Hotel Crush: Affittacamere La Lanterna on the Italian Coast
We love staying in charming medieval hill towns and bustling European cities, but we also need a sunny waterfront break every once in awhile. And the Italian coast has several amazing places to throw down your towel and catch some rays.
But how can you make this dream happen without staying at a fancy beach resort or expensive apartment rental?
For starters, you can book an affordable hotel like we did on a recent trip to Portovenere. Located just south of the famous Cinque Terre region, this tiny seaside village provides the scenery and sun-soaked flavor without all of the tourists and high prices.
Before you check any place else, take a look at Affittacamere La Lanterna. With a 9.3 rating on Booking.com and Cheapo-friendly rates, this small hotel is exactly the kind of place we love checking in to.
Ring the bell and look up for a friendly Italian woman ready to welcome you.
Arriving in Portovenere
Accessible right on the main drag of Portovenere, Via Capellini, Affittacamere La Lanterna puts you right in the heart of the town. When we arrived to the tiny door at #109 on the street, we rang a buzzer and a friendly woman smiled down from a few floors up and came down to let us in.
Looking into the room from the oceanfront balcony.
The rooms
After she showed us to room #535, we threw open the window shutters to reveal an amazing view of the water. Our room was small but with a balcony that opens right onto a stunning water view, we didn’t need another inch of space. The air-conditioned room was super clean and the bathrooms were spacious and modern. If you do need to stare at a screen instead of looking at the harbor, the hotel has complimentary Wi-Fi.
The private balconies at Affittacamere La Lanterna.
Sea view balconies
Sure the bed was comfy, but the best perk was the oceanfront porch you get with your room. On the cozy balcony, we watched people swim and sunbathe later in the afternoon. The view was so wonderful, we could have spent half the day just hanging out here.
Enjoy breakfast and coffee in the communal dining room.
Happy Hour, al fresco style
We don’t know about you, but our favorite part of the day is just before the sun goes down and it’s time to crack open a bottle of wine. We popped into a little shop on the main drag to find a tasty and very affordable bottle of Ligurian rose. Sitting on your balcony at Affittacamere La Lanterna, you can sip your wine before heading out for dinner at one of the local restaurants.
Happy hour on the patio with a bottle of Ligurian Rose.
Breakfast at the hotel
Breakfast is available. You can enjoy it in the communal breakfast room or take it on your patio. There is also a coffee machine if you need a quick pick-me-up.
How to find an affordable rate
The price for this wonderful experience? Only €81 per night! We stayed on a Sunday night, so we were able to save on a weekend rate and the village was a little less busy than usual for a sunny spring weekend. Search for available dates at Affittacamere La Lanterna.
A ferry floats past Affittacamere La Lanterna headed to the Cinque Terre.
More hotels in Italy
Wherever you’re headed in Italy, EuroCheapo has a low-cost room for your trip. Check out cheap hotel options in the most popular cities like Rome, Florence, Milan, and Venice. Or search for budget hotels across Italy. There are more than 200,000 to choose from.
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