Stunning beachfront location along the Cinque Terre hiking trails
Two minutes’ walk to the trains for other Cinque Terre villages
Free continental breakfast served on a terrace with sea views
Airy rooms with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and AC
Some rooms have furnished balconies with pretty vistas
Elevator for luggage and those with limited mobility
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Pets allowed
A lot of the decor is dated
Fee to rent loungers and towels on the beach
No lunch or dinner service
Lots of stairs required to reach upper floors
Sitting along the coast in the Cinque Terre village of Monterosso al Mare, the Hotel Baia is a charming budget property offering a private section of beach with loungers at a cost. The hotel is ideally located for exploring Cinque Terre, as it's a two-minute walk from trains that connect the villages, and on the hiking trails that run along the coast and through the countryside. A free continental breakfast is served on a terrace with views of the Mediterranean, but that's about all for amenities. The hotel’s 29 rooms are old-fashioned, but they're spacious, bright, and come with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs. Some have balconies with lovely sea views. Note that there's lots of steps, and an elevator is only available for luggage and guests with limited mobility. For a more modern stay, consider the Albergo Degli Amici.
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Scene
Traditional Cinque Terre hotel with dated interiors and lovely sea views
Painted a cheery primrose with forest-green wooden shutters, the charming Hotel Baia attracts a clientele mostly composed of couples looking to explore the Cinque Terre Riviera. The hotel’s interior doesn’t have the same charm as the outside, however, with bright-yellow walls throughout and dated gray tile in the lobby. A few pieces of antique furniture, photographs of the region, and model sailboats add a touch of classic Riviera flair. The breakfast room is similarly cheerful, with a tapestry and paintings along the walls, purple-painted wood tables, and lots of silver candlesticks. It leads to a lovely terrace with seating overlooking Monterosso’s beach and the crystal-blue Mediterranean beyond.
Location
Along the beach and two-minute walk from the train to other Cinque Terre villages
The Hotel Baia is ideally located to explore both Monterosso al Mare and the beautiful Cinque Terre villages, set on the ruggedly impressive Italian Riviera. The hotel is barely a minute’s walk from a white, sandy beach, where it has some private space, and the shimmering Mediterranean beyond. It’s a 10-minute walk to the old part of town through a foot tunnel, where there are a number of shops, bars, and restaurants. The hotel is two minutes on foot from the train station for transport to the other villages. Hikers can make use of the extensive network of paths and trails around Cinque Terre, however, it’s worth bearing in mind that some remain closed, rendered impassable by the 2011 earthquakes. Expect a 90-minute transfer to Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport, while it’s a similar journey in the other direction to Pisa International Airport.
Rooms
Sizable and bright, but basic rooms with dated bathrooms
The rooms in the Hotel Baia are large and bright, with gray speckled tile floors and whitewashed walls. Wooden furniture painted a shade of robin egg blue with floral motifs perk up the rooms somewhat, but they still tend to feel bare and dated -- particularly with the unattractive blue-and-gold patterned bedspreads and matching curtains. Some rooms have furnished balconies, and it's worth paying for the stunning sea view. Note that there are lots of stairs required to reach the four floors here, though an elevator is available for luggage and those with limited mobility. Double Rooms have a desk and chair, and a small futon which folds out into a bed, while Triple and Quadruple rooms are larger and add single beds. Bathrooms are equally old-fashioned, equipped with a shower cubicle and a wall-mounted hairdryer. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, a safe, mini-fridge, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi.
Features
Private space on the beach, and a free buffet breakfast served on a sea-view terrace
One of the main draws of the Hotel Baia is its proximity to Monterosso al Mare’s white sands and the private space it maintains on the beach there. Unfortunately, some guests have complained that the cost of renting loungers and beach towels is too steep. A simple continental breakfast is included in all rates, and it can be taken on a small terrace that overlooks the beach. At night, this area is used as a wine bar, but there's no lunch or dinner service. The hotel’s list of amenities stops there, but its excellent location is a considerable pro. Additionally, Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the hotel. Pets are allowed.
