Santa Margherita Ligure

Kathy, Depending on where you'll be spending the majority of your time, Santa Margherita Ligure may not be the best "home base" for that area. If you plan on spending a lot of time exploring the Cinque Terre and hiking the trails, it may be better to use a closer location. The trip from S. Margherita Ligure to Monterosso is about an hour each way (plus waiting times), so it will take some time (and money) to get back and forth each day. I don't have any information on Villa Gnocchi, but hopefully someone here can provide some comments. Happy travels!

I spent a week in Rapallo a few years ago. It's one town closer to the Cinque Terre than SML. I got to spend a good amount of time exploring CT and the surrounds and LOVED Santa Margherita Ligure. It was my favorite town and I will stay there next time in the area. I get why people like CT but it was probably my least favorite of the areas I visited. But I'm not partial to Rue Cler and the 7th in Paris either, so I'm in a minority here. I was there in March so it was low tourist season in CT and not as crowded as it is in Summer so keep that in mind. I didn't see the Villa Gnocchi while I was there but it appears to be a good bit out of the town center so add some bus time or walking to your train time to the CT. I saw it on Karen Brown's recommendations. I've had good luck with her suggestions before. If the CT is your primary reason for being there, heed Ken's advise and stay in one of the towns. Otherwise, enjoy SML!