Booking ahead in Cinque Terre

I agree with all of you, thank you. I know it would be smartest to book ahead, I was just thinking I might be able to get a good deal, the cheapest I have found is 70-75 euro. I still think this is a good deal, I was just wondering if it would be worth it to show up and find something cheaper. I wouldn't be getting to Vernazza till 1400, so by this time places would be booked.

Thanks

I would definitely reserve. However, if you are adventurous, you can just take your chances and show up. There are many many places in the CT that do not have websites or email. Just a room or two. When you get off the trains in the CT, you will see people (mostly ladies) advertising local rooms. There are also small shops in some CT towns where you show up and they find you a room. I tease on this site about seeing many people in these shops holding little blue travel books with yellow lettering (RS book).

There have been lots of messages on this site from travelers who have done this that have scored a small, clean room with gorgeous views that you cannot find on the internet. You have to show up and get lucky. Having a room or two to rent out during the high season is great extra income for the residents there. Sure beats fishing income.
Of course, there is a downside to this strategy but what’s travel without adventure.

If you do this, I would definitely do this in the morning as rooms are gone by mid-day or the afternoon.

If you get to Vernazza early in the day you should be able to find a room. I have done this before with no problems. My wife had a coffee at a local cafe while I started checking around. A half hour later I returned with an apartment I was able to rent from the owner of a shoe store. In the meantime my wife had been approached by several women who had rooms in their homes and had already looked at 2 places. Of course, if you have a reservation you won't have to spend the time looking around.

Lindsay,

My advice would be to pre-book the rooms, given the time of year you'll be there. May is pretty much in the "peak" of the spring shoulder season, and I imagine the Cinque Terre will be quite busy (although perhaps not as much as in the past, due to the economy).

The risk in just "showing up" is that you might have to accept a room that's a bit "dodgy", and spending time looking for a place to sleep wastes valuable touring time.

Happy travels!

In September of 2006 we arrived in the CT without a reservation. Our orginal idea was to stay in Vernazza, but we got off in Riomaggiore first and found a room with a terrace overlooking the city & the sea. We arrived on a Monday and stayed for 4 days. At the end of the time we thought we might stay a 5th night in Vernazza. No luck. Everything full for a Friday. We're going again in June to the CT, and we have made reservations this time.

I am trying to decide on this same issue. As I will be getting in pretty late (17:00-18:00) I think I will book now. Any suggestions on places to stay (town, specific apartment/service)? I'm not having much luck finding websites or reviews on venere.com...

Thanks!
Julie

I emailed almost every recommendation in the RS Italy guide and didn't have any luck. Each person I emailed gave another recommendation though and I was able to get a double room through Affittacamere Francesca for 65 euros. If you check cinqueterre.com it will list about 30 names and numbers of people who rent rooms in Vernazza but none of them have websites or emails so you have to call.

Try calling Edi's Rooms in Riomaggiore. They can most likely find you a room. They may take a while to respond to your email. Or they may be so busy that they wont get back to you at all. Try calling them. 0187-920-325. If everything is booked in the CT, do what Rick Steves recommends, stay 10 minutes north in Levanto. Very nice, especially if you can snag something near the sea.

Or try:

www.elisabettacarro.it/

Best view in town.