La Sosta is a real haven. Beautiful, secluded, views are incredible and the service is really excellent - the family know the area and advise on trips, restaurants, beaches, activities etc in a way we found very helpful. Access is via a leafy lane from the windy road down to Levanto but once you get there you can really relax in the peaceful, fragrant and gentle calm of La Sosta. Gorgeous!

La Sosta is delightful if difficult to reach. I called as we made our way there on Sunday afternoon to say we might be a little late, as they normally close the office at 18h00 (we made it by 18h15). After following the directions, which probably couldn't be written much better but read like a scavenger hunt ("This parking space (not lit) is just beyond a driveway with gates also on the left. At the top of the parking space you will also see a cement water tank."). They have beautiful photos of the inn on their web site; it would be helpful to include a photo of the parking area so we knew what we were looking for. After missing it and finding it on the return trip, we dragged our luggage across the street and down the gravel path that would lead us to the inn. The directions were somewhat optimistic about walking distances from the car, but we enjoyed the adventure. Fabio, the owner, helped us up the last few stairs with a couple of bags.

After that we would not see Fabio again. The inn is not staffed around the clock, which was fine for our needs. We were greeted at breakfast the next morning by Jo, Fabio's mother-in-law from Montreal. She was very helpful in answering questions about the local activities and helping us plan our day. The breakfast itself was 10 euros per person per day but a nice meal that was worth the convenience.

We were awakened each day by over 50 peals of the church bell in the tower seen just out our window. We asked Jo about it; apparently it is the village wake-up call. Fabio had successfully gotten them to reduce the number of chimes down to 54 from some higher number.

We were there in the peak of summer heat. The room was air conditioned and it worked reasonably well, as well as any Italian hotel where we stayed. One morning I noticed the units were blinking red lights and not blowing air so I mentioned it to Jo. She said they turn the air conditioners off in the morning then back on late afternoon. This was OK with us since we would be out all day but would be bad news for anyone returning for an afternoon nap.

The rooms have names; we were in Adelaide. We had one large room that slept four comfortably (two adults and kids 10 and 13). The bathroom was large and well appointed. Although there are no laundry facilities (at least not available to guests), there is a clothes line on the lower terrace for hanging wet things. There was an armoire rather than a closet.

The room included two Cinque Terre passes, good for the train and paths, but we had four people so had to buy two more. The room also included a laptop computer with free Internet access, and a cell phone, perks which make this inn stand out. One day I strolled down to Chiesanuova, and chatted with one of the residents. It is a quiet village to be sure, featuring the "new church" built in the 1200s.

Dinner is an option for 35 euros per person if you reserve 24 hours in advance (sometimes you can squeak in early the same morning; Fabio does the shopping in the morning for that night's dinner). The one night we had dinner, it was elegantly served on the terrace. They made no accommodations for meals for children. The portions were larger than what we were used to in Italy. The first course was farfalle with pesto, which they did serve to our kids with the pesto on the side. The second course was rabbit, which seemed to be either a tougher cut or indelicate preparation, and served in a rather dry recipe instead of the stew in which rabbit is most often seen in the U.S. I had to withhold the origin of the meant from my daughter who thinks rabbits are too cute to eat, but the kids merely picked at it anyway. Dessert was a couple of store-bought cookies and a glass of also-store-bought zabaglione. The meal was not as good as the ones we had for the same price at our inn near Cortona (see our review of Villa di Piazzano), and a family dinner for 140 euros plus maybe 20 euros for a bottle of wine (a total of over $230 at current exchange rates) was not as good a value as the meals we had in the nearby towns of Levanto and Monterosso for under 100 euros and gelato for 8 euros down the street.

On checkout, a housekeeper took our bags to the street for us in a contraption that looked like a lawnmower in the back and a cart on tank treads in the front. It easily negotiated the path and carried all our baggage. The room was 180 euros per night, plus 10 euros for breakfast per person.

My wife and I just spent 5 nights with our 3 children (4,4,7) in this very special, quiet and small hotel in the hills just 5 minutes by car from the see with the most wonderful view over the see/landscape. If you are looking for a hotel with 24 h pool service and nightlife don't visit this place but if you want a place to relax (after having swimmed in the ligurian see all day) in the most beautiful settings and if you value how the owners have decorated the hotel and rooms this will be something you will never forget. If you decide to eat in the hotels restaurant remember to book 24 h in advance and you will not be disappointed. You will have a tough time going to bed leaving the wunderful garden and see view behind you (and check Fabios wine cellar!!!). Swim and shop in Levanto and Monterosso /5 minutes away and enjoy life a at the hotel.

Our Virtuoso travel agent selected this charming, historic small hotel for our stay in the Cinque Terre region. We found the hotel and its owners a welcome change from the hustle, bustle of the larger Italian cities. We were warmly welcomed, treated like family, and treated to wonderful breakfasts and a gourmet dinner for two complete with an excellent wine from the owner's collection. Our room was clean, crisp, perfectly furnished with a very sophisticated bathroom. The village is tiny and unassuming....the most authentic of our entire trip. We chose this hotel as our stop for enjoying the Cinque Terre National Park. Little did we know that you can literally hike hundreds of miles in this beautiful part of Italy. There is a short walk from your car to La Sosta but my 77 year old husband didn't have any trouble negotiating the path!