We are going to be in Genova in April/May 2018 and our only window to visit Cinqueterre is Monday, April 30 and/or Tuesday, May 1. Are we crazy to even consider it? How crowded will it be and is it even possible to get a hotel on those days? One option is to go on Tuesday as a day trip from Genova. What do you think?
Sure it's perfectly feasible, though not ideal, and yes it will be crowded. As for the hotel you should reserve before the end of this year. The level of crowding will depend on the weather, but since May 1 is a Tuesday the long weekend will be a bit more muted. Look at this article for ideas.
http://www.apathtolunch.com/2016/03/cinque-terre-16-tips-for-avoiding-crowds.html?m=1
How crowded will it be and is it even possible to get a hotel on those
days?
Yes, it will probably be crowded, and you should book a hotel well in advance. You do not want to just land into the CT during high/shoulder season without a hotel reservation! I've seen any number of winter forum posts from people who were finding a lot of the most desirable accommodations booked up already for May.
May 1 falls on a Tuesday.
That means Monday 30 April many Italians "fanno il ponte"
'Fare il ponte' means to "make the bridge"
That means to call in sick or take a vacation day on the working day between two holidays, to stretch the weekend/holidays and make a long one. That's the Italian way to make a long weekend even longer, with a bridge. That's similar to Americans when they make the bridge between Thanksgiving (Thursday) and the weekend.
Assuming the weather is nice, there will be lots of vacationers between Apr 28 and May 1 everywhere. Actually since Wed Apr 25 is also a holiday, many Italians might decide to make more bridges than on the Florida keys.
Thank you all for your input!