A mid-range boutique, the Hotel Marina has 25 charming (but small) guest rooms and a rooftop terrace with ocean views, a lemon grove, porch swing, and children’s play area. The hotel is a three-minute walk to the beach and offers an elaborate breakfast buffet  with crepes, omelets, and pastries, and a free, delicious, light afternoon meal of pasta and salad. Mountain bikes, kayaks, and snorkeling gear are available for guests to use for free. The hotel has free Wi-Fi, though it can be spotty.

Cinqueterre Residence is a three-pearl hotel in Riomaggiore with lemon trees and terraces that climb up the cliff, providing picturesque village and partial sea views. Ten rooms are arranged throughout the property -- which guests should note has a lot of stairs -- and feature pleasant, pastel furnishings and shared patios or balconies. Suites are available with kitchenettes, and some have whirlpool tubs. Breakfast and evening drinks are served in the contemporary dining room, while private parking, an anomaly in the area, is provided at the entrance.

Directly across the street from the beach and a two-minute walk to the Monterosso train station, Hotel La Spiaggia is in an excellent location for tourists visiting the area. The 19 guest rooms are bland, but some have gorgeous ocean views. A breakfast buffet with cold items (including fresh fruit from the owner's garden) is included in the hotel price, and Wi-Fi is available for a fee. For guests willing to stay farther from the beach, the mid-range Albergo Marina has a rooftop terrace with a lemon grove, a free light snack of pasta and salad in the afternoons, and free Wi-Fi.

Built into a cliff overlooking the ocean, the two-unit La Scogliera is a great bet for couples wanting a romantic stay with a beautiful view in Riomaggiore, but the hotel's apartment, with a small terrace overlooking the ocean and a kitchenette, can also accommodate a family. The separate room is smaller, and includes shutters that open up to ocean views. Guests wake up to the sight of small, colorful boats below and the smell of the ocean. No breakfast is provided, but there are restaurants in the village.

The clean, no-nonsense Hotel 5 Terre in Monterosso’s is an easy -- and hill-free -- walk to the beach, though it will take 10 minutes to reach the old town on foot. A free breakfast is served at this value property, and the hotel also has a lobby bar, game room, and outdoor courtyards. Next-door is a private parking lot where guests can park for free -- a luxury in this town. Rooms are basic and dated, but clean, with flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms. There are balconies with partial sea views in some, and multiple beds that draw families. Travelers might want to also check out the the cliff-side Suisse Hotel Bellevue, where rooms overlook the sea.

Located next to the town square, in the old town section of Monterosso al Mare, the two-and-a-half-pearl La Colonnina Hotel is close to plenty of historic scenery and excellent restaurants. The 21 rooms in this family-run destination vary quite a bit, from a Standard Double Room with just the essential furniture to a Family Triple Room with a balcony and view. But all come with free Wi-Fi, marble bathrooms, and flat-screen TVs. The rooftop terrace, which looks out onto the Ligurian sea, is a big plus as is the continental breakfast. Travelers could also compare rates and amenities with the neighboring budget Hotel Souvenir, which is also pet-friendly.