Cinque Terre Hotels

With a car you might want to consider Monterosso. Hotel Villa Steno has quad rooms and comes highly recommended here and on Tripadvisor. I have no idea how they were affected by the flood and mudslide last fall, but it is certaily worth an inquiry.

Stephen, As you'll have a car, staying in Monterosso would be the best idea as it provides the best access. Road access to the other towns is somewhat more "limited". When will this trip be taking place? I'd suggest getting a Hotel booking as soon as possible! Hotel Villa Steno (mentioned in the previous reply) is a great choice, but you it's very popular so you may have trouble finding a vacancy. You could also try Villa Adriana, which is at the opposite end of town. As you'll be driving in Italy, are you aware of the usual "caveats"? If not, post another note. Happy travels!

Thanks for the suggestions! I am not familiar with the usual "caveats." Would love to be informed! The only time I've been to Italy was 20 years ago and I biked it. The drivers put a little fright into us more than once.

Ken is referring tonthe ZTL's which are areas in the cities like Florence and Rome which are restricted. You cannot drive into the ZTL without a special permit. It is not like there is a gate or anything, you just have to watch for the signs indicating the boundary. If you do drive in by mistake they will track you through the rental car company and you get a 100 euro ticket in the mail a year later.

Is the road down to Vernazza still passable after the floods, or has it been destroyed.

Tyler, I believe the road is still not completely back to normal. Check the Save Vernazza website, as they may have some details listed. Cheers!

Stephen, Here's the usual "boilerplate" on driving in Italy.... It's important to note that for driving in Italy, each driver must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any CAA/AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some cases is offered at the issuing office). Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! Have a look at This Website for more detailed information on driving in Italy. You may also want to have a look at some of the other posts here concerning the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many Italian towns & cities ( especially Florence!). EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! There's also the issue of parking tickets and the possibility of having "The Boot" applied, and high fuel costs, tolls, etc. A GPS along with a good Map would also be a good idea. Be sure to also give some thought to the question of CDW and theft insurance. In Italy, buying CDW from the rental firm is usually compulsory, so coverage provided by credit cards will not apply. Check the Car Rental section in Europe Through The Back Door for further information. You could also download the "Car Rental" PDF Guide from Gemut. One other important point to note is that a recent post here indicated that Italian authorities are now using Collection Agencies in the U.S. to track down those who don't pay tickets. I'd have to check the post again, but I believe he ended up paying about $500. Cheers!