Where to stay in Milan and Cinque Terre?

When are you going? That makes a difference for Cinque Terre. We stayed at Antica Locanda die Mercanti in Milan, and La Toretta in Manarola. Both are honeymoon- worthy, especially La Toretta. manarola was not affected by the flas floods, as far as I know. This place is lovely, great ambiance and views. Room 6 ( classic room) has a balcony where you can enjoy sitting at breakfast or in the late afternoon, with a bougainvillea-covered arbor next door spilling over to your deck.

Thanks for the advice! We'll be going the first week or two of July. :)

Suzanna, As you're not arriving at MXP until 19:00, I agree that it would be a good idea to stay one night in Milan. I'd suggest getting a Hotel close to Milano Centrale, as that will facilitate your journey the following morning. There are several Hotels in that area listed in the Italy Guidebook. I assume you've already researched how you'll be getting from MXP into Milan? As you won't be travelling until July, it's possible you'll be able to stay in whichever of the five Cinque Terre villages you want. Only one part of Monterosso was affected, and I'm confident that will be back to normal by April. The situation in Vernazza is still a bit of a "question mark", but I'm sure hoping they'll be ready to host tourists by next spring. In order to recommend a Hotel, it would help to have some idea on your criteria and desired price range? As Lola suggested, La Torretta in Manarola would be a really good choice. However, it tends to be at the "high end" of the price scale, so be sure to keep that in mind. The first thing to consider is which of the five villages you might like to stay in? Have a look at the descriptions in the Italy Guidebook to see which one appeals to you the most. I was in Monterosso in September and had fantastic time. If you decide to stay there, I can certainly recommend a good Hotel. Even for travel in July, I'd suggest booking your accommodations in the near future. Congratulations and happy travels!

HI Suzanna, I stayed in Portovenere as it was a little cheaper and I was really disappointed. Riomaggiore was the smaller typical town that the Cinque Terre is all about. Monterosso at the top end i enjoyed, a little larger with more choice. Vernazza seemed to be the most touristy.
hope this helps, Elton

@Lola, "Yes, there are cheaper places to stay in Cinque Terre-but remember this is their honeymoon." I definitely agree that as this is a honeymoon, it would certainly be worthwhile to stay in memorable and wonderful lodgings such as La Torretta. I did think of that, but thought I should mention the price as I wasn't sure what kind of budget Suzanna was working with? Perhaps I should have stated that "it's at the high end of the scale for Manarola", as that's probably true. Some of the Hotels in the other villages are in the same price range, including the one I stayed at in Monterosso this year. It was an incredible Hotel, and I'm looking forward to returning there next year. Cheers!

I prefer Portovenere or Levanto to the Cinque Terre.

We always stay at the 4 star Hotel Berna located about 500 meters from Stazione Centrale on Via Napo Torriano 18. We have stayed there many times and really like the place. They also serve the best breakfast in Milano. Buon viaggio,

We also stayed at Hotel Berna in Milano and it was perfect. Very close to Centrale and the breakfast buffet can't be beat. In Vernazza we have stayed several places but most recently Francamaria rooms in Vernazza (which we love!!) but with devastation you will probably have to chose another village. Enjoyed a daytrip to Portovenere from Vernazza by boat. Buon Viaggio!!

KenI highly recommended La Toretta as it is perfect for a honeymoon. It is a lovely place, but I wouldn't call it "high end." Yes, there are cheaper places to stay in Cinque Terre-but remember this is their honeymoon. Our "classic" room (read "standard") was 130 euro a night in 2010. I believe the price has increased to 145 in 2011 for the same double room. There is an 8% discount for cash, which brings the price down. These are beautifully decorated rooms with a modern, seaside-theme decor and views to the ocean and/or the vineyards. The price includes a "welcome" drink (prosecco); the best breakfast we had in Italy, brought to our room on a tray (which we then enjoyed out on our private terrace/balcony); free minibar (a rarity anywhere); free Nespresso machine in the room, free daily activities such as a guided hike, or winetasting in the evening; and free wifi in the outdoor lobby area. The hotel is a jumble that spills along the hillside, and includes a large grassy terrace with lounges for relaxing. In 16 trips to Europe, staying generally in nice small 3-star places with ample charm, this was far and away my favorite hotel. My husband agrees. And Manarola itself was a perfect choice for us. I had mixed feelings about even visiting Cinque Terre, due to all controversy. As it turned out, Vernazza represented the worst of all we had heard-way too crowded, tacky tourist shops, merchants rude/dismissive. We couldn't wait to leave and get back to "our" village, which felt serene even at midday.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful replies. I've been in New York this past weekend and only now have a computer again (typing on my phone is just too difficult). We're definitely okay spending a little bit more more for our lodging in Italy, as it is the beginning of our honeymoon. $130 Euro is just fine, though slightly more would be okay as well. We just want to make sure we're comfortable, can easily get around by walking or public transportation. I haven't spent a lot of time comparing the villages, as I wasn't even sure which ones will be open to tourists in the summer. La Toretta looks great though as well as your suggestion for the hotel in Milan. Thank you!!

In Milan, we love the Hotel Duca di York. It seems that most posters suggest staying in Vernazza or Monterosso which may not be an option for while. The first time we went to the CT, we stayed in Vernazza. The last time we were in the Cinque Terre, we stayed in an apartment in Corniglia that we rented from SoleTerraMare. We loved the apartment and we loved the town.