Cinque Terra

Hi Char -
Our favorite is family-run La Spiaggia in Monterosso. It's an easy walk from the train station and some good restaurants, has a lift, and breakfast is included in the tariff. Operated by really nice people, too. Rooms are small (as is usual in Italy) but clean and comfortable; spring for one with a sea view and small balcony as it's right across the street from the beach. It fills very quickly in advance of high and shoulder seasons, though, and they only take cash payments.

It's Cinque Terre, BTW. :O)

char,

The first thing to do is decide which of the five Cinque Terre towns you'd like to stay in. Also, are you looking for a hotel or a private room to accommodate four people? When is this trip taking place?

The accommodations vary somewhat between the towns, Monterosso (the largest of the five) has "proper" hotels including some with lifts, while the other towns are mostly small B&B's accessed by stairs (sometimes many stairs). Monterosso also has the greatest number of restaurants and other tourist amenities and also the best beaches.

In order to find accommodations that fit your price and "comfort level", I'd recommend having a look at the RS Italy guidebook. If you need further suggestions, post another note here.

Just came back from Italy with 3 nights in Vernazza, forget the Gianni Franzi unless you really like climbing stairs. I consider myself fit and these climbs took all the fun out of our visit. Non-existent A/C was also an issue. There are a couple hotels above the train station that have elevators. At the G-F, we were in building 41 (room 334), once you get to the top, 100+ steps, you get to climb the spiral stairs with your luggage. I would recommend the climb (once) to go to the Vernazza Winexperinece on the terrace. Alessandro Villa and his wines combined with the view is worth it...once.

Keith

Based on the mobility concerns implied by your post I am not positive the Cinque Terre is the most ideal destination.
Of the 5 towns I would not look at any other than Monterosso if stairs are a concern, even if your lodging is the other towns does not have stairs or has a lift the town itself has stairs.

It looks like Char has disappeared, but hopefully she has noted the comments in this thread. With more information, it would be easier to provide more detailed suggestions.

I noticed this on her Rome post:

"My husband has heart failure and cannot walk a long distance."

Some additional info would definitely be helpful here as just getting around the CT villages involves being able to climb slopes and stairs. My idea of ' a long distance' may not be someone else's so some clarity of what that means to him is needed.