Where to leave luggage at the start of a CT hike?

I take it from your question that you thinking of visiting CT and doing the hike as a day trip? CT is not a day trip. It deserves at least one night and ideally a minimum of two nights. After the hike, use the train to get back to the village you are staying in.

Thanks, Scott. We were planning on spending at least 2 days in CT, my question was more the pragmatics of (1) if you arrived early (before check in time), where could you stow your stuff while you hiked, (2) if you arrived by car, could you safely leave it in a car while hiking (or in a train station) for the day (when you'd return for the check in or (3), whether it's just easier to arrive on "Day 1" and check in, do the hiking on Day 2 (or 3), and then gather stuff at the end and move on. In any case, thanks for your thoughts, Peter

Peter,

According the the Trenitalia website, there IS a Deposito Bagagli at La Spezia Centrale, but I don't have any information on whether this is Lockers or a "left luggage" facility.

You could also book a night or two in one of the CT villages, as it's a great place to visit. For example, you could plan on arriving at about 13:00, check-in to your lodgings and then explore the first day. On the second day, travel by train to Monterosso and then hike back to Riomaggiore. Depart on the morning of the third day.

Happy travels!

I would stop at the place you are staying before heading off to start your hike. Even if they can't check you in, every place we've ever stayed has held our luggage for us. It might help to tell us where you plan to stay if you've figured that part out.

My daughter and I will be in CT in July. The hotel that we booked in Vernazza (Trattoria Gianni) has check-in starting at 12:30 a.m. We plan on dumping our stuff at check-in and then hiking. I noticed that many of the hotels will allow you to leave your luggage earlier if you are staying with them. You would have to inquire with the hotel where you would like to stay.

The entire trail is usually an all day affair and temperatures are still going to be fairly warm in September so I would save the hike for day 2 or 3 and get started in the morning. I suggest starting in Monterosso and getting the hard part over first while the weather is still cool in the morning.

Thanks to all of you for your great thoughts. It's been a while since I've travelled in Eurpoe, so my adventurousness may be a little rusty. So also, my picking up on the meaning of CT (which puzzled me at first--Connecticut?) Peter

Peter,

I'm assuming from your last post that you've figured out "the meaning of CT"?

Peter, the backtracking is a non issue. Your total train ride back from the South end to the North end is about 20 minutes.

Peter, You asked several questions in an earlier post and I thought I'd provide some answers based on my research (reading Rick's books and checking on-line). As I will be there in July, I have been surfing the web and reading anything I can get my hands on.
(1) if you arrived early (before check in time), where could you stow your stuff while you hiked: I believe this has been answered.
(2) if you arrived by car, could you safely leave it in a car while hiking (or in a train station) for the day (when you'd return for the check in: Only train Station with baggage check that I found was La Spezia - DO NOT leave anything of value in a car.
(3), whether it's just easier to arrive on "Day 1" and check in, do the hiking on Day 2 (or 3), and then gather stuff at the end and move on: YES, YES, YES, and YES. This is our plan and I believe it is the best way to go as it is much more relaxed and you won't have to "worry" about backtracking, getting your luggage situated, etc. etc. etc.

Have a wonderful time! I can't wait until our trip.

Peter (and also Sherry):

Please don't think about taking a car to the CT area in July. Train, train, train.