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.

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.

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!

The best hotel I've ever stayed in. Period. My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and hardly a…read moreday goes by when I don't think about it. The grounds are beautiful, our room was enormous and the staff paid attention to every detail during our stay. My wife and I just renovated our house and we put in a pool and landscaping that borrows from the aesthetic of Castello del Nero's pool area. We are already planning to return for my 40th birthday...3 Years from now. We spent 3 weeks in Italy at 6 different hotels and this is the only one I think about and have to return to. The restaurants are both amazing and the breakfast is the best we had on our trip. If I could give 10 stars I would, so if you're even considering a stay at Castello del Nero I'd say look no further...it's time to book a reservation.

My husband and I stayed here 4 nights of a two-week trip to Italy to celebrate our 10 year wedding…read moreanniversary. This hotel is a really high-end boutique hotel that really goes above and beyond to deliver an outstanding experience for all guests. The hotel is conveniently located in a small town about 30-40 minutes by car from Florence (between Florence and Siena). It is in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany. We stayed in a basic room, which was very nice. It was very large (one of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in that wasn't a suite). There was a welcome bottle of champagne (already chilled for us) as well as a bottle of red wine and a huge basket of fresh fruit ready for us on our coffee table. There was a hand-written note to us that was a nice personal touch. The room had a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside. The things that really stood out to me were: 1. Complimentary welcome champagne and wine 2. Abundant fruit basket that got replenished daily. 3. Complimentary bottled still and sparkling water replenished daily. 4. A pillow menu for guests! 5. Full breakfast every morning included with the room - there were 10 different kinds of milk out to suit everyone's preference (almond, soy, rice, goat, etc.) 5. The very nice spa 6. The setting of course! You literally couldn't ask for a more picturesque place! 7. Complimentary up to date movies on your TV 8. Great hiking trails right on the property My only (very small) complaints are that there was no dresser or shelves in the room - I had nowhere to unpack any of my folded clothes (there is only hanging space in the closet), and the mattress is very firm (this is just a personal issue though!). This hotel is very special and truly understands how to deliver a higher than 5-star experience to guests. I would highly recommend it for honeymooners, or anyone wanting a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place!

We just stayed there and cannot say enough good things about our experience. The hotel is located…read morejust outside the medieval walls and not too far from the train station. You could walk there if you decided to take the train. The staff was very friendly and helpful (Luca, Sonia and Francesco). They provide free bicycles which made our trip really fun and made getting around the city so easy. We booked a family room which was two joined rooms with a private shared hall and bath. This meant our children (ages 15 and 11) could be in their room watching MTV while we had a bit of quiet. Free parking, wifi and breakfast. We will recommend this hotel to everyone. All around lovely stay and a great value.

From the owner: Welcome to Albergo Celide Situated on the main road in…read morefront of the old city wall surrounding the historical town of Lucca, the Celide Hotel & Spa is located 500 meters away from the main station and few steps away from the major historical monuments. It's perfect starting point to visit the town, also with our bikes (free for our guest).

Ristorante Bel Soggiorno feels like a natural stop in San Gimignano. It is located along the town's…read morenarrow stone streets, the restaurant opens into a warm, elegant space with terracotta floors, wooden beams, and a relaxed atmosphere that reflects its long history. What truly sets it apart is the view. From the terrace and dining room windows, the Tuscan countryside stretches across rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves, turning the meal into something memorable. The menu focuses on classic Tuscan dishes...handmade pastas, rich ragùs, roasted meats, and seasonal ingredients...prepared with simplicity and care. The atmosphere is refined yet informal, with attentive service and an unhurried pace that encourages you to linger. Bel Soggiorno focuses on good food, spectacular scenery, and the kind of dining experience that makes Tuscany feel exactly the way you imagined it would.

Ambiance is great, food and service mediocre. Very salty and heavy on sauce. We did not have…read morereservations. Not sure if that had any influenced?

We booked this thru hotels tonight. The first night was at $55.00 couldn't beat the price even if…read morethey don't have elevators. It's a very peaceful place with complimentary breakfast. We decided to stay a second night because we are almost done with our 15 day trip around Italy and we lived the Tuscany area. The second night thru Hotel tonight was 75.00. We told the fro t desk that we had booked a second night and they told us that we had to move rooms. Wow wow wow. No elevators that's all I thought. But well.

Wow! This was a very impressive hotel. Like staying in a private villa. Found on hotel tonight app…read more Great price for the experience. The grounds were amazing. Breakfast and service was outstanding. We would definitely stay here again and would highly recommend.

Am I missing something with the bad reviews ?…read more What a gem in the mountains of Tuscany . We were woken every morning by a chorus of beautiful singing birds to views to die for . The breakfast of fresh fruit with fresh baked Italian breads and croissants and fresh honeycomb overlooking the valley was dreamlike . Barga , is about a 10 minute drive through fairytale landscapes to a multitude of restaurants and trattorias , charming is an understatement . I would highly recommend this fantastic hotel . Thank you to all the wonderful welcoming staff . Ciao!

We were just in Italy for our honeymoon. We went to Rome, Tuscany, Lake Como and Milan and this is…read morewhere we stayed while in Tuscany. My husband is premiere elite with Marriott bonvoy and is suppose to be automatically promised a room with the best view and our first room was just a brick wall. We went back to the front desk and said something esp since it was our honeymoon and they were kind enough to upgrade us to a terrace view. I will say if you stay here take advantage of the free breakfast but go out of town for lunch and dinner. We did dinner at the resort the first night and waited an hour once seated to order... you can go to the cute town in barga to go out to eat. Many delicious food we found and cute bars. The rooms are very nice! We did a couples massage one day and loved it. Love the vibe at the pool also. Will be back for sure!

Perfect location near the leaning tower and the university. Staff was so kinda and helpful…read more Allowed me to lock my bike in their garage overnight. Complimentary bar and breakfast, and what a delicious meal to start the day of exploring Tuscany.