Hotel Porto Roca

The hotel shuttle was fantastic, and Mauro was great. We spent time in the pool and a couple of days at the beach, then took the train to Manorola and Corniglia. We also had a two hour private boat trip with Stefano, whom we met at the dock. Seeing all five cities from the water was wonderful, and I highly recommend it. Monterossa is a great place to stay, with plenty to do. The view from the hotel is spectacular, the service is great, housekeeping did a great job, and the restaurant was fantastic. Everyone working at La Terraza was fun to be around and well connected. We spent 10 days here and loved it. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else.

We chose a third floor room with a large terrace, and splurging on it was worth it. It sits right over the water, with two lounge chairs and two comfortable folding chairs outside. Hotel Porto Roca is perched on the cliff above town, about a five minute walk down, though the hotel also runs a shuttle. The staff were very helpful. The location is the best in Monterosso A Mare, and probably in all of Cinque Terre.

The pool area had a lovely view, and it was nice to be able to order drinks and food there. It was a bit cramped to get between the chairs, and the water was a little cold. Drinks were good but somewhat expensive. Staff were pleasant, and the hotel was a nice boutique place. Our room was small but clean and nice, with organizers for our things. The breakfast was included and offered lots of choices, including fruit, croissants, cheese, eggs, and bacon. The hotel is up a fairly steep hill, but the view and the quieter spot away from the main square made it worthwhile. From the station, it’s about a 10 minute walk to the square; you can call the hotel to collect you and your luggage there. You might find a taxi, but the hotel doesn’t provide one. Walking all the way between the hotel and station takes 12-15 minutes. The road to the hotel and the main trail is shared by cars and pedestrians, so step aside when a car comes. You need to insert a card to switch on the room lights and open the door. A motion activated hallway light by our door was a little annoying, but fine. The toilet was uncomfortable, and one side didn’t flush, though it wasn’t a big deal to us. In the morning I could hear what sounded like chairs, probably breakfast setup, around 8am. Mostly it wasn’t loud. We’d stay again.

The pool area is awesome, with incredible views, and the staff were excellent and friendly. The views in general are amazing. The restaurant is pricey, especially the wine. Getting to the hotel means climbing a steep stretch of about 300 m, so it could be difficult if walking is a challenge, though there is a shuttle.