This is the model of the ideal hostel. Super clean. Who'd of thought there'd be a place in Italy like this. The owners work really hard at keeping this place so nice. This place would be perfect if not for the lockout and the 5 minute showers.Room: single gender, 6 bunks - each with 2 sheets, blanket, pillow. Rooms open to outside. Each bed has a light. Huge locker - bring your own lock. Bathroom: very clean. even a huge bathroom for disabled travellers. Soap! The shower situation: You get a token for each night you're there. The token will turn on the shower for exactly 5 minutes. Hot water will flow until your time is up. You need to pay another 50 centimes if you want another 5 mintues. Really the only minor flaw to the place - this helps conserve water though.Atmosphere. Very good. Lots of places to sit and meet other hostellers: inside dining area, outside patio dining area, rooftop terrace. Friendly reception staff. Facilities: Internet - expensive. 4 computers. Restaurant service. Very good food and cheap. You need to order by 8pm. Laundry machines. Clotheslines on roof top. Lounge chairs on roof top with great view of the Mediterranean and surrounding hills. Elevator. Recyling boxes outside - they are very environmentally conscious. You can buy Cinque Terre Pesto from them to take home!Location. Cinque Terre is beautiful. Manarola is my favourite town because it has the fewest tourists. You do a 3 minute walk up the main street after emerging from the tunnel connecting to the train stop.
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(Review ID: 4395)
clean and pleasant, December 23, 2004
Reviewer:
Hicadoola
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n/a
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Yes, granted, the 12-4 lockout is annoying, especially when you are lazy like me, but it's understandable and we made do by just lounging in the sun or eating too much gelato. But the 12am curfew was not a problem at all; the trains stop running anyway around that time and they are just tiny villages where people are living their normal lives.This also applies to the 5minute shower limit which was difficult, but just think of it as a challenge? My friend and I stayed in an 8-bedded dorm, and everyone in it was much older than us, but were all really nice and warm people; basically, this hostel is for those kinds of people and not people looking to 'party'.The staff were all really helpful and even helped us out of a huge jam with a train ride to Nice which saved us tons of time AND money, can't thank them enough. The chef was also really nice and made really yummy food that wasn't too expensive. They have tons of games, too, which were fun to play with some food and some wine. The only negative thing about the place was the huuuge hill you have to climb to get here, and with a massive bag that is not fun in the slightest. But there's nothing you can do about it. The town itself is really cute, and at the bottom of the hill are the trains to the neighboring towns which are just a few minutes ride away. The hostel was really, really clean, and the bathrooms were always pretty much immaculate. You don't meet TONS of people here, people you can go into town with and such, but that was okay because i had my friend with me anyway. This place was quiet, serene and had an absolutely gorgeous view.ps. The church bells never woke nor bothered me once.
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(Review ID: 4396)
Rules, August 15, 2004
Reviewer:
mckirdy2003
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
While the hostel is kept very clean i also do not like being locked out at 1pm until 4pm this can be difficult after you travel a long way and just want to have a shower and go to bed. The food is the same price as a bar so it is not much point eating there when you can enjoy the town´s resturants for the same price.Way to many rules even if you want to call home and you get out of bed at 3am just to make a call, you will get a talking too.......33 years old and i´m living back at home with my mum.... enough of the rules........
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(Review ID: 4397)
best hostel I stayed at in Italy!, December 7, 2003
Reviewer:
EM
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(5)
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(5)
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This place was great! I stayed for 3 nights in July 2003. Having a locker really good, especially since in the Cinque Terre there is a lot of hiking to do and swimming and you will not want to carry all your valuables with you everywhere you go. The food they seved was great and a good price too. The showers were nice but the time limit of 5 minutes and only one free shower a day was bad, but I learned to live with it. The rooms were clean. The rooftop patio was really nice. I would highly recommend this hostel!
