To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb
Choosing to stay at the Hotel La Cabana multiplied our enjoyment of Cinque Terre. There are abundant Airbnbs to choose from in Monterosso, but sometimes you just need a curated experience and the Hotel Cabana, a charming farmhouse converted into a boutique hotel, provided this. Located halfway above the town in the hills far from the maddening crowd with a glorious view of the starry sparkle bays below, the location provides the perfect respite from the touristy scene. Hard to believe, it’s only a 5-minute shuttle ride away. It’s nestled among olive groves, vineyards and pine trees.
After a long train ride from Florence, Tamara, receptionist extraordinaire, warmly greeted us. Her welcome attention to detail was soothing and helpful. Getting the lay of the land and all the hard copies of train/boat schedules saved so much Googling. Thoughtfully, she delivered cold beers and salted chips in our room.The property also includes a lawn area complete with a hammock which I readily commandeered.
It’s been said that the worst meal in Italy is better than the best meal in the States. So true. For our first night Tamara recommended Ristorante Belvedere which offers a discount for La Cabana Hotel. Yummy white wine mussels and homemade pasta was paired with a local inexpensive rich Syrah from Buranco Winery. Even more special, we had passed this winery on our walk to the restaurant—talk about local. Her other recommendations were also spot on. Exploring Cinque Terra is complicated by its tantalizing choices and La Cabana helped dictate our decisions.
The included breakfast is served on the cozy patio. To accompany the ample buffet, we ordered crepes and eggs. Cappuccinos and other coffees are brought on request. Fresh fruits, croissants, and freshly made yogurts raised this hotel breakfast to another level.
Probably the most considerate perk was the morning we left. Our train reservations were for 6:40 in the morning and we would miss breakfast. The night before Tamara packed a breakfast that included yogurt, cheese, crackers, jellies, Nutella and waters—all packed in a drawstring bag. Much appreciated since our train ride to Milan was over three hours.
One splurge per vacation is our general rule, and Hotel Cabana was it. We were pleasantly surprised that the quoted 200 euros per night was just that. No taxes or extra expenses were added on. Sounds oxymoronic, but La Cabana is a reasonable splurge.
