La Torretta

We'd booked four nights a couple of months ahead, but bad weather made us feel unsafe in the city, so we asked to leave one night early. We weren't compensated, which was disappointing. Since the place is between cliffs and can feel unsafe in bad weather, I'd suggest checking the forecast first and making it a day trip instead of booking ahead.

The location was fabulous, with great views and easy access to the hikes and train station, while still being quiet. Service was very good, from the porter who helped with our bags and parking to the breakfast assistance. We enjoyed breakfast, especially the eggs and almond croissant. We liked the hotel and had a very nice visit. The room was large, with a comfortable bed, a nice living room, good WiFi, and a clean bathroom. The shower had good pressure, though the bathtub less so. Stairs to the bathroom and bedroom were steep and shallow. We got badly bitten by lots of mosquitos at night, and the patio sitting area was outside, down about 10 steep steps from the room. The website pictures hadn't given me that impression. I'd have given it five stars if they'd kept mosquitos out of the rooms.

The room was thoughtfully designed, and the property felt well organized. We also had a beautiful breakfast in the morning. Of the five towns, Manarola felt like the best place for us to stay, and its position at the top made dropping off our luggage easy. The staff were terrific with coordination and help.

We had a suite with a balcony and a separate sitting area, and the rooms were all very clean. Each one has its own character. Our friend's room ran across a couple of floors, with a bathroom built into the rock, so we called it a cave. Really unusual and interesting. There are lots of narrow stairs in the hotel, but if you're visiting this part of Italy, you probably expect plenty of stairs and hills. Everyone working there was friendly and accommodating. We loved our stay and highly recommend it.