My husband and I have contacted several B&Bs in Vernazza via email and received responses back saying that they had only one room available for one of the nights we planned to stay there. Then they offered to have us stay in a friend's home for a lesser price to supplement the remaining days we planned to be there. Does anyone have experience doing this? I can’t find any travel tips about this on the web!
Posted by
Gettysburg, PA
1589 posts
This is the norm in the CT area. Everyone has a "cousin" with something that is needed, from lodging to food, etc.It is just an informal co-op of resources. I would not be concerned.
Posted by
Pasadena
49 posts
Yes, this is what happened to us in May. I emailed at least a dozen places in Monterosso and Vernazza, all were full or I got no replies. But one person did e-mail me back that her friend (who did not use email) had an vacancy in Vernazza so we stayed there. It was a really cute place and worked out just fine.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
15 posts
Laura, I have been to Vernazza twice and stayed in private rooms. It is very common and cheeper. I would go for it because Vernazza is wonderful, and if you have a tight schedule the reservation is great.
Posted by
Minneapolis
6 posts
We spent two nights in Vernazza in 11/2005. We had booked with one person, but when we arrived she told us the people staying in the room had not left yet. She had found us another room, for the same price, with a friend. The room was lovely, the location was great, and we were very pleased.
It was a little scary, since it was our first stop on the trip and we had been traveling for over 24 hours at that point, but we rolled with the changes and it all turned out great.
I would ask questions via email to clarify the accomodations you are being offered, the price, and location and take the responses with you - it may help negotiations when you arrive if needed. That said, we found the people in the Cinque Terre to be very nice, wonderfully accomodating, and fun to talk to.
P.S. Don't miss breakfast at the Pirate's Cafe in Vernazza (up the hill at the very edge of town, on the right). Best pastries we had on the trip, and hot chocolate thick enough to hold up the spoon!
Posted by
Kelso, WA, USA
221 posts
I have emailed one of Rick's top favs in Vernazza with no reply so I am about ready to try another one.
Any recommendations out there? Maybe I should try calling or, if they don't respond maybe that means, "no we are booked"