In this post, I will share 10 travel tips to help you find the best accommodation in Cinque Terre to fit your budget and to make your trip that bit extra special.
In some of my other recent articles, I’ve talked about where to stay when visiting Cinque Terre. Including staying in the nearby towns of La Spezia, Levanto, and the beautiful medieval town of Portovenere.
These practical guides can help you decide which town to choose as your Cinque Terre holiday hub.
The Ugly Truth About Holiday Accommodation
We’ve spent more than 30 years traveling to almost 40 countries and the one thing that is still a major pain in the butt is choosing where to stay.
We tend to have holidays where we move around every 3-4 days. So, we spend a few hours researching and booking flights and dozens of hours choosing our accommodation. It can get mind-numbing and deflating!
Why don’t I just pick the first thing that shows up in the search results? It’s because we don’t have a limitless budget, but we do have some minimum expectations. Cake and eat it to type of situation?
No! It’s not crazy to want good value for money.
Imagine paying top dollar for a place that has an uncomfortable bed and ill-tempered staff. Bad accommodation can ruin your holiday.
The problem is that when you’re visiting a high tourist area like Cinque Terre (and Italy for that matter), prices tend to be heavily reflective of demand. And worse still, quality (and I hate to say it) can be awful!
That’s the ugly truth.
Finding the Best Accommodation in Cinque Terre - My 10 Tips!
This article isn’t about finding cheap accommodation. This is about how to find the best accommodation in Cinque Terre for your budget.
Just follow these 10 travel tips to help you get more bang for your buck!
1. Set a Budget
Instead of drowning in hundreds of accommodation options, you’ll immediately know the type and quality of place that you can afford.
As a guide, in Cinque Terre, a mid-range B&B or small apartment is at least 175 Euros a night in the summer season.
Hotels and villas can have a lot of comfortable extras but are usually more expensive and can be a few hundred euros per night.
Hostels are a cheap alternative, with dorm rooms and shared shower facilities.
2. Book Ahead
Planning your trip to Cinque Terre has to be a priority if you want the best accommodation. Cinque Terre (and any popular destination in Italy) gets VERY busy and the better places get snapped up early.
You’ll always find late accommodation, but when you book late, you’ll pay over the odds for the location and quality.
Insider Tip: Of course booking ahead means that you risk your plans changing. So, it's always a good idea to check out the refund and cancellation policies.
3. Use the Booking Sites
In Italy, we use Booking.com and Airbnb. Both will give you a lot of options at various prices. You can also use the filters to fine-tune the results to suit your budget and preferences.
Most booking sites will also have the functionality to create a favorites list. This is by far the quickest way to compare accommodation options.
4. Check the 5 Star Reviews
This will tell you what makes this stay amazing.
For example, if everyone raves about the swimming pool but you don’t spend time by the pool, then maybe you’re paying for something you don’t need or want.
If a place has a significantly high number of 5-star reviews, then it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re booking the Paris Ritz. It could simply mean that it’s a budget place offering great value for money. A simple case of under promising and over delivering.
Insider Tip: Getting a good night’s sleep is top of my list! One thing that I always check for in the reviews is the mention of a comfortable bed. Especially in Airbnb’s, which can have low-quality beds and cheap uncomfortable pillows compared with hotels.
5. Check the 1 and 2 Star Reviews
This will immediately tell you what makes this stay really shoddy.
If you know that you’re a light sleeper and several people mention the noisy road then this will quickly tell you this place isn’t for you.
Insider Tip: If a place has more than 10% 1 or 2-star reviews, then odds-on it’s not worth the money.
6. Choose An Apartment
For the budget-conscious, apartments can help save money on your daily food bill. Instead of eating in restaurants, you can shop at the grocery store and cook for yourself. There are lots of Gastronomia (deli-style shops) around that sell amazing Italian produce.
The first time we visited Venice we did just that! We would shop at the markets and gastronomia to buy our breakfast items. It was a fun (and delicious) way to experience Venetian life, like a local.
Here are some handy apartments in Cinque Terre:
Affittacamere Arbasia De Ma, Terre Marine: $$ This traditional and comfortable coastal apartment is located in Corniglia. The studio has a kitchenette and terrace for outdoor dining.
