Cinque Terre

Ariana,

I'd recommend having a look at the Italy Guidebook and the description of the lodging choices in each of the five villages. Base your choice on which one appeals to you the most. A brief summary...

Monterosso is the largest of the villages and has the best selection of lodgings and restaurants and also the best beach.

Vernazza is the most popular with many here and also many tour groups. It has a small enclosed beach protected by a rock breakwater.

Corniglia is perhaps not as popular with many travellers as it's located up on a cliff and somewhat smaller so not as many facilities.

Manarola is a bit smaller, but has a good range of facilities for it's size, including a Hostel.

Riomaggiore has a good range of smaller accommodations available, although mostly B&B's rather than conventional Hotels. There are also some nice restaurants there.

Regarding hiking the trails, you should be able to comfortably hike between all the villages in 5-6 hours. I'd suggest starting in Monterosso and working south, as the stretch from there to Vernazza is the most challenging. The part from Vernazza to Corniglia is almost as difficult. Best to do that when you're well rested! Note that a Park Pass is required to hike the trails, and there WILL be people checking for those. You can buy the Pass at the station when you arrive. The famed Via dell Amore from Manarola to Riomaggiore is mostly paved and very easy (there's also a small Bar part way along so you can stop for a "cool one")!

You can certainly walk partway, but the easiest method to get back is to use the local train. For example, if you're staying in Monterosso and hike from there to Riomaggiore, simply take the train back to Monterosso. There are also boats between the villages, but only in good weather.

Cheers!

Definitely stay in one of the 5 villages. The trains from La Spezia into the villages are not nearly as frequent as you might like, so if you miss a train, you might have to waste an hour an a half waiting for the next one. If you miss a train while you're in one of the villages, it's not that big a deal because there's lots to see while you're waiting.

We stayed in Vernazza last time we went, at Pensione Sorriso, which was perfectly fine. There wasn't a terrace in the room, but we really didn't end up spending too much time in the room when all was said and done.

The first time we went, we stayed in La Spezia (Hotel Mary) and it ended up being a real hassle to time the trains appropriately, especially with 2 young kids who didn't quite grasp the concept of "hurry so we don't miss the train." :-)

Ariana,

One further suggestion....

If you have a generous travel budget, you might consider www.torrettas.com in Manarola. It's a bit pricey, but you'll have great views from the Solarium or Terrace and it would probably be a very memorable experience. Check their website and the 360° Tour for further information and a look at the property.

Monterosso's beach is mostly sandy, while the others all seemed to be pebbly, tho I didn't get close enough to stake my pension on it.

Do take the ferry from one end to the other, in the afternoon. The views of the towns are outstanding. You can take the train back to whichever one you are staying in.

Adriana - After many years in Cinque Terre I would suggest staying in Vernazza at -
http://www.nerinarooms.it/
Located directly on The Harbor , next to Al Castello, one of my favorite restaurants it is a very nice place - check out Carla's website.
As for the trail I would suggest the section from Manarola to Riomaggiore called The Via dell'Amore(lovers path) It is mostly flat and paved - about a mile long , with a Cafe halfway for a cold drink and a snack. Pic included -
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7210936
Some sections of the trail can be a bit challenging but it's all good if you're physically up to it.

Enjoy Cinque Terre, Greg

Ariana, the hike is not to be missed.
Go as far as you like and boat it back to your town of choice. If boats aren't running the train will take you back..

We found the trail to and from Vernazza more challenging than expected - and we are quite fit. Very rocky and narrow ledges in some spots. Be prepared to often pull over to the side to let the other hoards of hikers pass as some paths are not wide enough for 2 people side by side. The trail from Riommaggiore to Manarola and on to Corniglia is mostly well paved and pretty tame. That said, the views are like nothing you've ever seen!

I'm heading there in late May and I have a question and didn't know if I should start a new post. My wife and I are arriving from Florence and don't plan on getting in until 10:30pm or so. Do you think we will be able to find a cheapish place to stay that late, or should we make reservations? Seems like the places I can find that take reservations are more pricey (over 100 EUR) than Rick suggests we can get in his book. Thanks for anyone's thoughts.

If you are only staying the night you could try to find a hostel to stay in, instead of a hotel.

Hi Ariana,

My husband and I stayed at Edi’s Rooms in Riomaggiore (www.wel.it/Vesignaedi). This was our favorite place we stayed in Italy. We were in the Case Mimi room which had a huge balcony overlooking the sea. It was very clean and just the perfect location. It also had a refrigerator, coffee maker, and table and chairs inside the room to eat. This room was 80EUR. They did have other rooms to rent for less as well. Edi is also recommended in the Rick Steve's books (and when you go to their office they have X-mas cards from Rick's family).
We liked staying in Riomaggiore because it was connected to the Via Dell Amore which is an easy path to the next town Manarola (approx 20min walk). It's also great to watch the sunset from the rocks in Riomaggiore.

In regards to how long the trail takes...we hiked approx 6 hours and made it to 4 out of the 5 towns. I did stop a lot to take pictures. The train between the towns is very easy and there is also a boat you can take between certain towns so you can look into that as well. The easiest part is the via dell amore (between Riomaggiore and Manarola) which is paved.

Have a great trip!

www.elisabettacarro.it/

I would highly recommend Hotel La Coloninna in Monterosso. I would also recommend getting the a day pass for the ferry to get around a bit- I also just spent 2 days there with my mom, and the walking got to be a bit much for her, aside from the easy Via dell Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola.

I’ll recommend La Torretta’s in Manarola: http://www.torrettas.com/

The hotel is perched way up near the top of town, overlooking the sea. Request a room with sea-view balcony. It’s not a budget place, but it’s reasonable and a great hotel. As for Manarola itself, it’s nice and quiet with few tourists. Not a lot to do there. There’s at least one good restaurant in the center of town with fresh seafood/excellent wine. There’s also a fine gelato/ice cream place up from there. If you swim, you’ll enjoy the deeper water right off the rocks. The train will connect you to any of the villages in a matter of a few minutes…tickets are cheap…something like €1-2 each way.

Ariana, it depends on your taste and what you're looking for- We stayed in Vernazza which is lovely and quaint but, not too much going on. On the otherhand, Monterosso has a nice beach and many more restaurants and shops and much livelier. Next time we go, I'd stay in Monterosso but, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with Vernazza or the other towns because really, they all have something to offer.

Stayed 4 nights in July 2009 in Francamaria's room 2 in Vernazza. Wonderful harbor view and hardly any steps. Would stay here again. In July 2006 we stayed 3 nights in an apartment (listed in R.S. bk. under Nicolina) in Vernazza right on the main drag. As the book says this was definitely a funky, lived in place. It looked like the people had just vacated it and left all personal belongings behind. Would not choose to stay here again. Do try and stay a few days though. In 2002 we daytripped in and knew we had to return! Buon Viaggio!