Here’s a link with info about a train that runs between Nice and the Cinque Terra: http://www.italiarail.com/tickets/IR/IR-Riviera.asp?AFF=TRE

La Spezia is the city you’ll want to get to – and from there you take a local train to any of the 5 towns in the Cinque Terra.

Your best bet for booking a room at that rate is going to be a local home. A local tourist office can help you find something, or look for signs that say “Affita Camera” (room for let). There are sure to be some good bed and breakfasts, but perhaps a bit out of your price range. There is cheap (and somewhat cat infested) place in Manarola called “Momma Rossa’s” – I can’t really recommend it – but it is inexpensive.

My recommendation would be to go to Corniglia and rent a room. In the off season you can probably find something great, and Corniglia doesn’t get the foot traffic of the towns along the rail line.

You can get there by train. That’s the easiest way. As for staying places, I don’t know. When I went, I walked around one of the towns and asked some people. One lady was sitting on a bench by a playground and asked me if I was looking for a place to stay, I said yes and she offered a bedroom in her house. Very nice – clean, apartment like. I don’t remember it being expensive at all. I miss this place. I want to go back!

I spent part of my honeymoon in the Cinque Terre about 5 years ago, so I don’t have the most up-to-date info, but… my experience concurs with Josh Petersen (above), we took a train from Nice to La Spezia and a local train from La Spezia to the 5 villages. We chose Vernazza to stay in. It wasn’t expensive, but it was definitely priced higher than other similar accomodations elsewhere in Italy. I agree that you might find something cheap in Corniglia, as it seems to be the smallest and least popular of the villages, but still plenty of character and very pretty. Try the miele di Corniglia gelato… I still dream of it… enjoy yourself.

I stayed in a hostel in Levanto, which is the next town north of the Cinque Terre. It was 20 euros a night, and we stayed in a room with three bunk beds and one bathroom. They also had private rooms. It used to be an old hospital during WWII so all the hallways are huge and white marble. It was extremely clean with a great breakfast in the morning. I couldn’t reccomened it enough! It was called “Ostello Ospitalia del Mare” – I’m sure you can google it. I did my reservation via email and they spoke great english. Good luck and happy travels!

I agree with all above. Cinque Terre is definitely worth visiting. I also took the train from La Spezia, and you can definitely get train tickets that go down the Italian Riviera from Nice to La Spezia to Cinque Terre. I went to Cinque Terre Summer of 05. I stayed in Manarola which is the fourth town in the five towns. It’s smaller and quieter. Pretty cute. I stayed in a hostel at the top of the hill. Nice view. To do over again, I would stay in Vernazza; it being my favorite town. Vernazza is not as busy as Monterroso del Mare (first and biggest town), but still big enough to be a good homebase. I would highly recommend the hike between all the five towns, as most tourists do when they go. The trail is pretty worn, and not difficult at all with fantastic views.

My sister and I rented a room in Monterosso al Mare from Corrado Valente (0039)33807073664 is the number I have written down for him. I don’t remember exactly how much it was, but it was a good price and included a kitchen. Him and his family were very nice and the room was in good condition.

As the people above said the train is the best way to get from Nice. It runs all the way along the coast right by the sea, so fantastic views when not in tunnels.
There is a train at 10.05 and one at 14.05 from Nice Ville station to Levanto which is the town that is the gateway to the Cinque Terre. Both take just over 5 hours, and you have to change trains at Genoa(Genova in Italian). Levanto has an enormous amount of accommodation, and the tourist office is down by the Pamaramedics building by the beach, at the end of the main thoroughfare.