Cinque Terre: can I find a place to stay when I get there

Both are correct. Booking early allows you to assure a room at one of the more popular hotels that don't hawk rooms at the station, maybe secure a sea view, and give most people a sense of security. While it has been a few years, the three times I have been there, I found a room when I arrived, either by meeting someone with a room or using Edi's Apartments, a room service. It is important to note that we were there each time in May, before the worst of the crowds. Things may have changed, and the recent flooding may really alter things. Not sure if the same crowds show and there are fewer rooms, or if there are fewer rooms and fewer crowds. If you find a place you like and your days are fixed, make a reservtion. If you are flexible, then wait.

Consider the source. (But I'm going to duck the CT-specific question since it's been three years since I've been there and it would have been in the spring - - but four of us got two rooms within five minutes of each other without reservations. I've unremembered why that was or if we could have all stayed in the same place. I suspect that, as the driver, I'd decided the day was over and went looking for a beer while the rest of the mob worked out the logistics.) Consider the source. Most Helpline questioners agonize over where they're going to sleep and panic if they can't get a bed in a guidebook-recommended joint. I strongly suspicion that they spend more time thinking about where they're going to be with their eyes shut than where they're going to be while their eyes are open. Consider the source. Most Helpline respondents hawk where they've stayed, say that they work out accommodations months in advance so they can stay in the 'best' (whatever that is) joints, and plan out their itineraries to the point of figuring where and at what time they're going to have a gelato. Consider the source. I spend a good chunk of my life bouncing around the world and a good chunk of that bouncing around in Europe. As far as Europe goes, I think I've only had reservations anywhere twice - - once to stay in the same hotel as everybody else who was going to a wedding - - I've unremembered what the other time was about. Consider the source. I'm either dumb, lucky, or all wet. Probably a bit of each, but if I were going to the CT tomorrow (or this summer) there's no way in heck I'd make a reservation. Consider . . . .

Ed, I think it is not a matter of "source", but a matter of lifestyles. Many (most?) people appreciate to have some sense of organization and pre-arrangements in regard of lodging. Even if it is an option they can ditch/modify later. And why is that? First, when you arrive in a place without reservation you are the easiest possible prey for hoteliers in the area. Especially if you arrive at night, under rain or in a small place that suddenly got full of people. Second, while a disruption in museum visit or restaurant meal is not the best thing in the World, they are manageable with relatively easiness, as it is a matter of finding something else to do. However... if you end without lodging, or in a bad place (price/quality, or just a plain 'it-is-1953-again' quasi-slum room), you lose not only money, but peace of mind (in my case), the ability to rest properly to enjoy the next day, and maybe you can put yourself in danger. Third, evaluating lodging options in-situ takes time, even in a small CT village. To see for 60sec. 3 rooms in 3 different hotels and then settle for one might take you the best part of 2 hours. I have better things to do while there, so I'd rather leave with everything planned so that I don't lose time with queues, aimless walking between hotels etc. Some people just want a fabric with soft filling between their backs and the floor. I'm not this person. Many others aren't as well, thus a legitimate worry about lodging.

It's true that many of the smaller nice places in the CT do not have websites. It is not uncommon to see the sweet little "grandma" types at the train station trying to get you to see their places for rent. We've seen them. This site has many testimonials of people who have scored great places to stay. Plus, everybody in the CT seems to be related or stongly inter-connected. Just walk into a place of business and they seem to know where to send you. Expect some nice places with lots of stairs. But, you might not be that lucky. If you don't get the walk-in, it's a long day hauling luggage around looking for a place. But, that's the adventure of it all.

JoAnna, in case you're unaware what people are referring to, go to the homepage and click on the Cinque Terre info at the top right corner of the page. Rick has some updated info on the region. I personally would try to book ahead of time if I were set on a particular town, or especially if traveling with three or more people. Have a great time there, and do your part in their recovery! I wish I could (sigh)...

awww. I was afraid it had something to do with that. I was really hoping not....because the thought of going and bargaining sounded kind of fun to me. I'd really rather play it safe since probably a lot of people that were going to stay in Vernazza are moving to one of the other towns, I suppose it will crowd up quicker than usual. All of Montorosso should be recovered by the time we go in May. we were hoping to stay in Manarola anyway but I bet there will be a lot of carry over effects.

I would book in advance this season will be different than others due to Vernazza's condition
you could waste time finding something when you get there and there could be very slim pickings, why risk it

JoAnna, I always prefer to pre-book my rooms. I don't like wandering around after a tiring trip with a heavy Backpack looking for somewhere to sleep, and possibly having to accept something that's "less than ideal" either for location, price or cleanliness. Especially with the Cinque Terre, pre-booking is a really good idea. When I booked a room for my trip last September, I started in about February and it still took several days (and an Itinerary adjustment) to get something worked out. It was an incredible Hotel though, and at the time I was wishing I had added a few days. Happy travels!

When are you going? We went in late October and it was as Rick describes it - people hawking rooms at the train station. We checked out one place, but it was too small for us (we had three kids in tow), then went down to one of the main hotels and asked. A woman went out into the street and talked to two other women. They offered us a very decent apartment for a great price. If I were going during high season, it might be a completely different story.

In my trips to Italy, I have never had the luxury of a long stay (2-3 weeks max). My Italy time is GOLDEN, and it is worth it to me to find my accommodations from my home in Arkansas, even if I can save a few euro by the method described in Rick's books. I am always having to cut out one cool thing or another due to time constraints anyway, so I am not interested in wasting a second of my Italy time looking for a room and bartering.