Insider Tip: Need help with luggage? Request a transfer from the local train station.
La Casa del Gigante Luxury: $$$$ This luxury apartment is at the end of Monterosso beach. Set into a statue of The Giant, it’s a unique stay that can’t be compared!
Compagnia del mare: $$ This comfortable apartment has everything you need for a home away from home. No detail is missed, and you’ll be welcomed like an old friend.
7. Ask For a Deal
Don’t feel embarrassed to contact the hotels/hosts to ask for a deal or check to see if they have any discounts. You can often get deals for a longer stay and group bookings.
Insider Tip: We recommend at least 3 nights in Cinque Terre. Longer is better. If you have a week here, then you still won’t run out of things to see and do in and around Cinque Terre.
8. Be Flexible with Dates
Midweek accommodation is often a little cheaper. I also recommend visitors avoid Italian public holidays in Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre is also very popular with local Italian holidaymakers! Not only is there a peak in visitors during the Italian public holidays, but there is also a spike at weekends. If you can avoid the Cinque Terre crowds, then you’ll have an overall better experience.
9. Stay Near Cinque Terre
Consider staying in the other close by towns of La Spezia and Levanto. Both are within minutes of Cinque Terre by train, and both offer better value for money.
If this isn’t an option and you’re intent on staying in Cinque Terre, then there are other things you can do to enjoy a budget-friendly Cinque Terre vacation. Such as free activities, visiting in low season, and avoiding over-priced restaurants.
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There are also affordable accommodation options in the hills and hamlets above Cinque Terre. These often have fantastic views, can be more luxurious, and usually have parking as an option.
The downside is that you’ll be relying on shuttle buses to get around. Walking is also an option but be warned the hills are steep!
Here are some highly rated stays in the hills of Cinque Terre:
The Sunset Line: $$$$ For extra comfort, this Riomaggiore guest house is a luxury escape high up above the town and has on-site parking! Close to the train station and accessible via the public lift (when it’s operational)!
La Torretta Lodge: $$$$ On the outskirts of Manarola town, but within a 10-minute walk of the center, here, you can escape the crowds. La Torretta is a fancy lodge offering a unique stay, incredible views, and a courtesy luggage transfer from the local public parking lot.
Cadè Ventu: $$ This cute and comfortable apartment is situated in the hamlet of Fornacchi, between Corniglia and Vernazza. It’s the perfect spot for enjoying sunset aperitivo on your own private terrace. Parking on-site, with a local shuttle bus connecting to Vernazza.
10. Choose Shoulder Season
May, June, and September are not as busy, and you’ll have the choice of better accommodation.
Of course, the summertime temperatures are great for beach days (often mid-30oC or 86oF) but hiking, sightseeing, and other excursions are more comfortable in shoulder season.
Some of our best Cinque Terre hiking has been in shoulder season. Even in the low season, we can get surprisingly warm weather.
Important Advice: Being coastal, the weather is unpredictable, and we can get a lot of rain in Cinque Terre. Especially in May and September!!
Wet weather in Cinque Terre is a bit of a curve ball with hardly any indoor activities to keep tourists occupied.
On those days find a nice restaurant to ease into a lazy lunch. Or book onto one of the many local cooking schools or pesto making classes.
Two Bonus Tips for Finding the Best Accommodation in Cinque Terre!
11. Airconditioning
If you’re coming in May and find that perfect bed and breakfast at a great price, but it doesn’t have aircon. Don’t fret. Aircon is only needed in summer.
Insider Tip: From late June to August, the heat can be exhausting. Do yourself a favor and choose an air-conditioned place. You’ll have somewhere to escape the heat and sleep better at night.
12. Choose views and a balcony
If you can afford it, a room with a view and a balcony or terrace is a little extra luxury that goes a long way!
Imagine sitting on your little balcony, looking out over the sea, with a glass of local Vermentino wine and a delicious antipasto from the local deli. That’s la dolce vita with a view!
Wrap Up
Cinque Terre accommodation costs can be comparable to major cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence. But all is not lost.
In this post, I’ve shared my top 10 tips for how to book the best accommodation in Cinque Terre for your budget.
Follow my tips to avoid the overpriced and bad-quality tourist traps and stay in a place that gives you better value for money. Because you deserve it!
