scottk

My wife and I are going to the Olympics in Turin for 4 days, spending 4 days in Venice and flying out of Milan in Feb., 2006. I'd like to spend our last night in the lake area rather than in Milan. We fly out at 10:30 in the morning, so proximity to the Milan Airport, Malpensa, is important. What lake/area and hotel would you recommend? I'm looking for something romantic and quiet. Thanks for your help.

Jean

If your flight at 10:30 a.m. is to return to the U.S. (as opposed to somewhere else in Europe), you'll be checking in at 8:30 a.m. I think, unfortunately, this limits you to spending the last night near Malpensa (or Milan, see comment below). Villa Malpensa is a nice, business-style hotel in a villa-architecture building less than five minutes from Malpensa. Free shuttle to the airport.

Others may suggest city of Como or possibly even Menaggio, using early morning public transportation (or car/driver or taxi) to the airport. If you want to bet on the public trans being on time (or spend some real money), you're braver than I.

Frankly, for me, one night at Lake Como in February wouldn't be worth the effort to get there. Como and Menaggio are year-round towns, but Bellagio and Varenna will be almost completely shuttered for the season. It will be cold, and daylight will be short.

Many people dislike Milan, but I think it would work better with the rest of your plans. A half-day and evening there would be just enough time to see the major sights. Be sure to make reservations to see the Last Supper.

Intrepid1

There are a couple of hotels in Menaggio which stay open all year I believe but you'd almost have to use private transport to get to the aiport in time IMO since getting across to Varenna for a train would probably not allow the check-in time cushion you need.

sssteve

You didn't say you would have a car. I assume you will and would like to suggest Arona. Arona is on Lake Maggiore and is a nice little town. It's certainly not Como, or Bellagio, but it is on the lake and it is only 20-30 minutes from the airport.

It will be much nicer than staying near the airport which is a pretty depressing area.

Here's the URL of the city wwebsite:
http://www.comune.arona.no.it/viewdoc.asp?keypagina=876

Doble_Vergasser

We were at Lake Como in June. We had an 11:00am flight from Malpensa.

We were in Varenna. We got up before six am. Ten minutes walk to the train station. Train to Milan Centro, shuttle to Malpensa. (For an 11:00 am flight, no problem.) I think that staying in Como might also work. But because of your early am flight Menaggio and Bellagio are not recommended.

Lake Como is "sub alpine" so February temperatures may slightly above freezing. If weather was not a considerations I would recommend you look at taking one day from Venice and adding to Lake Como. It is hard to find a more beautiful place.

Good Luck

rex

Call me a worrywart, but I think that these Olympics will change the off-season tourism dynamics in a major way. Any hotel even vaguely convenient to Malpensa will surely get booked up twice as early as usual. Same for the Last Supper. Even Venice will likely see unusually high traffic for February.

Best wishes,

Rex

Jean

Well, Rex, I wouldn't call you a worrywort, but I think your view of the Winter Olympics' impact is somewhat exaggerated. Overall attendance at the winter games is substantially lower than for the summer games. There are fewer events and many fewer athletes competing. As long as scottk doesn't dither over his itinerary and makes his reservations now, he should be OK.

rex

The Salt Lake Olympics was estimated to have brought 700,000 visitors to Utah, spending as much as 4.5 billion USD. I don't know how many of those were from the US, but a much larger continent (Europe has 50% more people than the US) can reach Torino in only a few hours by car, train or plane.

And from all the other continents... how many people go through life saying "I have always wanted to go to Italy"... versus the number who say "I have always wanted to go to Utah"?

This can only push up the supply-demand curve for all of Italy, and probably much of Switzerand and (the south of) France as well.

I agree that the problem should not e an issue <i>now</i>, but I still submit that places that usually fill up two weeks in advance (and those might not be numerous in northern Italy in February) will fill up two months in advance for 2006.

