travel52

I am just working the "quirks" out of our itinerary for next June.

We will be arriving from the West Coast of USA to Milan. I am trying to decide whether to spend the night in Milan or go straight to Varenna (our flight gets in around 3pm). We will be meeting up with friends in Milan later, so am now thinking we might just go right on to Varenna after we land.

What is the best way to get the Milano Centrale train station? Xpress bus or train? I have read other posts, but seem to be drawing a blank on this.

Thanks for the help!

gracie04

Hi travel52,

The Malpensa Shuttle (bus) takes you to Milano Centrale, where you can catch a train to Varenna.

Malpensa Express (train) takes you to Cadorna station.

ellenem

I assume you will be arriving at Milano Malpensa.

Take the Malpensa Express bus to Milano Centrale. From Milano Centrale, take a train to Varenna-Esino.

(The train from Malpensa goes to the Milano Cadorna station, and therefore does not make the best connection.)

ellenem

gracie was too fast!

gracie04

zeppole

Doesn't anybody recommend the switch off of the Malpensa Xpress that goes up to Como Lago, from where you can take a ferry on the lake to Varenna?

I've never done it, but it sounds more appealing than the bus to Milano Centrale (which I have done).

flygirl

If you don't intend to have a car, I'd look into a driver to pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Varenna.

You are going to be very tired and it will be nice to have someone waiting for you.

ellenem

Zeppole,

I considered that option (via Saronno) on my last trip to the area, but opted instead for the route through Milano Centrale. The timing seemed to work out about the same if you were headed to mid-lake.

In the end I was glad we did. We arrived at Varenna to discover there was a strike that day and that the boats would not be operating again until 5PM. If we had been in Como city, we'd have had a longer wait and ride to reach our destination of Bellagio and our hotel after a long travel day. Instead, after a nice time on a bench at water's edge, we had a quick 10-minute hop to Bellagio and our hotel. We saved the boat ride to Como for our departure day when we were more alert.

travel52

Thanks for the quick responses. While having a car pick us up sounds wonderful, wouldn't that be VERY expemsive?

zeppole

Ah, yes. And then there are the days the trains from Milano Centrale aren't running.

I actually thought the Malpensa Xpress and suburban train line might be less subject to strikes than trains leaving Milano Centrale, but one never knows.

I so love boat rides, I might go for it despite your experience -- but not after what sounds like a really long trip from the West Coast of the USA. I think, in reality, I'd want a car service, even if it meant eating one less meal on the trip.

travel52

Any recommendations for a car service so I could check out how many meals I would have to go without

gracie04

Hi again,

My sister and I flew into Milan in May, and then had to get to Bellagio. Since we knew jet lag would hit us hard, we decided to spend the night in Milan. That was the best decision for us. I just remember thinking as I was waiting for my luggage how glad I was that I didn't have to continue on to Bellagio.

As far as your question about a car service, we used www.bestviaggi.com to drive us to Bellagio the next day. Great company, I would use them again, but it is expensive. (Euro 140 from Milan-Bellagio)

Taking the train is easy and much cheaper.

travel52

My initial thought was to just crash in Milan and perhaps that is a good idea. What would be a good location to stay in ? Not worried about seeing the sights, just eating and sleeping and leaving the next morning on the train to Varenna. I thought about reserving a hotel and then trying Pricline closer to our depareture.

I know I have switched gears, but how about options for spending the night in Milan? A car will be just too expensive.

Jean

Landing at 3:00 pm, you wouldn't get to Varenna before 6:30 pm using public trans. (The two options take about the same amount of transit time but connecting times will differ.)

Having done this route many times (West Coast to Malpensa to Lake Como), I'd be inclined to keep going but that may be influenced by my familiarity with the logistics.

If you want to check timetables, here are links to everything. When you search the Milan-Varenna trains, use the full name "Varenna Esino." If you're returning to Milan from Varenna, buy round-trip tickets in Milan.

