CT and wobbly knees

We stayed in Monterosso, and along the water it is pretty level. The hotel Pasquale was a wonderful spot. We hiked to Vernazza...if you have wobbly knees the hike is NOT for you. It was very challenging. You can train between the towns, but just a warning, getting down to the train can be lots of steps. That being said, the one thing we wished we had more time for was just hanging out on the beach, and enjoying the view. It is a simply gorgeous spot...we took lots of pics there! Have a great trip!

Thanks.

So in Vernazza it is pretty much up and down hill to just get around the town? I know the hiking part I won't be able to do. Was just wondering how diffiult it would be to get to the hotel, to the restaurants, piers, etc.

Yes, Monterosso is practically completely flat. You and your grand-daughter would enjoy it. We never went there at night, but we always heard there was plenty of nightlight there and we could see the lights shining from Vernazza. We stayed 4 nights in Vernazza - I agree any hiking to/from Monterosso and back past Vernazza is very difficult and very steep...and rugged. However, that being said, you can train it from Monterosso to the 1st town, Riomaggiore. Then it is even paved from there to Manorola - completely flat walk to the Via Di Amore. You could walk back to Manorola and train it back to Monterosso. Vernazza-from the train you walk down stairs and follow the main street to the water/harbour. It is not steep unless you walk through the side streets or go climbing steps.

If you're not doing much hiking per se, you might only want to spend a couple of nights in the CT. It IS beautiful-especially when the sun is shining.

Monterosso is where you want to be, it has the 2 things you're looking for: flat and a little life in it. You won't find both of those at any of the other 4 CT towns.

Montorosso is definitely for you. Vernazza is pretty much all steps if you stay down by the beach. It nearly killed me and I have good knees.

Check out the Belvedere restaurant on the beach as they have the best seafood pasta for 9 Euro that I have ever seen.

Flat and a little life! Just what we want.

Thanks much. Early June should we have reservations or do you think we can find something when we get there?

This trip was supposed to be spontaneous but I got cold feet and have reservations for almost everything. I just didn't want to be walking all over, looking for a hotel!

thanks much

In June, if you don't have reservations, you will be (as you said) "walking all over, looking for a hotel." That works if you're up for walking, if not, reserve ahead.

Hokay, reserve it is. This is the last place i need to make reservations for. Whooppeeeeee. Now all I need to do is organize all my stuff - all the really neat information I have picked up along the way.

This is gonna be one cool vacation.

And, thanks in no small part to this board.

Yeah, hee hee, that was one experience. Y'know, when someone finally helped me find a parking lot, it was an underground one, that had a circular drive, very narrow. I got down but told the guy he had to get the car up when I was ready to go.

Then, I started walking, thru the stalls of the market, and voila, the Duomo hit me right in the face. What a day. It was a wonderful experience.

I just groaned when I got the tickets the next January, but I still felt that exhilaration upon coming unexpectedly on the square. I just stood there in amazement.

It was fabulous

Regardless of which town you stay in, you would probably be able to do the walk between Riomaggiore and Manarola - the via del amore. It is fairly flat and paved even - a person could push a stroller or wheelchair the whole way. It's a very scenic walk, great views. You could take the train to one of the two towns, walk, and then take the train back. And no hills!

Trail is flat and easy between Riomaggiore and Manarola and between Manarola and Corniglia. Quite hilly between Corniglia and Vernazza and Vernazza and Monterosso.

Hello, I'm writing from Manarola, one of the Cinque Terre.
The advices about Monterosso are ok, this is the location for you. The other towns (except Vernazza that is also quite flat) have much more steps and few 'life'...
bye
Andrew

Many hotels/b&bs in Monterosso don't have a map to show where they are located. I would like to stay at a place rather close to the beach in the old village.

Any suggestions?

thnx much

I haven't read all the comments but I saw this hotel on Tripadvisor. We stayed in Vernazza but I think I would want to check this hotel out for my next trip to CT. There are balconies that you can sit and watch the people and the water. Good reviews on Tripadvisor.

La Spiaggia Hotel
Andrea Poggi
Via Lungomare, 98
19016 Monterosso al Mare
Cinque Terre, Italia

Tel: 39-0187-81-75-67
Fax: 39-0187-81-70-75

Hotels on the beach in Monterosso: hotel Baia is right on the beach close to the center of the town, cheaper is pension Agavi also on the beach and even closer to the center. Both are close to railroad station. We stayed in Agavi. Gorgeous view of the Ligurian Sea.