ljs123tennis

Good morning,

My husband and I (53 years old) are traveling to Italy with my in-laws ( 73 years old)on September second. We woul like to stay in a pretty little small town in the lake como area for a two or three days. Not too expensive . My husband and I would like to rent motorcycles and day trip out and my in-laws would like to just walk around, eat and see sites. Is there a town that would fit our needs. Thanks in advance For your time and assistance. Sincerely. Lynne

adrienne

I like Bellagio. Most of the lake towns are small. You get around from one to another via the wonderful ferry system. I found the prices to be high as it's mostly a seasonal area (other than cities such as Como City) and the hotels, shops, and restaurants need to make their money during the season. But then "not too expensive" is relative.

It seems a shame that you're going to a beautiful lake and then renting bikes and driving on the roads rather than taking ferries.

Please be careful if you drive up the east side of Lake Como as the road is narrow and winding.

ljs123tennis

Thank you Adrienne, I will check it out. We love the lakes, I was raised in British Columbia and love the lakes, we will definitely enjoy them and will travel the ferries also. Thanks for the help

bobthenavigator

Ferries are the preferred mode of travel on Lago Como if you want to see the lake.
I would forget the bikes---too dangerous.

Jean

If you're experienced motorcyclists, I wouldn't consider the ride around the lake to be dangerous. (We've ridden part of it on bicycles.) However, it would be a very different view of the area, very scenic in spots but not the usual Lake Como visit.

But it's not cheap! You can rent Moto Guzzis a few miles south of Varenna in Mandello del Lario on the eastern shore of the eastern leg of the lake. Make sure you ask about security deposits, damage insurance and helmets (although I think the website covers these topics). You'd probably want to bring full leathers, esp. if you want to go into the mountains.

http://www.motoguzzirent.it/

If you decide to skip the motorcycling idea, you could go to the Moto Guzzi factory museum which is also in Mandello del Lario.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341028

nyellie

We stayed in a charming, inexpensive B&B in Pescallo, which is about a 10 minute walk to Bellagio. We had a balcony with a beautiful view of the lake. Breakfast was good too!

Hotel Nuovo Miralago
http://www.bellagiomiralago.com/homeeng.html

We much preferred it to Bellagio. We could take advantage of all Bellagio had to offer and then walk back to our quiet fishing village and leave the crowds and high prices behind.

Magster2005

Another vote for Bellagio. We stayed for two weeks several years ago, and although we never rented motorcycles, we walked all over and loved the surrounding area especially Pescallo (mentioned above).

We stayed right in Bellagio at La Limonera in a beautiful, reasonably priced apartment. The location is ideal for riding/storing motorcycles but also gives your in-laws access to the many sights of Bellagio along with ferry service a short (steep) walk away -- a perfect location for them assuming they can handle the steep terrain.

http://www.residencelalimonera.com/

aliced

Count me in for Bellagio as well-- we stayed at Hotel du Lac directly on the lake and it was not very expensive, great bar and restaurant lakefront and ferry access perhaps a block over. Your parents should be able to get up into the little village which is a bit steep -- but isnt 70 the new 50? We were there mid-October so no crowds at all. So convenient and trains connect to Milan. Perfect place to unwind after sightseeing everywhere else.

pctraveler

We stayed at the Hotel Metropole also right on the lake. It was a wonderful property -- not too expensive and a wonderful staff. Highly recommend it.

el13207

We stayed in Bellagio at the Hotel Florence, which is right near the ferry stop, on flat ground facing the lake (be sure and get a balcony room) in the spring of 2012 and loved it. The ferries are easy to use to cruise around the entire area. We loved visiting Villa Carlotta and its gardens across the lake - so easy to pick a different spot to visit each day by ferry. We long to return! So restful and so beautiful. Skip a car and just take the train in and out of Como, and ferry everywhere from there.