Happy weekend. I have a full weekend of teaching four letterpress classes in San Francisco. I’m excited. Thanks for all your Italy advice. I think we have our plan narrowed down to two weeks in the mountains at Colletta di CastelBianco. I bookmarked this post Erica did last year and it looks secluded and beautiful. Then two weeks on the coast in Vernazza. Victoria at sfgirlbybay recommended this adorable apartment which would’ve been perfect but we found out it doesn’t have internet. We won’t be on a real vacation since we’ll still be working full time in the evenings so internet is a deal breaker. Does anyone know of an apartment rental in Vernazzo in Cinque Terre that has internet?
photos by Erica Berman at Haven in Paris
photos from this apartment in Vernazza Cinque Terre
I also write for Babble.com. Here are my posts this week.
And you thought picnics couldn’t get any cuter.
I want this wooden puzzle. Er, for the kids, not me.
Best idea ever, saw these in person yesterday and they are rad.
Make any pair of shoes superhero shoes with these.
I’m so stoked for the Royal Wedding. FOR REALS. These are the raddest souvenirs.
o charm
April 15, 2011
we always find our rentals on either homeaway.com or homelidays.com
they have a lot, especially in italy and we've been happy with everything we've used through these sites.
good luck!
and by the way, can you share the details of your greek sailing company? who are you chartering through?
Lemons and Lavender
April 15, 2011
You are going to love The Cinque Terre! It's been about 5 years since I was there, and I can't wait until I can go back. If you can, take the hike that links all of the towns. It's long and I only did part of it before hopping on a boat and train for the rest. The views are spectacular especially the one that overlooks Vernazza. It can be steep and narrow in parts so the kids should be "packed" in. Porto Venere is definitely worth the trip (by boat – gorgeous). It is quaint and less crowded than and of the other 5 towns. Highly recommend it.
ksciarrino
April 15, 2011
I do know there is an Internet cafe on the main street right below. I stayed very close to that apartment in 2008. You've got to do the hike connecting all five villages. I'm jealous. I want to go back!
Laura@trendinozze
April 15, 2011
it's Vernazza not Vernazzo ;). I would suggest not spending two entire weeks there, the kids might get bored, It does have a beautiful sea and amazing views, but no sand beaches, more rocky ones. I would ssuggest having a week towards the tuscan riviera where you can enjoy some sandy beaches as well and it will be more comfy for the babies to get into the sea! I hope you like Italy!
Natalie
April 15, 2011
LOVE Cinque Terre. It was my most favorite area of Italy. The coastline is beautiful and there are great trails to hike through the vineyards and farms. The towns are delightful too! Can't wait to see your adventures there!
p.
April 15, 2011
If you're open to another Cinque Terre town, consider Manarola — great swimming and less steep than Vernazza. My friend recommends these apartments http://www.dapaulin.it/apartments.html
(she's stayed in both #1 and #3).
Yet another option could be this Italian family-friendly beach town that Mike Adamick wrote about on the Chronicle's parenting blog: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?entry_id=48169
I know it's fairly close to the Cinque Terre but you'd have to email him for the name of the town.
s g
April 15, 2011
check out tripadvisor.com, we rented rooms under Monica when we stayed in Vernazza last September…she actually had a shared kitchen, you could rent 2 rooms and have a kitchen. Monica was great at communicating via email, a lot of places don't have web presence, which makes it difficult.
I agree with Laura…2 weeks might be boring, even hiking through all the towns. The beach in Manarola is nice, but rocky and NOT sandy for kids to play in…water is beautiful and clear- so you can see ALL the jellyfish. You can ferry, hike and boat taxi to the other places. It is beautiful. TONS of info on tripadvisor.
One other tidbit you might be interested in…get ready for TOURISTS…we went late September hoping to catch the nice weather and not as many tourists…STILL tons of tourists in the Cinque Terre, but we did have nice weather, it was rare if we didn't hear English every 5 steps.
