Villa Steno Hotel

, Monterosso Al Mare, Italy
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Villa Steno Hotel

, Monterosso Al Mare
3 star

Rooms: 16

Via Roma 109 - Monterosso Al Mare - 19016 - Italy 187817028
390 Traveller

Reviews - Villa Steno Hotel

Historical Traveller Reviews of Villa Steno Hotel

Definitely going back!

from BrevCampangolo
I recently went to Italy on something of a whirlwind tour. You know, too many cities in too few days to get a taste of each region and see which I favored most. Out of 10 cities (and as many hotels), the most glittering gem I discovered was the Hotel Villa Steno in Monterosso al mare in Cinque Terre. I could have spent my entire three weeks there and been quite happy in the doing.

When people call a hotel 'quaint', that often is a euphemism for old and run-down. I'll call the Villa Steno quaint but also will tell you it's anything but old or run-down. It was quiet, clean, comfortable, and complete with all the modern amenities.

Negatives were few and far between (and those were minor). They did not have Internet available in the room but the staff was more than accommodating to let me put my laptop on their Internet (at a modest charge) rather than just use one of their PCs. And I've licked stamps larger than the bed in my room, but it was my decision alone to book a single (I'm a migratory sleeper and usually prefer at least a queen-sized bed).

The bed, as I've mentioned, truly was a single, but I found it uncommonly comfortable nonetheless. The pillows were flat-style (I've actually grown accustomed to the European 'log' pillow), there was a refrigerator (no mini-bar), a small color TV (with cable) and a writing desk with chair. The bath had a shower but no tub. There also was a bidet and a wall-mounted hair dryer. All the bathroom fixtures looked to be relatively new. The highlight of the room was the glass door at the rear leading onto the small concrete balcony, complete with a small table and chair and pots of blooming flowers on the railing.

The complimentary breakfast was the customary pastries and spreads, cold cuts, cheeses, cereals, fruit juices and fresh-brewed coffees, all very well done and served with a smile. Nothing in the entire hotel, for that matter, had the telltale "cheap, industrial" look of a 'budget' hotel.

Monterosso al mare was a wonderful little place, full of tourists but not particularly crowded. Nothing to do but eat, drink, swim, sun, and watch others do the same. Quite the idyllic little haven.

For cleanliness, I'd give my room a 10 of 10. Serviceability, 10 of 10 (everything worked and there always was hot water).

Location, 9 of 10. My (private) balcony had (something of) a view of the Mediterranean, an incredible spot for enjoying a late-night brandy and watching the moonlight dance off the Med. Although the view was marvelous, it was not without cost (ergo only 9 out of 10). One must descend a few more than 100 stairs to reach the main street of Monterosso al mare from Villa Steno. To return to the hotel one must, naturally, climb those same 100 and a few stairs. But the elevation hinted at by those hundred-odd steps also is partly responsible for the spectacular view. Not only that, the path down from the hotel couldn’t have been more pleasant, winding its way through the hotel’s private garden, complete with citrus fruit trees and flowering plants.

Service, 10 of 10. Owners, management and staff simply could not have been more accommodating. Their command of the English language was better than that of many native-born Americans I know. They were quite willing to speak it and gave me absolutely no grief over my pathetic Italian.

Value, 12 of 10. Yes, I know that's not possible, but it is a reflection of the impression this place made on me. And all for a whopping 90 Euros a night (and they might offer a discount at checkout if you pay in cash).

I'm very much looking forward to returning to Italy, only next time I'll definitely schedule a longer stay at the Hotel Villa Steno.

a true family environment

from travelustej
I loved this hotel! It is a perfect place to stay in the Cinque Terre. It is quietly secluded up on a hill and yet in the middle of a wide assortment of restaurants, shops, etc. Carla and Mateo really are as wonderful as everyone says and the gardens are a delight. The breakfast is excellent and you can't beat the view! At night the smells from the garden, the incredible amount of stars and the illuminated tower of Monterosso makes the place seem like true magic. In the day we had a wonderful view from our HUGE terrace. We stayed in the adjoining building and it was still wonderful. In fact, it may be better because it has the best view of the sea from the terrace. I found the Cinque Terre at its best in the villa steno away from the crowds and enjoying the peace that the town was meant for.

Bril

from Skynet
Arrvied here from futher up the coast, what a very nice hotel, far better from where we had come from. Staff very helpful, bril views from our large balcony, nice big room, hotel only does breakfast which is very nice. If you want a very very nice meal out for round e70, leave the hotel turn right walk down the road until you come to Ciak, now your taste buds are going to get a really joy. Overall very nice hotel, bril village, very nice part of Italy.

Home away from home

from A TripAdvisor Member
As a single woman who loves to explore, I have been fortunate to have traveled throughout Europe. On the top of my list of favorite hotels is the Villa Steno. The place is situated on the hillside above the town of Monterosso al Mare. There are no words to describe how beautiful the view is. I have been there twice now and I am still amazed. From my room, I could see the town, the magic cliffs and the Mediterranean. There was also an incredible garden by my balconey filled with lemon, orange, and olive trees. This adds to the majesty of the place. My room itself was comfortable, roomy and above all very neat and clean. Being half Swiss that is so important to me.
Then of course there is Carla and Matteo. The staff at the Villa Steno is exceptional and friendly. Whatever a person needs, they will make it happen. They have always made me feel at home. And that is what I look for when a travel - a home away from home. You couldn't find a better place. I am so glad to know about this hotel. I highly recommend it and will return whenever I get the opportunity.

