Cinque Terre Short Break Walking Holiday Reviews

By would be hikerfrom Commack,New York on 2011-10-06

Pros:  Once in a Lifetime Experience,Fun
Cons:  More rail and bus info
Describe Yourself:  Amateur hikers
Best Uses:  Thrill Seeking,Trying Something New,Relaxation,Holiday
Bottom Line:  No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Comments about Cinque Terre Short Break Walking Holiday :

Food at hotel dela rose in Bonnasola was terrible. I had a roach in my spinach. We told the waiter and they took it away and I was not offered any other food and no apologies were made. In addition the food that my husband ate was not that good. The food in hotel amici in monterosso was better. The hikes were well described but it would be useful to have a bus and train schedule also. The park bus does not run that frequently and we could not find the stop. By the time we found it the next bus was in an hour. We liked staying in Bonnasola and the hotel itself was OK. The park palace in florence was great!!!! Maps were difficult to read. The hikes were not easy and the steepness of the terrain was more difficult than described.

Mac’s Adventure Response: Thank you so much for sending in your review, Im so sorry to hear about your stay at the Hotel in Bonnasola – I will definatley get in touch with the Hotel and forward on your comments. We are going to be changing the tour for next year and using another destination instead of Bonnasola so hopefully this wont happen again. I am glad you enjoyed the trip overall and thaought the Hotel in Florence was great.
Many Thanks
Kath
Macs Adventure

By jpdwfrom Cambridge on 2011-07-26

Pros:  Startling beauty
Cons:  Lots of uphill
Describe Yourself:  Occasional Traveller
Best Uses:  Relaxation,Holiday
Bottom Line:  Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Cinque Terre Short Break Walking Holiday :

The villages, terraces, cliffs and turquoise sea are so beautiful you can’t quite believe they really exist. The first day’s walking to Porto Venere would have been good by any standard, but the second day, particularly high on the vine terraces between Manarolo and Corniglia, was quite exceptional. The area is fascinating and the way the trains run through the mountain, popping out just at the villages adds an extra, slightly surreal, twist.

Walking was a little harder than we’d expected, with over 1,000 ft of ascent on the second day and steep descents, but well worth the effort – we were tired but not totally exhausted by the end of the day. The only rain we had was on the descent to Porto Venere, which did make the path down very treacherous – and rough seas meant we couldn’t get the boat back, which was a little disappointing.

Hotel Puente Mesco in Monterosso is pleasant and friendly, but the Hotel Villa Belvedere in Bonassola is a quite exceptionally beautiful and relaxing place to be – we cut short our last day’s walk to spend the afternoon just lazing about in its gardens and taking in the view. The food there is also excellent and we ate there both nights – don’t be put off by the single sitting and limited choice, this is really good cooking.

Overall, while food was often excellent, it didn’t always quite live up to our very high expectations of Italy. More guidance on this might have been nice. The bars mentioned in the notes in the smallish hamlets of Volastra and Campiglia were both closed when we passed late morning/lunchtime. In Campiglia we ended up eating at Ristorante La Lampara which was mixed in quality and not over-friendly. We later passed a place called Piccoloblu, just beyond the church, which looked like it might have been a better option.

Route notes were largely accurate, if a little terse. On other similar holidays the route notes have included a little more incidental information on what you are passing, which does enhance the experience.

Overall an unforgettable holiday, thoroughly recommended.

By nanfrom honolulu on 2011-06-29

Pros:  Great Accommodations,Once in a Lifetime Experience,Fun
Cons:  Exhausting
Describe Yourself:  World Traveller
Best Uses:  Holiday
Bottom Line:  Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Cinque Terre Short Break Walking Holiday :

Lots and lots of straight up and down from easy to difficult. 5 terre is no longer a fishing economy. Only tourists and more tourists. To get away from them you have to climb stairs.
Bonassola is the best place to stay outside the hubbub. Directions to accomodatations is the only thing that needs improving

By Chris the walkerfrom Leeds on 2011-06-27

Pros:  Well Organised,Great Accommodations
Describe Yourself:  World Traveller
Best Uses:  Trying Something New,Holiday
Bottom Line:  Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Cinque Terre Short Break Walking Holiday :

wonderful holiday in a beautiful area of Italy. Well organised, excellent accommodation. Perfect.

By Jimfrom Tallahassee, Florida, USA on 2011-05-30

Pros:  Well Organised,Fun
Describe Yourself:  World Traveller,Avid Adventurer
Best Uses:  Holiday,Trying Something New,Relaxation
Bottom Line:  Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Cinque Terre Short Break Walking Holiday :

The Sopergia hotel in Milan was soooo noisy that we couldn’t sleep. Horns blew until well after midnight. If you place people in this hotel you should ask for a room off the street.

We would have preferred accommodations in one of the 5 villiages instead of the nights at Bonassola.