Linda
April 15, 2011
well, I feel almost obliged to give you some advice because I live close the Cinque Terre (in the city named La Spezia). I'm 18 and I usually spend my summers climbing up and down the rocks of Monterosso and Vernazza. However I must say that I have great memories of the summers here as a child as well (we went in some other beaches in Tuscany and east coast but the sea is so brown there that you can't even see the bottom). I can agree with Laura that two entire weeks in Vernazza could be boring for all of you anyway you may rent chairs and umbrellas in Monterosso for some days, here there is plenty of room for the kids to have fun in complete safety and for the parents to relax 😉 (we used to do that for a month every summer) In Vernazza anyway there is a little lovely beach where kids usually play all together.
s g
April 15, 2011
oh and one more thing…internet…there is a wireless connection you have to pay for per half hour next to the internet cafe in Vernazza. We would just sit outside on the steps with our ipad to use, the internet cafe is stuffy and lots of slow PC's…but it was warm enough to sit outside at night etc.
I do think La Mala (one of the nicest places to offer rooms in Vernazza) offers internet.
Nome Alone
April 15, 2011
I've been to Cinque Terre, it's one of the loveliest places on earth! Have fun! And be sure to walk to the 4 other villages, the trails are great!
urbanite jewelry
April 15, 2011
I don't know of any apartments in Cinque Terra with internet, but you're going to just adore it. I went in the off-season 3 years ago when it the weather was crappy and yet I still fell completely in love. ENJOY!
greengelato
April 15, 2011
i love airbnb.com! we're currently hosting people from europe right now.
Christina
April 15, 2011
Colletta di Castelbianco looks fantastic.
I'd second the recommendations of Manarola over Vernazza, and of not spending a whole two weeks in Cinque Terre. We (me, husband + 20-month old at the time) stayed in Riomaggiore in late September and there were many tourists in all 5 towns but Vernazza was the most crowded and you could barely walk down the street without bumping into a tour group following an umbrella or flag-holding guide.
Still loved Vernazza, and had a wonderful lunch there, but I think Manarola or Monterosso would be better for a ~week-long stay with kids.
jo
April 15, 2011
don't know a rental per se but we stayed in vernazza last May and there is an internet cafe right in tow (can't miss it) and its cheap. You could stay wherever and then stroll over to the cafe?!
fanciful no.2
April 15, 2011
oh, cinque terre. quite possibly my very favorite place in the world. sorry i have no suggestions for internet, but i just had to share my jealousy… hope you have a wonderful trip!
Sarah
April 16, 2011
That place looks absolutely blissful! x
Gina
April 16, 2011
Vernazza is lovely- best place to swim by far, and very picturesque, but my favorite was Manarola- one of the quietest of the towns (Corniglia is probably the least touristy)- I think I stayed at "Alla Porta Rossa" beautiful A/C rooms (key) with the most amazing common room and breakfast in the morning. Super clean, charming, light and some of the best, freshest food around (the breakfast man would walk around bare foot on the tile floors singing opera in the mornings and made the most beautiful coffee in the world). We used the internet in the cafe/bar below.
As for internet at a hotel, the most bustling town, Monterosso Al Mare is probably a better bet, though it's not as cute as the other towns (worth a look for sure, but has a lot of european style tourism).
kristen
April 17, 2011
First sailing through greece, and then a month in Italy I am green with envy! What an amazing experience for your children.
If you need a nanny to accompany you I would be more then willing! I have a stellar cover letter, resume, and reference. Along with over eight years of full-time nanny experience! Just thought I would put it out there!
Mike and Debbie
April 17, 2011
Don't know about apartments, but book in advance if you're thinking summer….that place fills up quickly! Eat at the Blue Marlin, great food, funky atmosphere, and awesome staff! They love the kiddos there too!! They could probably hook you up with internet somehow too. There is a sandy beach, just one town over.
Jenna
April 17, 2011
Cinque Terre is lovely…but good luck finding a place with internet! I tried and failed many times, the only internet I could find were a couple of "pay for 15 minutes" type set ups that were always closed. I actually had to call home to Australia and get my boyfriend at home to look up the train timetable for me!
Jenna
Jenna
April 17, 2011
Oh and I have to tell you – take a good mosquito repellent!
Sarah
April 18, 2011
Oh man this is so beautiful. I would die to go!
– Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/
Erica Jackson Curran
April 18, 2011
WE stayed in a great place with internet in Corniglia, but I wouldn't recommend the walk up that hill! I think it's definitely the steepest of the five villages. Cinque Terre is one of my favorite places on earth — you'll never want to leave!