Hotel Al Terra di Mare

A great spot for those looking to explore Cinque Terre, the family-run Hotel Al Terra di Mare is used by travelers looking for a base to rest their head between towns and hikes. Simply but charmingly decorated with pots of flowers scattered across the property, the hotel is built almost like a village, with "streets" instead of hallways to connect rooms and buildings. Terraces throughout provide lovely vistas of the scenic surrounding landscape, and are dotted with wrought-iron dining sets, lemon trees, and interesting metal sculptures. It's also a good choice for guests conscious about staying in eco-friendly properties, thanks to its solar-powered facilities (it's won a UNESCO award for its efforts). 

Al Terra di Mare is located above the town of Levanto, which makes for an excellent jumping-off point for Cinque Terre adventures. However, frequent trips to and from town can get expensive as the hotel's shuttle to the train station and town is only free the first roundtrip -- after that, there's a small per-trip, per-guest fee. Given that it's a fairly long walk (25 minutes, and quite hilly), there's no other great way to get to and from the center unless guests have a car (five-minute drive). Cristoforo Colombo airport in Genoa is about two and a half hours away by public transit or slightly less than an hour and a half by car. 

Decoration for the rooms is much like you'd expect if you were staying in an actual guest room at someone's home, which is what the owners seem to have been going for. The simplistic rooms are traditional in style, done in classic wood furnishings, terra-cotta tile floors, and patterned fabric headboards that match the bedskirts and curtains. Linens are in calming shades of ocean blue and spring green. 

Guests should know that the level of the room corresponds with the view, rather than the size of the unit: Standard Rooms look out over the valley or inside alleys of the property, while Deluxe Rooms and up offer sea or valley views and terraces (with a Plus Room, you get both sea and terrace). However, each unit is fairly spacious, at around 24 square meters (258 square feet) for most. Rooms have great air-conditioning, and each comes with a satellite TV and minibar. 

Bathrooms have showers and hairdryers, although some guests have complained that the hot water runs out pretty quickly. Families or couples wanting more privacy might want to look into the two apartments owned by the hotel, which are located off-site.

The hotel is simple when it comes to features, but what's there is lovely. A free breakfast, which includes eggs, bacon, homemade jam, fresh bread, and great cappuccinos, is served on a terrace overlooking the sea each morning. In the evenings on the terrace, there's local charcuterie, and guests can have a happy hour drink from La Piazzetta, the hotel's small bar. 

A quiet, outdoor swimming pool is set on a hill and located close to the rooms, though note that it's only open in the summer. Drinks and ice cream are served poolside. Parking is free and available on-site. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the property. On the downside, there are no fitness or wellness facilities, and no amenities geared toward kids.