Le Coste

We loved the apartment and its quaint, romantic feel, which suited the village perfectly. It wasn't luxurious, but it was clean and tidy. The bedroom was on the ground floor, with the kitchen and balcony upstairs. Those stairs were steep, though at least we didn't have to carry our suitcases up them. Getting around town also means steep climbs and lots of stairways, with no lifts or escalators, so luggage can be a struggle. Manarola was lovely and not as crowded as the other Cinque Terre places. We arrived after hours, and the detailed instructions were excellent. The apartment was very central, just a few minutes from the train. The safe didn't work, but we didn't bother reporting it. On our first morning the shower was cold because nobody had told us to switch on the hot water. There were plenty of kitchen utensils for eating in, and plenty of places nearby to buy tasty food or eat out. The bed was a little hard but okay, and the pillows were good, unlike those in many hotels. We had an iron and a hairdryer, but no ironing board.