Parking worries - Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Doug in Portland: You're right - I'm committed to the car rental for the balance of my trip, so I have it with me (like it or not) in Cinque Terre.

I tried emailing the Villa Steno Hotel and they responded quickly - but stated that the parking is only for their own guests (understandably). I'll try a Google search for other hotels with parking and I'll also email them ... but I'm anxious for more suggestions.

Anyone know how to contact the private parking lots in Monterosso? I'm clearly willing to pay for this ... it will be worth the peace of mind.

Suggestions would be appreciated!

Everything you have read is true. Even www.cinqueterreonline.com will tell you the same thing on their website. You are going at the highest of seasons and with very limted exeptions (some hotels have parking lots), tourist cars are not allowed in the CT. I'm not aware of any parking reservations in the lots above the towns. During July, you can bet they are full. You can contact the website above or www.cinqueterre.com to see if they have better advice.

If you cannot ride on the trains, how do you expect to get from village to village? It's either the train or hiking the trails between the villages. Even the mini-buses in the villages don't go between the villages.

I'm OK with riding the trains in between, but I'm committed to a car from Venice to Rome via CT (for a variety of reasons) so I need to work through this parking issue PRONTO. Any advice would be appreciated. Any chance that I'll find a "parking scalper" somehow?

I think you would have better luck parking in La Spezia or even Viareggion and taking the train from there.

It would help to know why the train is not an option for you - are you trying to keep the rental car for the remainder of your trip? A disability?

The Villa Steno in Monterosso has a small parking lot for guests. You might email them to see if they would rent you a space. Next, there is a private parking lot with a guard on the beachfront at Monterosso. It's shown on the map in Rick's Italy book but I don't know how to contact them.

Next, there are two additional lots in Levanto which is to the immediate north of the CT. One lot is right next to the train station. Again, they can be full in the summer months. Again, the lots are shown in Rick's book.

Finally, there is La Spezia, to the south of the CT. La Spezia is a larger city.

I parked in La Spezia. The parking around the station (that I found) wasn't free and looked iffy (trash, broken glass and excessive loitering). I drove around then asked an Italian naval officer. He told me where to park outside the navy base. It was free and seemed much safer. It was a little hike to the train, but the car was in one piece when I got back.

We parked in the beach ront lot in Monterossa for a few days last spring. We had no problems finding a parking spot late in the evening upon arrival. However, our car was dinged while sitting innocently in the parking lot. Fortunately we had CDW insurance and haven't been billed yet for the damage!

Deb

I drove to Riomaggiore and found parking at a high price.There is limited parking and in Nov.it was tight.I would also suggest parking in Laspieza and taking the train.Rick Steves also suggests the train station as a parking place.

I'm booked at La Malà, reputed to be a beautiful place to stay in Vernazza. I actually, in a really roundabout way, may have solved the problem by contacting someone local who will "rent" me a parking space. If I get it worked out, I'll share the solution on this forum. Stay tuned!

Scott, this sounds very familiar. Did you by chance ask this on the trip advisor site? If not, I responded with the following information about the parking above Vernazza. The link to their website and email address is below.

Here is a link to their website:

http://www.vernazza-coop2000.it/parcheggi.htm

You could e mail for info at:
info@vernazza-coop2000.it

The wording of your post here is eerily similar to the one on the trip advisor site on the Italy forums so that is why I concluded that it must be from one and the same.

Yes Lane - same post. Thanks!

Ok. Hope everything works out for you.

We used a car to go the vernazza and followed the information about parking at train station. It was crazy b/c there were no spots available at the station in any lot. This was August. We took a chance and just drove to Vernazza. We arrived at about 2-3PM There is an upper lot for parking available. We were able to leave car for a fee for three days and take a little bus into town. We thought that many people must have been scared away from driving tothe town. We used the train to move bewteen towns while there.

We are also staying at La Mala', arriving on July 6th (a Sunday), in the afternoon.

We asked La Mala' whether we could reserve a spot at the parking lot, and we were told that we cannot. However, we were told that Sunday afternoon would probably be OK. But, it was also recommended that we call La Mala' that morning to ask them to speak with the parking lot; no guarantee, but they would possibly reserve a space that day.

Good luck! We're up for the adventure.