Malpensa Shuttle bus:
http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/en...=come_arrivare

Train from Milano Centrale to Varenna Esino:
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Train from Malpensa to Como:
http://www.lenord.it/website/lenord/en/home/index.php

Lake Como ferries:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/com/nlc.html

If you decide to spend the first night in Milan, I can recommend the Star Hotel:

www.hotelstar.it

travel52

Now I have all of the facts, I can think about it (and probably change my mind 100 times). It almost sounds like as big of a hassle to get to the hotel as it does to just keep going to Varenna. The Hotel Star sounds like a good choice for when we return to Milan to meet our friends for a one night stay and sightseeing.

Is there an inexpesive hotel that we can stay at without a lot of transfers? Just roll off the plane and a short cab ride and we're there?

zeppole

For next June, I would immediately try to book the hotel Antica Locanda Leonardo or the Hotel Palazzo Delle Stelline.

Another option is the Hotel Madison, but it may not fit your definition of inexpensive. (It doesn't mine.)

If you look at a map, you will see the problem is that Malpensa is north of Milan proper, and Lago di Como is north, too. So by the time you go south to Milano and paid for an expensive hotel room, you figure you might as well have gone north.

Short cab rides to nearby airport hotels are pricey at Malpensa -- and then you've got the problem of getting back to Milano Centrale to catch a train for Varenna the next day.

I would price the cost of a hotel room in the town of Como (reachable with one train change from the Malpensa Xpress), and the next morning, take a ferry to Varenna vs the cost of whatever Milano hotel you like plus train tix.

I would also do this cost comparison for a car all the way to Varenna (vs night in Milano hotel plus train tix), or car service Menaggio (after which you would take the 15-minute ferry ride to Varenna the same night).

Hope that helps.

flygirl

What is your hotel budget?

I really liked the Albergo Lenno. We stayed there two nights, both the first night and the last night, of the visit this year. It was 180 for a double. The other four nights were at the Eremo Gaudio in Varenna, for 125E per night for a double.

Last year I rented a car for three nights, and found that we simply didn't need a car while we were there. A driver would have been less than a 3 day car rental and easier while jet-lagged. I don't remember prices.

My point re: Albergo Lenno is that it's a little closer than Varenna to Malpensa. It could be a nice stopping off point and there are nice restaurants within walking distance. The next morning you could ferry to Varenna.

Otherwise, I think the idea of getting to Como proper is the best one. You'd be partway to Varenna then.

travel52

If we took the bus to the train station, are there reasonably priced hotels in that area? Is it a safe area? We could spend the night and then take the train on to Varenna in the morning. It would be just one bus ride and we'd be going toward our destination of Varenna.

I am concerned that the long flight combined with the fact that I have arthritis could cause me to be unsteady on my feet if I try to go too far the 1st evening.

Thanks for all of your help.

Jean

There are hotels at/near Malpensa that offer free shuttle service. No need to take a taxi. Search "Malpensa hotels" here for several threads. But, really, do you want to spend your first night in Italy at an airport hotel (even a really nice one)? In about an hour, with little effort, you could be in central Milan or the town of Como.

There are several nice hotels near the train station and ferry dock in Como. Go to Tripadvisor.com and in addition to Albergo Lenno (mentioned by flygirl) look at the following hotels:

Hotel Marco's
Palace Hotel
Metropole Suisse Hotel

zeppole

The problem with the hotels that offer free shuttle services is that you have to find out where they stop once you get to Malpensa, and then wait for them. (Some of them you have to arrange in advance for the pick-up.)

And then you've got this problem in the morning: You've got to go back to Malpensa to take the bus to Milano Centrale to take the train.

travel52, you're not defining what a "reasonably priced" hotel is for you. Unfortunately, there is a chronic shortage of hotel rooms in Milano, so high prices are charged, almost irrespective of service.

The most important thing is that you begin your trip without problems, or putting yourself into a hole.

Either take the bus to Milano Centrale (not hard to do) and get a hotel near the train station (a depressing but NOT unsafe area) or get a car service.

I can only recommend the lovely Hotel Madison near Centrale. I don't know what their rates are for June, but I wouldn't expect a bargain. For lower rates, check Tripadvisor reviews. Many, many travelers only stay in Milano one night, right by the train station. You'll get a good picture there of hotel quality. Book through bookings.com, eurocheapo, or Holiday City for the best rates.

Hope that helps.

PS: I wouldn't give up staying in Varenna just to be closer to Malpensa.