We stayed at the FIRST Hotel, in Somma Lombardo, on via Baracca, thanks to Bob the Navigator.

It's a bit difficult to find tho' very near Malpensa. We got a bit turned around by the highways skirting Malpensa. Don't let that stop you.

Because the Hotel is very good value, we had an excellent dinner and breakfast here, and it was here that we met our Good Samaritan who helped us figure out how to gas up and return our rental car. a most memorable experience!

I have stayed at three Malpensa-area hotels and liked this one the best: Ramada Ticinum, on the outskirts of Oleggio, about 15 minutes (9 km) southeast of Malpensa. www.ramadamalpensahotel.it/

The hotel is newish construction, reasonably priced and has a restaurant and free shuttle service to/from the airport, so no need for a car.

I think you are doing the right thing in avoiding going into Milano. You could overnight at the Ramada, take the shuttle back to the airport the next morning and then get into Milano via train and on to Como. Just check to make sure the station you arrive in from the airport is the same one that sends trains to Como – not sure about that.

If you stay at a Malpensa hotel, you don't need to go into Milan the next day to catch a train to Lake Como. You can train to Saronno, change to a train to the town of Como, walk a short distance to the ferry dock and ferry to your final destination. It's about 90 minutes from Malpensa to Como.

You could even spend that first night in the town of Como. I'd rather wake up to a view of the lake than the sights and sounds of an airport.

Search "Malpensa Aeroporto" to "Como Lago" here:

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

Jean, great info.

thanks to everyone good info