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Are resort hotels in CT or around Portofino closed in mid Oct?

I queried the search function and had no replies so in an effort to streamline my own search, I thought I would ask you all.

I am looking to travel to a western italy coastal resort within easy travel distance from southern France with a return flight to US from Milan. (Nothing booked yet so any option is open). Travel would be in mid October 2024. While looking up some Italian hotel websites i my search area, I can't see availability but am not sure if that is because the resorts are closed for the season or that they do not book out that far. I am thinking of the area near or around the northern borders of the CT but am open to other areas and/or islands. Any suggestions?

My sister and I will be ending a France river cruise in Nice (or environs) on a southbound trip. Our trip (right now) actually starts in the UK and ends in Italy. We plan on the end of Sept to mid-Oct 2024. All plans are subject to finalizing our river cruise itinerary but those dates are a loose approximation.

My other question is more general. My sis has never been to Paris. I was there 40 yrs ago. We do plan on spending some time in Paris pre-cruise but should we consider going back to Paris and fly out of there and skip Italy?

I am a cafe culture kind of person, my sister is the social butterfly. She loves the ocean and any type of location near water. I am a history buff and like museums. I could spend hours on a park bench reading and people watching. She, not so much.

We are both retired so the timing is quite flexible. We are looking at 3-4 weeks.

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts. I should probably also post this in the General Europe category, yes?
Thanks in advance.

Posted by
11798 posts

I think hotel availability mid-October is more a function of the schedule not yet being open. I am encountering the same thing in Rome for mid-Oct next year.

I have only ever been to the Cinque Terre, and elsewhere in Liguria, in mid-to-late October (half a-dozen times) and love that time of year there. Once the day trippers are gone, it is terrific at night and early morning. If you stay in one of the 5 towns, in the middle of the day, you want to be out of the villages hiking up high, or perhaps daytripping elsewhere in Liguria.

If you are open to staying elsewhere, I recommend Camogli as an alternative to the Cinque Terre. Nearby are Rapallo and Santa Margarita Ligure and it is feasible to take a day trip to the Cinque Terre.