CINQUE TERRE, ITALY LA TORRETTA LODGE - MANOROLA…read more UP FRONT: When you visit Cinque Terre in Italy, (literally "five lands"), you have five choices on where to stay out of the five fishing villages. If you're like most tourists, you're going to visit all of them, but one has to be your "home base". After visiting all of them, I think your best bet is either Manorola or Monterosso. The scenery in both places is astounding. Manorola is small and quiet and has some cliffs you can dive off at the bottom of the hill. Monterosso is a bit more sprawling and has a good stretch of beach. We stayed in Manorola two nights. Got the tip about La Torretta on Trip Advisor. This hotel is a dream. From start to finish, it felt too good to be true. Check in was a breeze - it was only us in the lobby - and we sipped Prosecco on the patio while the front desk copied our passports and finished up the paper work. Our room #7 was at the very top with the most breathtaking view (see photo). Bed was very comfortable, and the bathtub (we didn't use it) is literally the biggest I've ever seen - HUGE. No problems with the room - temperature control was good, mini-bar was complimentary. Be aware there is no phone in the room, and if you need something, you need to go down the steps to the office or call down from the window as you see the hotel staff moving about the property. lol. I did that once, we needed towels for the room, but no phone, so I just called out to the maid while I was standing on the balcony. It worked. The hotel sits on top of the hill. You walk down the hill to all the shops and restaurants. There's everything you need, ATM machine, train station, pharmacy, and more. At the bottom of the hill is the ocean, no beach, but there are places where you can lay out and many people do. There's also swimming allowed and the water is so cold and refreshing. You can dive in from many areas, and climb to the cliffs where you will be afraid to jump, but do it, it's so much fun. It took me 15 minutes to get enough courage to get off the cliff, but with the encouragement of fellow cliff divers, I was able to do it. Kept going back up to the top to do it again. There's breakfast in the mornings, all kinds of goodies - meats and cheeses, croissants, pastries and of course coffee. The hotel staff work hard to make sure you have everything you need. But keep in mind, they are not at the front desk 24/7. They close at 9:30 PM and they weren't clear about that when we checked in - neither did they say there was no phone in room. When we left, we were taking a train at the bottom of the hill, and they brought our luggage down with a golf cart. All the good things that have been said in the reviews are true - nothing hyped up about this place. Worth every dollar we spent on the room. Recommended restaurant around the corner: TRATTORIA DAL BILLY

La Toretta was a diamond in the rough for us, as we had started to plan our trip towards the Cinque…read moreTerra area, a friend recommended this hotel to us. Coming in on the offseason, we were still greated by a concierge who met us at the bottom of the mountain, and drove us up to the wonderful views that Manarolla had to offer. We checked in, but before that, we were given gifts of food and champagne to celebrate our arrival there. The view was outstanding, and the hosts were more than generous. They talked with us about where we had been, where we were coming from in the United States, and also about what else we had planned. To top off how great of a stay we had... they gave us an upgrade to the honeymoon suite for free! The room was absolutely gorgeous! A giant tub in the room, fiberoptic lights in the ceiling, and a gorgeous breakfast spread for nothing?!? It was amazing. To truly make it, what it was... as much as everyone always wants to be connected to the world... I was glad that I could not get any wifi at the hotel. It was nice to finally be away from everything, and not to be bothered by anything or anyone. We were left alone... to be alone. Waking up and taking in the view from our hotel room left us enjoying the beautiful views of the sea. Not to mention a nice little gift of bottle of champagne that was waiting for us once we got back from visiting the rest of Cinque Terra area.... as the concierge said... "Just because" I would recommend this place to ANYONE visiting the area... it is a little pricey, however I can tell you that the service is top notch, and well worth the euro's in my book.

The cutest hotel with a fantastic view from their panoramic terrace. Our room also had a little…read morebalcony. The hotel is located farther into Monterosso and up a bit of a climb - they can reserve a taxi for you which picks you up from the train station if you do not wish to lug your luggage up the entire way. There are only 2-3 taxis in Monterosso (costs 15 euros each way). Wait to buy your Cinque Terre pass and Via Dell'Amore ticket - they can help you purchase what you need here for up to half off! We also did the pasta, pesto, and tiramisu class here which was a lot of fun! Would definitely recommend it. It is 120 euros per person and has to be paid in cash - there are several ATMs nearby. We were here for the first day of the Lemon Festival (mid-May) so all the shops had lemon themed displays up!