Jean

...which is why plans should be finalized and reservations made NOW and not in December. I still suggest Milan for the one day.

donco

scottk, below is my report about catching an early flight at malpense from varenna. It is just do-able but everything must be on time. Also, do check on what hotels are actually open. If you have a full day, you can ferry from Varenna to Bellagio and get nice walks in both towns. Varenna person told us it doesn't snow much on that side of Alps-true? Also, the Milan duomo is awesome and there is much in Milan to see. Maybe save Lago Como for warmer weather. We went in March and I looked for a commuter bus from Mennagio to Malpense but it seemed to be no longer an option-maybe it will get resurrected for Olympics? Good luck:

Author: donco
Date: 04/01/2005, 08:47 am
Hub and I had 10:40 flight and decided to take Varenna train to Milano Centrale and Malpense Express bus from there. Took 6:18 train from Varenna, just missed a bus (they run every 20 minutes) in Milan but still were at Malpense at 9:00 and in plenty of time. Our only glitch was that we were travelling on Easter Monday so the ferry from Bellagio (where we stayed) to Varenno was on a holiday schedule. We changed hotels for the night so that solved the prob. Thanks again to all who gave advice about this trip.

betsys

I have twice stayed in Varese when I had an early flight back to US from Malpensa - at a charming place called the Hotel Colonne, (4 star, about E110 double) way up high above Varese, 30 minutes down the autostrada to Malpensa. MIGHT be tough drive up the windy road in February, but check it out. Lovely people, great food, it hangs over the hill and is about the only thing in this little hamlet above Varese.

But I also really enjoy Milan - it has a lot to offer - can't give you a good hotel tho.

scottk

Thanks for the input. We are planning on getting a car for this part of the trip.

Jean

Well, if you're driving, I'd recommend Bergamo instead of Milan. Easier to negotiate the traffic and quieter than Milan. Not as much to see and do as Milan, but charming and a nice ending to your trip.

eroz

your flights too early. Stay a night in Milan near the Duomo, it's totally worth a nights stay and adventure.
if you get a later flight, stay in Varenna www.varenna.net beautiful!

Jean

Varenna in February? No, thanks.

scottk

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. We've decided to stay in Milan for our last evening in Italy. We'd like to stay near the Duomo. Any recommendations on hotels? We are looking for something that is nice but not top of the line. Thanks for your input.

donco

Am pretty certain there's a post about a hotel near Malpense. Have you searched yet Scott? Can anyone help?

enroute

scottk,

We just went through an identical scenario 3 days ago in Milan with the Continental flight out of Malpensa at 10:30 last Sunday. We spent the day in Milan. Hotel Ritter, 68 Place Garibaldi, 94E for 3 people. Easy walk to everything. As we had to catch the train from Cadorna Station to MXP at 7:20, they let us have breakfast the day we checked in (early) instead. Taxi to Cadorna 10E.

The highlight of the day for me was the Barber of Seville we were able to catch at La Scala, the dream of a lifetime for me. I tried to book months in advance - no luck, all sold out. Then we happened upon some scalpers in front of the Opera House. 65E for a Galleria ticket, worth every europenny. English or Italian subtitles.

Saw the Duomo, great stained glass windows, the line moves quite fast. Did some gift shopping around Duomo. Great men's cashmere under 100E on via Torino off Duomo. Stopped by Peck, a gourmet deli, via Spadari, off via Torino, got some great treats there.

Reservations for Cenacolo Vinciano should be made ideally months in advance.

I would not go to Varenna or Bellagio in Feb. Even two weeks ago was not optimal weather-wise, although I am now in awe and in love with both places.

Enjoy,

-e

princessH

hey scott -what is your email address? have some questions for you... thanks!

Cicerone

Grand Hotel et De Milan
29 Via Manzoni
Milan 20121
Tel 39-02723141
Fax: 39-0286460861
http://www.grandhoteletdemilan.it/

A lovely hotel in more typical charming Italian style. Quite famous. Verdi lived here at one point. Walkable to Duomo, etc. Great staff. Rooms start at about &euro;400

The Gray Hotel
Via San Raffaele
20121 Milano
Tel. 39-027208951
Fax. 39-02866526
www.hotelthegray.com

Fashion-forward hotel about 50 feet from the Duomo. Small but very cool bar, small and good restaurant. Rooms have flat screen TVS and other modern techno stuff. My room had its own small gym. Room size varies a lot. It is part of Design Hotels.

Spadari al Duomo
Via Spadari, 11
Milan 20123
tel.: +39-0272002371
ax: +39- 02-861-184
http://www.spadarihotel.com

This hotel gets great reccos on tripadvisor.com. Next door to Peck's Deli, which is worth a trip in itself. Near Duomo. Note that there are some comments on tripadvisor.com about &quot;older&quot; rooms, but I have stayed twice and was pleased both times with my room.