isabel

I have scheduled Lake Como for the last three nights of my 17 night trip in July (6 nights Florence, 3 nights Venice, 5 nights Prague). My original plans had me flying into Milan Malpensa from Prague and arriving around 4pm and taking the train to the town of Como,getting there around 6 or so. I know Como is not as desirable a place to stay as somehwere mid lake but since I'd be getting in fairly late on the arrival day (a Wednesday) and needing to be at Malpensa on Saturday moring by 8am for my flight home, I felt like that was all I could manage. I planned to take the boats up the lake both of my two full days there.

Now my schedule has been changed and I don't get into Malpensa till 8pm so I don't think I want to be getting to Como after 10 and trying to find the hotel in the dark and all. So I made a reservation at the Cervo Hotel which is right at the airport. I've come up with two options that I can't decide between. Option A - I stay at the Cervo all three nights and take a day trip to Lake Como on Thursday. On Friday I can either go back again (extra 60-90 minutes travel each way) or instead go into Milan - or somewhere else entirely (any suggeestions). Pros - easy, don't have to deal with schleping luggage, have the option to do something different on Friday if I want. Cons - boring airport hotel and if I do want two days at the lake I waste time on the train. Option B is spend Wednesday and Friday nights at the Cervo but find a hotel in Belagio or somewhere for Thursday night.

So which of those options sounds better. I know none of this is an ideal way to see Lake Como but I just wanted to get a little taste of it to see if I'd want to go back on a future trip. Thanks for your opinions.

rex

I hope this would not be financilly prohibitive; it's how I would handle it for - - say, my dad... who would also not be comfortable finding a hotel at night.

Arrange for a driver to meet you at Malpensa, and take you to (the town of) Como. Spend Thursday 8 am - 2 pm exploring by ferry (you will probbly want to pick a specific destination (Bellagio, Menaggio or Varenna) and see if you think you would like to move (this assumes your hotelkeeper in Como is willing to play it flexibly by ear with you).

Or just go ahead and make a reservation for someplace, for Thu night. And assume that it will be worth it to move.

Mabe watching the near-term weather forecast will help you. It's not too hard to find internet access in Prague.

Best wishes,

Rex

WanderingTexan

I stayed in Cernobbio and really liked it. There are some hotels in town that looked nice to me and they are within walking distance to the boat docks. You could take the train to Lake Como and then taxi to Cernobbio (there is probably a train stop too) or hire a driver to take you from the airport as Rex suggested. I really liked Varenna a lot and I think you can take the train right into Varenna so that is another option. Have a great trip.

isabel

Thanks for your suggestions. I am on a budget so hiring a car is probably not worth it to me. Both the options I'm considering are pretty inexpensive so I'll just have to choose one of them. But I guess I'll cancel the reservation I made at the hotel in the town of Como unless someone points out how staying there makes sense. I've made a reservation at the Cervo by the airport but I can cancel up till the day of arrival. Anyone have a suggestion for an inexpensive (under 100€ single) place to stay in Bellagio or Varenna? Also, has anyone had any luck finding a hotel that will let you stay just one night during high season. The ones I've checked all have multiple night minimums. Thanks again

adrienne

Hotel Suisse is on the promenade in Bellagio. It's a bit of an odd place but under 100Euro.
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.bellagio.co.nz/suisse/guest.html

Tel: +39.031.950.335
Fax: +39.031.951.755

Try to get rooms 6 or 7 (first floor) or 16 or 18 (second floor) as they have balconies facing the lake.