type of transportation to use

Shirley, That's a bit of a long trip by train, so my choice would be to use an EasyJet flight from Brussels / BRU to Milan / MXP. They currently have flights listed as low as €16.99 (plus a few fees), with a flight time of 1.5 hours. They appear to offer two flights per day, but I'd recommend the 08:45 departure. You'll need to book the flight early to get the best price. Be sure to read the "Terms & Conditions" carefully, especially with respect to baggage limits. Note that usually only ONE carry-on item is allowed (and they do usually enforce that). You'll arrive at MXP Terminal 2. Take the Malpensa Shuttle (Bus) to Milano Centrale (€7.50, travel time about 50M depending on traffic) and then travel by train to Monterosso al Mare. If you can manage to connect with the 12:10 departure, it's a direct train (no changes), with a travel time of 2H:52M. Base fare on that route is €23 but if you can pre-book you can get a Mini fare at €9 (be aware that some users here have reported problems when booking on the Trenitalia website). Where are you staying in Monterosso? Hopefully you have accommodations reserved? Happy travels!