Yorkshire, I may be missing the point of your question (that would not be my first time)

I have no experiance with Piemonte or the Lakes: however, I spent a week in Rapallo Sept. 2011, after flying into Milan. After two days exploring Milano, we took the express train non stop from Milan Centrale Station and got off in Rapallo. We used Rapallo as our base for day triping to Portofino, Santa Maria Liguria, CT of course, Chiavari and other small Ligurian towns. There is a very good regional bus sytem that could connect you with some of the smaller towns. Also train service between Genoa and La SPezia is a good option too. Check this link: http://www.orariotrasporti.regione.liguria.it, use the journey planner to find your options. I hope this helps

I think the lakes region may be a little chilly in late May, and it is just not speaking to me. >>

a friend just got back from a spa town near Chianti [and we're talking about late April] and said that it was 28 -30" every day.

so i don't think that you are going to be chilly in the lakes in late May, unless you are extremely unlucky.

as to your major question, I too am not clear about what you're asking. how many nights do you have? what are the places that you want to see by way of day trips? are they accessible by train or bus from your proposed base/e? I think that you are in danger of losing sight of what you wanted to do in the first place.

It is no surprise you would not be able to decipher my randomness. I am all set for Liguria, as I've been before and know the train system as well as what walks I will do. My problem is figuring out if I should abandon hopes of Piemonte valleys as I just don't want to deal with a car and cannot find the perfect town. It may just be easier, yet also more relaxing and just as enjoyable, to settle on Torino--or hop over to Venice, somewhere I had not really considered but that would be a breeze to get to. Thanks for chiming in, though!

thanks annhig, that is encouraging about the weather (it cannot be too warm for me). I have 9 nights total, and I was thinking 4-5 nights in Liguria (still settling on accommodation), so that leaves me with 3-4 nights somewhere else (Last night Milan). I was captivated by the Langhe region, but I have been getting feedback that I'd need a car. Perhaps with only 3 nights I should not worry, as I'm sure a vineyard walk on one day and a bike ride on another, plus walking around a town like Alba would more than fill my time. Then Venice popped into my head as something easy--I am somewhat interested in Torino because the way the city is described (walkable, etc.), but I wondered if I should expand my options. I'm just looking to "think aloud" here, so thanks for any kind of input. This trip was last minute when an airfare finally materialized, so I am definitely losing sight...

I think 3 nights in Torino would be lovely. We were there for 1 day/night before flying out and I would have loved to spend more time. Great walking city with gorgeous architecture. You could also look at day trips from there - maybe a bus ride to Alba?

Have you been to Venice or would this be a first visit? Would you be up for a 3-4 hour train ride after arrival at Malpensa? And then a 5-6 hour train ride a couple of days later?

Spend some time perusing train timetables. Torino or Lake Como would be easier to reach on arrival and somewhat closer to the CT. IMO, Torino and a day trip to somewhere in the Langhe Valley would be a nice 3 days. Ditto 3 days exploring Lake Como (esp. if mid-week).

http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html

But have you seen much of the Emilia Romagna or northern Tuscany? It seems either area would make for a more convenient stop between Malpensa and the Ligure on a relatively short trip.

... a relatively short trip without a car.

We land at Linate. We'd be up for the train to Venice, but the return does give me pause. We'd again break it up in Milan, but it is certainly not ideal, as I'd rather have a long travel day after the hiking portion of the trip--when I'll be more inclined to sit and stare!
It would be my first trip to Venice, but it looks like I am back where I started--waffling about Milano or Alba I think.

Yorkshire have you read the trip report by Marija, who visited Piemonte and based in Alba w/o a car?

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/bruce-and-marija-spend-10-days-in-piedmont-alba-neive-and-turin.cfm


You could stay the 3 nights in Turin and take a day trip to Alba; I believe the local tourist office organizes trips to the surrounding countryside from there.

See if this is helpful:


http://www.langheroero.it/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Let%20us%20introduce%20ourselves&idSezione=199

Landing/departing Linate changes things a bit and might add time to the journey to Verona/Venice.

There is no train service from Linate airport, so you'd have to take a shuttle bus between Linate and the Milano Centrale train station (although I'd be tempted to take a taxi the 8 km.). If you just miss one bus, you'd have to wait an hour for the next one.

http://www.milanolinate.eu/en/accessibility-and-parking/means-of-transport

http://www.atm-mi.it/it/AltriServizi/Trasporto/Pagine/airbus.aspx [Italian only]

The "Linate effect" would also apply to the travel times to Torino and Lake Como.

Thanks ekscrunchy, I'll show that to my husband to see what he thinks. Thanks to everyone for helping me organize my thoughts.

honestly, yorkshire, i would stick to the north-west for this trip. you will lose a lot of your precious time getting to venice and then back again.

Venice will still be there, even in a few years time.

Freakouts serve their purpose. It's all coming together, but I am now considering Asti because the train connections (from Milano, to Genova/Camogli) will be quicker. Thanks again to all who helped me think this through.