What CETS actually means
CETS isn't a marketing sticker. It's a voluntary certification that the National Park and Marine Protected Area award to tourism businesses that commit to genuine, ongoing standards: environmental sustainability, water and energy efficiency, and active support for the local landscape, culture and identity. Certified businesses go through an internal audit by the Park's technical staff, then an external audit carried out by the CETS officer of another certified protected area, and they're checked again every year, with a full external review every three years.
In practice, it means the flat you stay in has committed to real, verified practices, not a vague promise, and that choosing to stay there puts a little more back into the area you came to see.
It's also a natural next step for us. We're already a carbon-neutral hotel, a member of Sustainable Travel International, currently going through Green Globe certification, and the collaboration behind Hotels for Trees, which has planted over 2,500 trees with our guests so far. You can read the full picture on our values page.
What this means for you as a guest
Discounted Cinque Terre Card. Guests staying in a CETS-certified property can buy the Cinque Terre Card at official reduced rates set by the National Park:
- Treno Card, 1 day, adults: €18.70 on low-demand days, €22.00 on medium and high-demand days, against the standard €22, €29.50 and €35
- Treno Card, 2 days, adults: €32.70 on low-demand days, €36.50 on medium and high-demand days, against the standard €36.50, €51 and €61.50
- Trekking Card, 1 day, adults: a flat €5.00, against the standard €10 to €15 depending on demand
You can either buy it yourself online at card.parconazionale5terre.it, entering the discount code we'll give you at check-in under the Eco Quality Label Card section, or simply tell us what you need, and we'll take care of it for you.
15% off 5TerrEx experiences. We've also partnered with 5TerrEx, Francesco's excellent experience company based in Monterosso, so our guests get 15% off his guided tours and activities across the Cinque Terre. Full details are in our dedicated post.
Why we did this
Vernazza is a small, fragile village, and the Oasi Vacation Rental sits right inside it, a few hundred metres from the harbour. Certifications like this one exist precisely for properties in that position: places that benefit from the beauty of the Park and, in return, commit to treating it with real care, not just in words.
Further reading:
CETS/Marchio di Qualità official page: https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/marchio-qualita.php
Official CETS discounted rates: https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/pagina.php?id=154
Buy the Cinque Terre Card: https://card.parconazionale5terre.it/
5TerrEx experiences and our discount: https://www.oasihotel.eu/blog/5terrex-monterosso-experiences-discount
Our values: https://www.oasihotel.eu/our-values
FAQ
What is CETS?
The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, a certification awarded by the Cinque Terre National Park to tourism businesses that meet ongoing standards of environmental sustainability and support for the local area, verified through regular audits.
How do I get the discounted Cinque Terre Card as a guest?
Ask us at check-in for the discount code, then either buy the card yourself online at card.parconazionale5terre.it under the Eco Quality Label Card section, or let us arrange it for you.
How much is the discount on the Cinque Terre Card?
For example, the one-day Treno Card for adults costs €18.70 to €22.00 for CETS guests, against the standard €22 to €35 depending on demand. The one-day Trekking Card for adults is a flat €5.00, against a standard €10 to €15.
Is the 5TerrEx discount separate from the Cinque Terre Card discount?
Yes. The 15% off 5TerrEx experiences is a separate partnership, unrelated to the Cinque Terre Card discount, and both are available to our guests.
