What is there to do other than drive around and go to vineyards and see towns? :)>
What is it that you want to do?
There are plenty of alternatives to CT for coastal hiking without the masses--Portofino park (but not the overpriced luxury mall that is Portofino) and Montemarcello park are both nice for hiking with many pleasant towns nearby.
I'll be heading to the vicinity of Giglio this month, but not sure if I will make it to the island. I also loved the Amalfi coast and think the southern Tuscan coast will be right up my alley. Lots of towns to explore but also coastal scenery and hiking.
Back up north a bit, we loved Barga--that could be your mountain bit.
10
veta
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boston77
I found several in a few seconds on Trip advisor by looking under Aulla. If you are looking to stay in a rural area, and you have a car, also look for agriturismos - I guess there won't be many in such a mountainous area, but still worth a look.
Aulla! Thank you!
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boston77
Hi again all,
We talked last night and settled on Florence, Lucca, and CT, before going back to Florence.
Then I came across multiple blog posts like this! http://www.thiswaytoparadise.com/cinque-terre-worst-place-ever/
mike9- you said don't let the crowds sway us, but I'm properly scared now. Do you think end of May will be this kind of onslaught?
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veta
Late May is high season. Look, lots of people go to CT and claim it as a life/Italy highlight--the crowds don't even faze them. If you think you are not that type of person, try one of the alternatives. I did not enjoy CT when I visited several years ago in late May, though it is undeniably gorgeous.
Coping mechanism suggestions are to stay IN one of the towns, or one of the immediately adjacent towns. If you go as a day trip like I did, you will be shocked by the train station and in town crowds. At least if you stay there, you get the quiet mornings and evenings. You might get a head start up into the high trails.
But I would choose elsewhere. You can throw a dart and find somewhere gorgeous in Italy. CT just happens to be supremely convenient because of the train. Sad to say, but it is too popular for its own good.
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boston77
Sigh – OK. We would definitely stay in town for the quiet mornings and evenings. That is what we did with Positano last year, and it worked out great. My concern is that the 5T are so much smaller than Positano, and have so much lower capacity to handle crowds. We had our pick of hotels, restaurants, cafés, and the town handled the crowds beautifully. Sounds like that won't be the case here.
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veta
The much larger, expensive, and harder to get to Amalfi coast is definitely better able to absorb crowds. You were also there a couple weeks earlier, which makes a small difference as well.
Don't be too deflated--It is a high class problem! Seriously, it opens you up to some places where you will barely hear English spoken. Better food, fewer people--nothing to be too disappointed about. You said you were open to driving, so the world is your oyster. Google Tellaro and prepare to get invigorated by the possibilities. You will want a contrast to Florence and Lucca. Enjoy!
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