My husband, my brother in law and sister in law and I stayed at Hotel Villa Steno for two of the…read moremost amazing nights in May 2025. The hotel is beautiful with amazing views out to sea. The rooms are very comfortable and have all the amenities you need including a terrace with a sea-view. The owners, Matteo and Carla, as well as the entire staff, are the best I have ever experienced. They are all kind and welcoming. They anticipated our needs by giving us information about the trains and hiking among villages in Cinque Terra. My brother in law wasn't feeling well and stayed at the hotel the first day. Carla called a doctor and also checked on him throughout the day. We all took a cooking class with Carla and it was fabulous. We made tiramisu, pasta, pesto and branzino. She was so patient with our lack of skills and made it fun. We all felt we might be able to do these recipes at home. We ate the delicious meal on an upper terrace with an even more amazing view. We were in Italy for two weeks and this was my favorite hotel. THE BEST!

Very nice hotel...the location is perfect! The breakfast in the on site restaurant is…read moregreat...endless choices and great cappuccinos. The suite was beautiful...shower was amazing You want for nothing and you can just sit on your porch and take it all in. Soany great place to eat...highly recommend Torre out near the castle on the end of the point. The ferry is like 100 feet away and you can ride it all day for a flat fee. Saw all 5 villages and had a blast. My only negative was that the bed is super firm...you might like that but I do not. There is a wonderful spa that is tied to the hotel...highly recommend to relax and set the tone for your stay. Portovenere is quiet at night and full of life during the day. They even have a private beach across the street! This is a.magival place...it is full of history and adventure.

The Grand Hotel Portovenere is a most beautiful hotel in a prime location. My stay here was the…read morehighlight of my trip! The area is incredibily beautiful: at the entrance of the Gulf of Poets: the deep blue Mediterranean sea becons with islands Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto in view along with dramatic San Pietro. The hotel is elegant and retains its history in its respectful and beautiful architecture. In the midst of such beauty, the staff and management make everything truly magic! From the warmest of welcomes to taking care of every detail with genuine kindness and consideration, the experience is heartfelt and magic!!! Great compliments to the chefs for the preparation of meals with delicate flavors highlighting the high quality ingredients. The team even made a dish that I had spoken to them about... a true surprise and absolute delight!! I recommend enjoying the experiences that can be arranged by the gracious staff. I had wonderful experiences in the cooking class with a truly talented chef who was informative, made delicious dishes and was fun! In addition, the sunset cruise experience was truly breathtaking! The boat was beautiful with a great Skipper, who showed me the natural beauty of the Portovenere area that can only be appreciated from the aspect of the sea: the black and gold marble caves, the beautiful islands and the views from the sea towards the Carrara mountains. The lovely aperitivo prepared by the hotel team made it perfect! The beautiful property, prime location and wonderful experiences make this a wonderful and grand place but what truly makes this a special Grand Hotel is the amazing staff led by their General Manager, Mr.. Polesel. They are gracious, warm and phenomenal at what they do!!! I am grateful to have been able to spend time here and will return soon!!!.

Over the years I have stayed at this hotel many, many times. The family and staff are friendly and…read morewill help you out if you need something. They are very accommodating to odd check in/check out hours and offer a standard Italian breakfast (simple) with fresh pastries. Ask for a room on the top floor as they are quieter - not so much from outside noise (the motorcycles and mopeds can always be heard), but from the late night antics of other patrons that will happen from time to time. Hey, Parma is a romantic city! There is typical Italian parking in front of and behind the hotel (= tiny places), but I always had plenty of room to maneuver a 5 series bimmer. The Venetian chandeliers are very beautiful making this a nice, small boutique hotel from which to base your business or tourist trip.

From the owner: Ideally located and at a short distance from motorway, railway station, airport, and exhibition…read morearea, the elegant liberty style Villa Verdi praises a central position and a private parking, where you may leave the car to comfortably walk to Hospital, University, as well as all main touristic attractions in the historical city centre. At the adjacent modern San Rocco Restaurant, in what used to be the old stables, you may taste the typical parmesan cuisine, and enjoy dinner in the outside gazebo in the warmer season.

Short visit to Italy and going back to Portofino was my priority along with the Hotel Splendido…read more There aren't too many hotels that are destinations in themselves but this is one of them. Attention to detail is unparalleled among local hotels and the Splendido is in a league by itself. Just relaxing and taking in the views and of course dining were on the agenda and nothing disappointed. We didn't leave much except for a few drives to neighboring towns. Though I just got home I'm already looking forward to going back.

Portofino was the first destination for our trip to Italy last month. Arriving at Splendido after…read morean incredibly long day of travel was absolutely incredible. The views from check in (and our room, and the restaurant, and the gym) are absolutely stunning! The room was cozy and well equipped with a dyson blow dryer and the service throughout our stay was top notch. The breakfast buffet at Belmond hotels is always something that I look forward to and this was no exception. My only note would be that our room was right above the bar area so we could hear the music in the evening until about 12/1 in the morning from our room. If this is something that would be bothersome you may want to request a room further from the bar when you make your reservation.

