My husband and I, along with another couple will be doing a land tour of Italy that ends in Venice on Oct 7. The tour doesn't include the Cinque Terre region so we'd like to add on 5-6 days, ideally at a home base, and explore the 5 villages, as well as other towns along the coast and some inland (Lucca, Carrara, etc.); we plan to use public transportation and have to fly back home from Venice. Could anyone suggest a good location/interesting town as well as a 2-bedroom apartment/villa that would have relatively easy access to bus/train?
Posted by
Santa Cruz, CA
21 posts
With a stay of 5-6 days, you may want to check out the website www.vrbo.com We have used this website extensively. You rent and apartment, condo, villa, etc. directly from the owner. On their website they state the location and proximity to the train station. Hope this helps.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
27 posts
Lots of good options listed in the RS guide, especially for Vernazza. Several folks listed in the guide rent out apartments.
Posted by
OP
Hendersonville, NC, USA
3 posts
Thank you Sandy & Bobbi. I'll check out VRBO and see what I can find. Had considered staying in Vernazza but was concerned that it had become too touristy now and also didn't see that many apartments for the 4 of us. But will check Rick's guide book more closely. Thought perhaps we could find a town nearby that was less touristy, yet still a short train ride into CT.
Posted by
Campbell River, Canada
361 posts
Hi Christine, Don't let all the "touristy comments" deter you from staying in one of the Cinque Terre towns. We stayed twice in the CT; 2 nights on RS tour in Monterosso al Mare and again 3 weeks later in Vernazza. We found that as in Venice, the daytrippers arrive mid morning and are gone by late afternoon. That's when you do your hiking etc. The early mornings in the villages are when you buy a cappucino and pastry and wander down to the harbourfront and enjoy the quiet and the local activities. i.e. fishermen unloading their catch, kids heading to school etc. Then in the late afternoon and early evening, the villages quieten down again and you feel like it's just the locals enjoying their passegiata and a few enchanted travellers sipping wine on the waterfront while watching the beautiful sunset. AS others have mentioned, there are apts. in the CT. Enjoy!
Sherry
Posted by
gaston, oregon, usa
842 posts
The four of us rented an apt using one of Rick's pics in the book. It was wondeful, but had about 6 flights of stairs! Whew!
We also use VRBO and Homeldays.com for apt rentals in the EU, with much sucess. Find a place that has many good customer reviews.
Posted by
OP
Hendersonville, NC, USA
3 posts
Thanks Sherry for those reassuring comments!
And to Steve too. What was the name of the apt. you stayed in? I'd like to check it out.