Giovanni Rooms Manarola

2 bedroom apartment on the top of a 3 apartment building (owner lives on ground level). Giovanni sent detailed email with instructions on getting to hotel, met us nearby to bring us to the apartment. Needed payment in cash, which was in the instructions. Giovanni's very nice, and provided restaurant recommendation (Billy's, which was excellent) and was available for other questions. Apartment was comfortable and clean, but a bit dated. View was exceptional ... overlooks town and sea. Apartment is in Manarola, not Riomaggiore, so it's smaller, quieter town. Shops close up at 8pm, although there are a few restaurants still open. Laundry service is in the Trekking shop, which around the corner. Walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore is easy: flat with pavers. Path between Manarola and Corniglia is closed due to rock slide. Took train to Monterosso and hiked to Vernazza and then to Cornigilia, which was a great hike with lots of stone steps. Afterwards, we swam in the sea off the boat launch in Manarola ... no sand, but bring your goggles to see the fish!

As the name "Giovanni Rooms" indicates, these are rooms, it is not a hotel. Once we paid Giovanni (cash payment is required) on our arrival, we didn't see him again. We stayed 4 nights and the only service we received was one change of towels while we were gone for the day -- no other cleaning or service. The room itself was new and very nice, but for what we paid, the lack of service was disappointing.