My wife and I were very happy with the location and the ocean views at Hotel Agave. It was as if…read morewe were sleeping on the beech itself. Perhaps some noise from pedestrians on the street, but the cleanliness and location of the room, we were very happy with. We stayed in Room 7 on the second floor in the corner of the building. We walked into the historic Monterosso and although it was nice, we felt happy with the Hotel Agave location, due to its proximity to the beach.

We decided to stay in a hotel in Livorno vs an airBNB, bc we wanted a change of pace. Apts in…read moreItaly tend to be small, and the showers are tiny. The Palazzo is the nicest hotel in Livorno, and has been in biz for over 100 yrs. It has great views of the water fr the rooftop bar & restaurant. Single rooms were about €150,00 including taxes & fees. The rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were good sized and inc a tub. We indulged in the bar & apps, bfast buffet and dinner during our stay. The service was excellent, but the pricing is high. For an example, an Americano cocktail was €18,00 vs elsewhere the drink would have been €8,00. Secondarily, the buffet is €22,00, but did not have made to order items. The scrambled eggs were runny, and the sausage were like hot dogs. I stuck to the charcuterie, boiled eggs, fresh fruit and croissants. I also grabbed take away for mija & ITC, that dropped the actual cost closer to €7,00/person. Lastly, dinner was +€100,00 for two entrees, a salad, a dessert and one glass of wine. All in all, a positive stay bc of the rooms, the location and excellent service. Apparently the Palazzo is popular for weddings and bachelorette parties too. I'm glad the Italian version of the latter are more tame vs the crap you see in Vegas - LOL!

I know I'm rating hotel, but I have to start with the food. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow…read moremorning of the breakfast buffet. It was beautiful - inside and out. Yes, inside of my belly. They have these small pizza bites (for breakfast - it's like college, I know) that were so amazing. The hotel is clean, the prices reasonable, the Internet fast and free and the parking is absolutely easy and free as well. If you pay for a small upgrade, you get a beach view. There's also a fitness studio with technogym equipment and a spa (spa I haven't tried). The TV has a few international channels. Everything fancy shmancy, you could say. My boyfriend wants me to add: the toilet paper roll isn't properly attached to the wall and there is some mold along the bathtub.

The pros: Service in EVERY AREA of the hotel was 5 stars. Our Maitre D' said it best "we want the…read morespirit of our service to match the manner of our service." The room was matchless, expect the normal wear and tear of a older hotel, we opted for the suite, good decision. I would visit here any time of year. Not just the summer, as I write this a thunderstorm rages in the ocean across the street. I am a steam room, (Turkish bath), aficionado, theirs is the best so far, (compare to Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara). The staff was matchless throughout the hotel. The breakfast was more than expected, They quickly learned how I liked my coffee and would bring it to me as I arrived, much to my delight. The food was more $ than I expected, however - it was less $ than it should have been, our best meal in Italy. The con: The spa needed some mild training, (I think if my Italian was better or their English was a piccolo better it would have been easier, but the facility was impressive. Expect function over form.

We stay for a week until July 20,2018 We had a one bedroom…read moresuite. Rooms are okay, service is not. I think the management have to do some changes before they have other unhappy customers. For examples , the tv on the bedroom doesn't work properly, the entrance door handle was loose for a long time until broke done completely. We went to the pool and order coffee and the biggest surprise ( never in other 5 starts hotel uraound the world) after we give the bar tender the room number we had to sign first before the coffe was serve. Just doesn't make any sense. For the car parking we were told $29 per day. On the bill was $39 per day, the explanation was that the car was inside in the parking, not outside. That's okay if we were told up front and we can deside if he have choice.

This is our favorite hotel on the Italian Riviera. We have returned time and again to enjoy the…read morebeauty of the area. The hotel is exquisite and the service impeccable. The included breakfast is a luxury and the perfect way to start your day!

A paradise on the Tyrethian Sea. My wife didn't tell me how much it cost, but it was worth it. The…read moreperfect place to relax, and try to forget the nightmare of traveling from West Palm to Milan. Customs sucks. Traveling sucks. Anyway , the view of the city and and sea is amazing. The room was perfect. The hotel also has a restaurant and a bar that serves drinks and snacks during the beautiful sunset. They have a pool, and a free private beach attached to the hotel. Everyone who worked there were very nice, helpful and diligent with there duties. The hotel is pristine. This was the best hotel I have ever stayed at. Period.