Cinque Terre with minimal stairclimbing

My wife and I will be visiting CT this May. We are in the sixties and we don't want to take too many steps. We were advice by a room booking service agency in Riomaggiore that the only town that is level is Monterosso. She have the number of steps info for all the rooms/apartments she have for us. We like the one have 55 steps and this is only for the building. We took it anyway.
Have a good trip!

Monterosso is the largest of the five towns and the flatest. Lots of places to stay. You do need to go up and down stairs to get from and to the train tracks. There is an elevator but it didn't work when we were there. Also, the 3 stairs onto the Regionale train there are a bit narrow and a bit steep. The trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola is just fine for your parents. Very flat and even paved for a good portion. Just a few stairs at the end. As for buildings in the other towns, many are 3-5 stories with nothing but stairs. Sometimes up to 70 to get to the highest level. Walking in Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore from the train tracks down to the water should be just fine. Some slopping but not too bad.

gary, To begin with, your parents shouldn't have any trouble with the Via del' Amore from Manarola to Riomaggiore. It's mostly level except for some stairs leading down to the station plaza in Riomaggiore. If they can navigate those, you can use the train to return to Manarola. As I recall, there's a small Bar/Cafe along the Via del' Amore where you can enjoy a snack or a beverage and enjoy the view. You shouldn't have too much difficulty with Manarola. The main part of town only has a slight uphill incline, but it gets a bit steeper as the road climbs towards the Hostel. Rick, Monterosso is indeed mostly flat. It consists of a "new town" and "old town" which is accessed through an old tunnel. As you've decided to stay in Riomaggiore, it also has a slight uphill incline. This starts from the location of the short tunnel that leads to the Rail station plaza. There are a few stairs leading down to the harbour area as I recall. Happy travels!

Hotel Pasquale in Monterosso may be perfect for your parents. We stayed at its sister Hotel Villa Steno on a Rick Steves' group tour, and part of the group stayed in the Hotel Pasquale. Our guide seemed to sense who would do well with stairs and who might prefer the "flat" location of the Hotel Pasquale. Villa Steno offers wonderful views and balconies, but lots and lots of stairs to reach it (not yet a problem for us), which is just a function of getting up high to enjoy the breathtaking views and fabulous hotel. BUT for those who have issues with stairs, the Hotel Pasquale is owned by the same wonderful family, and those who stayed there loved it, too. Located in the flat area of Monterosso, down by the water, and folks loved "throwing open their shutters" to the beach/ocean views in the morning. I think your parents will love it. They will enjoy the charm and the quiet activity of the waterfront, without the trek UP. You can check it out on www.tripadvisor.com and see photos/reviews, etc. From Monterosso, I would suggest taking the boat/ferry all the way to the other end of the Cinque Terre that way you and your parents can "see" all the villages from the water. You can then choose to get off the boat at the other end, take the "easy" hike, as the other posters mentioned, and/or then take the ferry (or train)back. But, if your parents are steady enough to walk the ramp on to the commercial ferry and get a seat, they should LOVE the views of the villages from the water. How lucky your parents are to have you planning for their enjoyment!! Happy travels.

I checked out the hotels for Monterosso from 7/1 to 7/4 with venere.com ( the biggest hotel site for Europe). Only have 7 places available. It will be much limited if you need a room for three. So you may want to book early.
Have a good trip!

I really tend to think Monterosso would be a better choice than any of the other towns. Hotel Baia in Monterosso is right on the flat seafront promenade, only a few steps from the rail station. The hard truth of the matter is that with the exception of the trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola, there is little flat space in any of the CT that you can get to/from without dealing with a hill or steps. At least minimizing the # of steps, wherever possible, will help at other times when they are inevitable.

I agree that Monterosso would be the best choice for your parents. Check out the reviews for hotels and B&Bs on Trip Advisor, and start emailing the places you may wish to stay. Besides finding out their rates, you can ask how far they are from the train station and if there are any hills or stairs you should be concerned about. I'm staying in Monterosso in May and found that most of the accommodations are small inns, B&Bs and even single rooms. Many do not offer their availability or their rates through venere or other internet sites. That being said, I started sending emails in December for our May stay and many, were already booked. I second the recommendation of Hotel Pasquale, you will certainly not have any issues with hills there. Of course they were one of the many places that were already booked (though I'm quite happy with the place we booked). So if I were you I'd start sending those emails!

There are taxis and a bus in Monterosso. I like to stay at Mueble Agavi in that town. It is in the RS books, and close to the train station. The hotel is on the first floor, which means a flight of stairs up to the rooms from street level. The Med is just across the street and most rooms face the sea. There is a set of stairs on either end of the path between Riomaggiore and Manarola.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I will pursue some of these ideas, and soon.