Specifically, Manarola. Are there regular Trenitalia ticket machines, and do they work reliably? Thanks.
Lola, i don't remember seeing one, even the validation machine was not reliable, work one day, not the other...
This link from Trenatalia does not show a ticket machine for Manarola.
www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=25137ce7898da110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
We were just there in Manarola. There is an office at the station where you can purchase Cinque Terre trail passes and train tickets from ticket agents (real people). They are very helpful. I can't remember if they close during the afternoon but they are open until about 6 pm, I believe. We had no problem validating our train tickets in the machine at the bottom of the stairs (you'll see it when you're there).
Lola
we were there in Nov. There are no kiosk but there is a ticket office. As well as the other cities in the CT.