I am 70 (today) and going to Italy and France solo next month, departing on 9/16 and returning on 10/6, into Rome and out of Paris. My itinerary was originally three nights in Rome, Florence, Venice, the Cinque Terre, St. Remy de Provence and Paris, with one free night to use if something interesting comes up. I have lodging booked everywhere except the CT and the first two nights in Paris. My last night in Paris is already reserved at the Hilton CDG. My problem is the CT. I have contacted 17 web sites, many of which were recommended on the Forum and also gone though airbnb.com and bookings.com, all of which replied that they were full. Since I would be arriving on a weekend and it's so popular I just chalked it up to bad timing. My question of the day....what do I do if I want to replace the CT with something else. I have been to all these places with family except Venice and this trip is to go back and do things I didn't get to do before. I looked at Lake Como and Milan instead of the CT, but mainly because I want to see The Last Supper. Unfortunately I waited too late and September is booked and it seems the only to see it then is pay €100 for a walking tour of Milan that includes it. If it helps, I like simple. Sitting on the Spanish Steps and people watching, rowing a canoe under the Pont du Gard or hiking the CT, etc. are good examples. Anyone have any suggestions? Many thanks.
Posted by
Everywhere
67 posts
If you like simple, you might enjoy Cremona or Piacenza.
Milan is a good choice too, in terms of location, as well as accommodation opportunities, and you'll find plenty to do, but you'll also find quiet spots.
I wouldn't give up on those unavailable options either, especially if you really want to see CT again. Some bookings usually fall through and if you catch a window of opportunity you might manage to find a room. I've been through this with Booking.com and I managed to find rooms in hotels that were booked solid a few days before. Make sure you don't put your hopes in this though, it's a pretty risky maneuver!
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
84 posts
Jim -
This isn't a formal answer but perhaps a coincidence. My wife and I (71 and 73) are also leaving on 9/16 and traveling from Atlanta through Miami to Rome. Do you happen to be on Alitalia AZ 631 from Miami at 8:35 PM?
Ken
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15198 posts
First of all the easiest itinerary sequence would have been:
ROME>CINQUE TERRE>FLORENCE>VENICE etc...
In other words you should have gone from Rome to the 5 terre first, because going from Venice is a long train trip.
In any case, you don't say when exactly you are going to the 5 Terre, but, as a test, I checked for the last weekend of September Friday through Sunday (3 nights), which is probably the busiest time possible at the end of September, and I found plenty of accommodations in Riomaggiore, Levanto, Bonassola. The first is one of the Cinque Terre, while Levanto and Bonassola are the first and second town after Monterosso, and both are just 5 minutes away from Monterosso by train. Actually they even have a beautiful bike path along the water that connects Levanto to Bonassola, if you like renting bikes (and it's a flat path through a dismissed railway).
Go to www.venere.com and do your search. Enter Monterosso Al Mare as your destination.
If nothing pops up at the 5 Terre when you search, look into Levanto and Bonassola. They are not technically part of the Cinque Terre, but they might as well be considered part of the Cinque Terre, because they are right next to them.
You don't have to limit yourself to the lodgings that are recommended by Rick Steves or his proselytes.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Jim,
I agree with Roberto. If you're not able to find something in one of the five C.T. towns, look a bit further afield to the north, and Levanto would be a good place to start. I'm not as familiar with accommodations there, but you could start with This hotel. Trip Advisor should provide some other leads (or check the guidebook). It's about a 10-15 minute walk from the main part of Levanto to the rail station, as a mentioned it's a VERY short trip from there to Monterosso (I've timed that actual train part at about 4 minutes).
THIS is another B&B website you could have a look at.
Good luck!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Perhaps try sites like Booking.com and Expedia.com
Il Borgo Di Campi near Riomaggiore has a studio 26-29 Sep at 404 euro on booking.com.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Just curious, if your accommodation is mostly booked with confirmed dates, then how does your free night work?
Posted by
OP
Slidell, LA
553 posts
Thanks for all the replies. I made a mistake thinking that the CT would be better done after the three large cities in Italy and didn't realize until later the time and distance from Venice. Should have done the CT second as suggested. To the question about my extra day, I have some flexibility with my Provence stay arriving one day earlier or later and was thinking about a quick trip down to Pisa, possibly adding the day in the CT or maybe later in France. Has anyone heard of or stayed in the Hotel Agavi in Monterosso? At the suggestion of one of the hotels who had no availability I went to cinqueterrehotels.com and received a response that they had an opening. Bed with breakfast is €100 per night with payment in advance by credit card for the first night. I'll post this as a separate question on this site since I'm not sure who may come back and read it. Thank you.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Reading Tripadvisor, I wouldn't be keen to stay there.
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g187820-d1482866-Reviews-Agavi-Monterosso_al_Mare_Cinque_Terre_Italian_Riviera_Liguria.html
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3941 posts
I used arbaspaa.com twice for our CT stays - have you tried them?
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15589 posts
Since the CT will be crowded, maybe not getting a hotel reservation is a cloud with a silver lining. Explore someplace you haven't been to! Siena with Tuscan day trips/tours? Bologna several lovely towns are easy day trips and it's a great city with fewer tourists)?
Posted by
Seattel, Washington, USA
113 posts
Just skip the CT and extend you time at your favorite place of the 5. I would spend more time in St. Remy de Provence or Paris because you have so much time in Italy already. Remember you have a lot of travel days that can be taxing and fatiguing. Build in a little R&R into the trip so you can get lost in the back lanes of ....