends on when you're going, but I was there last year this time and none of the towns are crowded at night. I stayed in Monterosso, but we spent each evening in Vernazza b/c we loved it so much!

If you enter Cinque Terre in the search box, you'll get a ton of information quickly.

Hotel La Spiaggia, Monterosso

What's your budget?

Consider Lerici, a town just south of Cinque Terre. We stayed in Cinque before, but Lerici last year instead & glad we did.(Read up on it w/ Rick Steves). You will park your car and leave it as any place in Cinque. (north side of Lerici not far from the Info booth). You will have the option of taking the train or boat to CT. Charming places. You must take the via amore walk if none else. It is flat, and super easy. Best of all, besides the view, there is a tiny hill hugging restaurant/bar where you can stop for a cool glass of wine & cheese plate. Awesome. Lerici is much quieter, less expensive & less congested & a is a lovely place. The town itself is charming and has cheaper restaurants. It is in poets' bay and we stayed at Hotel Byron. It had internet in the lobby-free & I recommend it if you change your mind on hotels. Nice rooms with balconies, nice service. okay brkfasts. Check it out.

I second mvmcginnis' suggestion! Lerici is a wonderful & truly authentic seaside village. I may be a bit biased as I live there, but you won't be disappointed. You can easily reacht eh CT by ferry boat (IMO the best way). If not Lerici, try Portovenere which is one of the most magical places in Italy...

If staying in one of the villages is a must than La Mala (www.lamala.it) in Vernazza is your best bet.

Happy Planning!

Megan in Liguria

I spent 8 days in Manarola with my daughter and grandaughter.We rented a very nice apt. in town and I must say that it was a great sojour for us. Manarola is very quiet especially at night but yet is very central.

kismetchimera, can you tell us which apartment or agency you used? Thanks.

I, too am looking for rooms for 2 nights October 20-22, tried La Mala and several other places. All booked.Any other suggestions?

I enjoyed La Torretta in Manarola when I visited the CT a few years ago.

SeaUrchin,I did not use an agency but rented the apartment from the owner..Unfortunately my PC crashed and I lost all the informations.
We were there in 2003..I believe that her name was Freja, however I did not see her apartment advertised anymore.

The owner of the Torretta knows her, because I accidentally sended a check to La Torretta that was supposed to be for Freja?
I have inquired at both places and Had a Senior Moment.
The apartment was very nice it was on the main street, it had a nice balcony. Sometimes in the evening we would stay in the balcony sipping a glass of prosecco while listening to the music from the Tavern across the street.

Opps..I Sent a check..Not(sended)..

It sounds so lovely, thanks for the infomation. Prosecco, sigh.

It was a very lovely and comfortable apartment, SeaUrchin..I wish that I could remember at least her last name..But unfortunately I always had problems remembering names, now is a different matter with faces..