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 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!

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!

From the owner: Il nuovo Hotel 3 stelle Superior Rosso Frizzante, unica struttura di Modena situata a Sorbara -…read morecittà natale del più pregiato Lambrusco - ti sorprenderà per la sua filosofia inedita e ultramoderna. Pensato per offrirti un servizio perfettamente ritagliato sulle tue esigenze, qui potrai godere dei migliori comfort di un 3 stelle, in modo del tutto indipendente e alle tariffe più convenienti. Se sei in viaggio di lavoro, grazie alla posizione strategica dell'Hotel Rosso Frizzante puoi raggiungere in pochi minuti tutti i clienti e le aziende di Sorbara, Carpi, Nonantola, Mirandola e il centro di Modena.

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!!!.

Very nice and clean hotel. I had an absolutely fantastic dinner after I arrived late. They asked if…read moreit would be ok to come back in about 20 minutes after I checked in. When I came back I realized that they had set a table in the lobby for me. The mother of the front desk operator (Alex) came out and made me one of the best Italian dinners I have ever had. Everyone was very friendly. You can tell they are upgrading everything from wifi to new TV's with changeable Audio for English or Italian on some channels.

From the owner: Immagina una fattoria dell'Ottocento nella campagna emiliana. Grandi spazi e il fresco abbraccio…read moredel verde. La città è vicina ma il suo caos è lontano. L'Hotel Corte Vecchia nasce dal recupero scrupoloso dell'antico casolare: la casa padronale, il fienile, la corte dove un tempo sostavano buoi e cavalli nei periodi di aratura e di semina. La trasformazione in albergo è stata lunga e accurata, fedele alla semplicità del luogo. All'Hotel Corte Vecchia ogni persona è più di un semplice cliente. La gestione familiare assicura a ogni ospite un trattamento privilegiato. Un sorriso per augurarti il benvenuto e tante piccole attenzioni per farti sentire come a casa. Non importa se ti tratterrai soltanto una notte, un soggiorno così lo ricorderai a lungo. Ogni stanza dell'hotel Corte Vecchia ha una sua identità. Quale preferisci? Le camere singole o doppie ad uso singola per un soggiorno business o le camere matrimoniali per la coppia. Disponibili anche doppie Twin, con letti separati, o spaziose Junior Suite, alcune con zona notte supplementare rialzata. Tutte le sistemazioni sono ospitate negli ambienti dell'antico fienile e della casa padronale.

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.

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.