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(Review ID: 4398)
Dig the rooftop terrace, November 28, 2003
Reviewer:
dan
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
Yeah they have a lockin from 12 to 7 am but get over it. What do you expect to do here anyway? It's a tiny village on the Coast where the locals are trying to live a normal life.The place is ideally situated in the village with magnificent views back down to the town, less than ten minutes from the station. The place itself has a nice vibe and every night we met new people, and enjoyed fantastic food (try the testaroli with walnut sauce), and the breakfast was the best I had in Italy (most have a choice of croissant, bed roll, or toast, this had all three).The guys are mostly friendly, occassionally a bit tired (fair enough) but always helpful and the chef with the beard is a laugh.It is also Extremely clean and you can have a nice bottle of wine in the dining room or on the rooftop as the sun goes down. Divine.Overall by far the best Hostel i stayed in in Italy.
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(Review ID: 4399)
Superb hostel in a superb village., November 5, 2003
Reviewer:
Juliane
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(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
This hostel was wonderful. Its located at the top of a hill, which makes for a short hike through the vertical streets of Manarola, but I found it to be worth it. The view from the rooftop was breathtakingly beautiful. The meals offered were cheap and great tasting, and eating at the tables outside made for a wonderful night. I didn't really enjoy the coin operated shower, but, at least they were very clean, which was good. I would definately recommend this place to anyone going to Cinque Terre.
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(Review ID: 4400)
the staff made my trip!!, October 25, 2003
Reviewer:
kimberlyebaker@hotmail.com
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
This hostel was absolutley amazing!. I highly reccommend it. Everyday the chef (Edoardo) would take the other backpackers and I out on his fishing boat, I have so many awesome memories.- the food was excelllent- the rooms were clean You will love it!
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(Review ID: 4401)
clean beautiful hostel in the amazing ct, June 30, 2003
Reviewer:
Melanie Ng
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(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
this place was by far the best hostel i´ve been in. we were in a room of 4 beds and our own bathroom. it was super clean and well maintained. it was a little hike from the train station, but if you do the trails, this is nothing in comparison! the rooftop terrace was great... too bad it wasn´t open at night. and their pesto pasta was to die for... i´m salivating just thinking about it.definitely stay here if you have the chance. after staying in many hostels in italy, this by far the best one.
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(Review ID: 4402)
Exceptional hostel in the heart of Cinque Terre, June 26, 2003
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Anonymous
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(5)
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(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Throughout all my travels, I found this hostel to be the cleanest, prettiest, and most comfortable. Even though the hostel is located near the top of a very steep hill, I thought it was worth it. From the hostel's roof-top terrace you can see an amazing view of the ocean and the orchards of Manarola -- breathtaking. The hostel also offered many services -- laundry, great food at cheap prices, book exchange, scuba gear rentals, etc. Beds were comfortable in small (6-bed) rooms, each with its own little light for reading, etc. Although other people have mentioned rules, I really didn't think they were restrictive, just common sense to make the place enjoyable for everyone. I also found the staff to be friendly -- although the cook was very strange and quirky -- and the meals were excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, and will be staying again. The Cinque Terre was so amazingly beautiful!
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(Review ID: 4403)
Clean almost new hostel but rude, rude, rude reception, May 11, 2003
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Anonymous
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Maintenance
(3)
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
I had heard about the many rules and rudeness of the man at reception and both were right. There is a very steep walk up to the hostel. The hostel modern and very clean, with a lift, large sundeck on the roof and restaurant (which charges restaurant prices). The rules are many, with 'if you don't like it don't stay here' and 'if there is noise we will call the police' and 5 min coin operated showers - you get one coin - pay for others. The lights literally are turned off at 12 midnight, there is a lockout between 10-4 and between 12 midnight and 7 a.m. the doors are LOCKED so forget getting an early start. Even to swap books you have a time to be at the locked cabinet - while your swap is supervised! The rooms have lockers, bed lights, desk and are large and spotless. It's a pity such a rude,unfriendly man (I think it's also a rule that he has a permanent scowl on his face) so spoils the place. Even though the hostel was top-class I would never stay here again!
