Cinque Terre is not the "little secret" it once was.
If you go there at this time of year you might not be able to get a room.
But you might luck out if you are willing to Hostel it.
It is a truly wonderful place. I just hope its newfound popularity doesn't ruin it.
I just read that the number of tourists there have increased 30-40% over
just five years ago. And it is apparently booked May-Sept. now, rather than
just July and August. But it was recently made a national park, so they
are definitely trying to preserve it.

If you have a car, you might want to consider the Dolomites.
I went throught there last September, and it was relatively uncrowded and
cheap sandwiched between the summer holiday months and the ski
season. Not sure how it would be during the peak time right now.