Great base for Cinque Terre

from MerryTravels
My husband and I recently spent three nights at this hotel after reading all the great reviews of it here and elsewhere. There were good and bad things about it, in my opinion.

The good were the friendly staff, the breakfast, the good-sized bathroom, the location (very quiet, good views), and the ability to book ahead for peace of mind. The not so good were the size of the room (teeny), the twin beds joined together to make a big bed (not comfy), the stairs to get to the hotel (lots) and the bugs. We were in the "other" building next to an orchard (room 18), which sounds nice, but we didn't dare open our windows at night because of the bugs. There also seemed to be mold under the window, which I found surprising since I figured it would be spic and span so early in the season.

One tip to help with the cost, you can save 10E per night by paying in cash. This isn't difficult since there is an ATM at the bottom of the steps to the hotel.

Amazing views, the friendliest hotel in the Cinque Terre

from A TripAdvisor Member
We recently stayed at the Hotel Villa Steno for 3 nights. We stayed there last year on our honeymoon and we just loved the hotel and the area so much that we had to return this year, even though we were a 7.5 hour train ride away.

We stayed in Room 4 again as we had requested when we made our reservations. It is a large room with a comfortable double bed and an AMAZING view over the "old town" of Monterosso and the Med. Sea. The terrace has a table and chairs and window boxes full of flowers. It overlooks the hotel's garden witth flowers and fruit trees. The hotel is situated up the hill which makes it very quiet (we slept with our windows open and were never disturbed by any noise). It is an uphill walk to the hotel so travellers with a lot of heavy luggage might want to take a taxi. When we walked with luggage it took us 12 minutes from the train station. There was a TV and phone in our room, and our bathroom had a hairdryer built in. The airconditioner was turned on through a remote and it worked very well and was not loud. There is high speed internet access available in the lobby (3 euros for 30 minutes) and the hotel offers a laundry service (13 euros for wash and dry). There is a small "library" of books in several languages for guests to borrow. You can also rent a beach towel for the duration of your stay for 3 euros.

Carla and Matteo make every effort to make their guests comfortable and feel welcome. They speak excellent English. When we arrived we were given a very helpful information packet about the hotel and the Cinque Terre region. We arrived about 8:45am on May 21 after an overnight train on which we got very little sleep (several hours before standard check-in time). They let us check-in that early and had our room cleaned up and ready for us in just a few minutes. We were also able to eat breakfast. We really appreciated this wonderful service since we were so exhausted and hungry upon arrival.

Things we noticed since our last stay: The hotel has been re-painted and it looks great. Mini-refrigerators have also been added to every room. We found a small grocery store close to the hotel and used the fridge to keep sodas and wine cold.

Look No Further

from roxch
Look no further if you are heading to Cinque Terra. My wife and I stayed at this wonderful hotel for three night during the end of April 2005; what a pleasure. The hotel is clean, efficient with the most friendly staff we have come across in years of travel. They could not do enough for us.
There are two internet computers in the lobby ready for your use.
It is a bit of a climb from the town, but the hike is worth it; it is as quite as a monestary in the evening.
I noticed a small complaint about the price, we found it completely in line with the service and conditions.
Stay here.

Fabulous Views!

from kjoann
Spend 2 nights at this wonderful hotel--had a room with a giant balcony overlooking the town, the ocean, the lemon trees. The view could not have been more beautiful! Our room was spotless and very comfortable. The only negatives were extremely low water pressure (like washing my hair in a water fountain!), one morning no hot water, and a hair dryer that barely worked--although we found hairdryers in most of our hotels in Italy to be frustratingly weak. That said, the owners were so kind and the hotel so well run, that I'm sure they are working on, or have solved, this problem. It did not detract from a lovely stay. The breakfasts had a huge selection, and again you sat on a balcony with priceless views. I would not hesitate to stay here again--in this price catagory it would be hard to beat!

Great hotel

from A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed at Villa Steno in March,2005. Great hotel, newly renovated, best service and breakfast and great views. Highest hotel in Monterosso....with suitcases, you need to catch a taxi from the railway station to the hotel. It is a long hard climb up through the main square to the hotel.

Nice but expensive

from A TripAdvisor Member
Cinque Terre is indeed very nice and Monterosso is a good base to explore Cinque Terre, because it's the biggest village and there is more life, especially in the evening.

Hotel Villa Steno is a nice hotel. However, we paid quite much - EUR 120 for a small room without a balcony and with a tiny bathroom. I consider this expensive for such type of the room. The breakfast was indeed very good and the staff is friedly.

Top Local Tips for Monterosso Al Mare

public transportation Driving is too difficult but you can park your car at Villa steno and then take the local train form city to city. If you arrive by train which stops in the new part of town it is an easy 15 min walk to the old part of town. To get to Villa Steno from the old part, go up the main center street and you will turn left up the stairs preceeding the Spar Market. (As you look up the stairs you will see the sign Villa Steno). We went there to experience the outdoors and the feel of Cinque Terre and to walk the trails and we were not dissappointed.

Getting to the hotel by taxi When you get off the train, it's not clear how to find a taxi. Go to the tourist office just outside the train station, and they will call you a taxi.

Arriving in Monterosso and Taking the Boat Suggest taking a taxi ride from the train station. Take the boat to other Cinque Terre when it is running, because the wind came come up and stop the boat.

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Other names for Villa Steno Hotel

  • steno hotel monterosso al mare
  • hotel steno
  • Address: Via Roma 109 - Monterosso Al Mare - 19016 - Italy
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