Cinque Terre...where to stay at?

Don't split your stay among the 5 towns, changing hotels is always a time waster. Find a place in any of the 5 you like, you can hop on trains in any of the 5 and go back and forth between them by train. There are plenty of trains going back and forth between Genoa and Spezia and most stop in all 5. In terms of which town to stay, I've never stayed overnight in any. I used to vacation at Marina di Carrara (near where you're going) and day trip from there. It's like 45 min. by car or motorbike (about the same by train from Carrara). Personally I like them all. Monterosso is bigger and has the best beach. Corniglia has the drawback that the station is down a long series of steps from the town. Therefore if you don't like doing a lot of steps and plan to go back and forth on the trains a lot, maybe you shouldn't stay in Corniglia. The best walk is from Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia. From Riomaggiore to Manarola you you have the easiest walk (Via dell'amore), also very pretty but not as challenging if you like hiking.

Our personal favorite is Vernazza, but have not been there since flood. One day in Milan will allow you time to see most of the major sites.

If you are looking for a budget room or apartment, Riomaggiore maybe a good choice. Riomaggiore only have one or two hotels but it have a few room and apartment rental agency. Rates are cheaper but do not serve breakfast. Also Riomaggiore do not have much night live, just a few restaurants. Most of the rooms require two or more nights. Check out Mar-Mar rooms (agency) or Riorooms (owner).
have a good trip.

Astrid, Each of the five towns has a slightly different "character". My suggestion would be to have a look in the Italy Guidebook, as that not only has a good description of the towns but also provides a list of accommodations, restaurants and other details. You should be able to find a copy in your local Library or book stores. Here's a brief summary.... > Monterosso - largest of the five towns (and my favourite), best choice of hotels and restaurants and best beaches. There are also some very nice private rooms. > Vernazza - very popular with many here - accommodations are more informal than Monterosso (no conventional hotels). Some don't provide breakfast. > Corniglia - located high on a bluff so less popular than the others - accommodations similiar to Vernazza, but also one Hostel. > Manarola - fairly wide range of types of accommodations, from a Hostel to an upscale B&B (La Torretta). > Riomaggiore - this also has more informal accommodations, but often no breakfast provided. As mentioned, one suggestion is Mar-Mar Rooms. As you'll be travelling THIS May, one concern is that it might be difficult to find a room. I often start looking in about February for travel in September, and often have problems finding a vacancy. It would be a good idea to get something booked soon! Could you clarify why you're staying "in or near Carrara"? You could stay in the C.T. and visit that area on a day trip. One night stops are often a nuisance. Regarding suggestions for "smart train travel", have a look at the excellent Man In Seat 61 website. I'll provide some specific tips for Italy in another reply (running up against the text limit here). continued.....

Astrid, Part 2.... When using trains in Italy, there are a couple of VERY IMPORTANT "caveats" to be aware of. When on Regionale trains which don't require reservations, it's IMPORTANT to validate (time & date stamp) the tickets prior to boarding the train.  This includes the Leonardo Express from the airport to Rome.  The validation machine will either be yellow or blue & gray, with a small digital display on the front.  These are easy to find, and located close to the tracks.  If the machine is broken, writing the time & date on the ticket may be acceptable (ask the Conductor as soon as possible).  Those caught with unvalidated tickets may be fined on the spot! The fines start at €50 per person and if not paid on the spot, these DOUBLE and increase from there!  The same fines apply to those travelling via Bus (validation machines are often located on-board the Bus). Conductors are now carrying portable debit/credit card Terminals, so payment of fines will be easily accomplished! Those travelling on the "premium" trains such as the Freccia (high speed) trains MUST have a valid reservation or again may be fined on the spot! These fines also start at €50 per person, in addition to the cost of the reservation, which is currently ~€10.  Reservations on these trains are compulsory and are specific to a particular train and departure time. It's NOT POSSIBLE to simply buy a ticket with reservations and then board any train.  The reservation will specify the train number (ie: ES9718), so it's important to verify that before boarding. Happy travels!

Thank you all for your help with Cinque Terre. Ken, we're thinking of stopping in Carrara because my husband's family immigrated to the States from there. Also heard that the marble mines are worth seeing. After reading your message I think I now will add another night to Cinque Terre and take your suggestion with the day trip. What's your opinion on making La Spezia the place to stay the 4 nights in Cinque Terre?

In Vernazza, try here: http://www.elisabettacarro.it

" What's your opinion on making La Spezia the place to stay the 4 nights in Cinque Terre?" Nope- pick one of the towns. You will really enjoy the evenings after the day trip folks hit the road.

Hello, Astrid,
We chose to stay in Montorosso because I read that hiking in the direction from Montorosso to Vernazza was easier than the opposite. That portion of the hiking is the most challenging, so we did that while we were fresh. I believe that is true now that I've done it. There are MANY steps just outside Vernazza that you go down that you have to climb Up if you leave from Vernazza. We also got an early start from Montorosso and had great views without any people on the trail since we were early. We were pleased with our choice. Oh, and watch for train strikes. There were no trains the day we hiked, but we took the boat back, which gave a wonderful perspective from the sea. But the boats don't run if the sea is too rough. I hope the trails are all open again by the time you go. It is a wonderful area.

First off, no, on the La Spezia idea. For a list of rooms in Vernazza, try savevernazza.com/traveladvisor/ and scroll down to accommodations.

I would definitely not stay in La Spezia. It's not at all quaint and charming like the 5 CT towns. I personally would stay in Monterosso. We enjoyed our time in Monterosso in '09 and plan to stay in Monterosso again on our trip this year. I like that it's relatively flat & a little larger than the other towns which means more restaurant options, etc. But, the other towns are nice too and they all have their pros and cons. The CT is very popular and I recommend securing your lodging as soon as possible; May is only a few months away and the start of the tourist season so you might have difficulty securing a room within your budget. Enjoy the CT!