mlegeyt

We are heading to Italy at the end of April. I am looking for suggestions on itineraries/transportation after landing in Milan. We have the first two nights of lodging taken care of in Milan. However, I am trying to decide the best order of travel for visiting Lake Como (Lake region) and Parma. We would like to avoid renting a car if possible. We will be there for 9 days traveling to and from Milan. I would appreciate any tips or suggestions.

zeppole

You don't need a car for that itinerary.

But are you open to the idea of beginning in Lago di Como instead of Milan?

I would look into the possibility of heading directly to Lago di Como from Malpensa. A private car transfer is the most expensive, but in reality, if there are two of you traveling, it adds about 75 dollars to the cost of each of your air tickets and can be worth it land so easily in such a beautiful place at the beginning of your trip.

Otherwise, Ts you can get there by train from the airport, either to the town of Como, and then proceeding by boat or bus to the most scenic area of the lake. Or you can take travel via bus and train through Milan to the town of Varenna, in the most scenic area of the lake.

If you don't want to change the arrangement of staying first in Milan, the two other areas are really easily reached by train and I think it really is your preference. It might be easiest to end your visit on the lake, and have a private car take you to the airport the morning of your flight. Otherwise you will be stuck with another pricey Milano hotel bill.

As you may already know Parma is a small beautiufl place, but you can use the trains to see other interesting towns as well. Lago di Como is very much an outdoorsy place, but if you are very keen on seeing Italian gardens or hiking, you'll want to alot enough time for it.

Hope that helps!

mlegeyt

Thanks so much for this information. Unfortunately, we are committed to beginning in Milan because of the package we bought. However, as you suggest we can get a car from the lake to the airport for our departure. Where is Lago di Como?

alihutch

This website will give you a lot of information about Lake Como and the area

http://www.lakecomoapartment.com

zeppole

Here is an interesting article from today's Guardian about 10 things to do in Milan's trendiest neighborhood:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...eek-city-guide

mlegeyt

Thanks to alihutch and zeppole for all of these suggestions. I appreciate it. I will let everyone know how it goes.

kraines

When we went we rented a car with a driver and it was worth every penny!

Big_Red

Lago di Como is roughly 60 miles (maybe less) due north of metro Milan. Malpensa airport is northwest of Milan, but probably west southwest of Lago di Como.

mlegeyt

How did you hire the car and driver?

mlegeyt

Big_Red,

Can anyone recommend a hotel around the Lake area that is not horribly expensive or too far out of the main area?

alihutch

It's an easy train trip from Malpensa to Como. Train from the airport (staff at the ticket desk speak English) change at Saronno and get off at Como Nord Lago, which is right by the taxi rank, bus stop and 5 mins from the ferry terminal. I think that the ticket costs about €5

yellowbyrd

Hmmm, I was under the impression that the train did not leave from Malpensa airport. Isn't it in Central Milan?

alihutch

You can get the train from Milan Malpensa to Saronno and then change for Como Nord Lago. I know, I did it last summer.

ellenem

It all depends on where on Lake Como you are trying to reach.

From Malpensa, there is a train, and you can take it toward Milano getting off and switching to another train that goes to Como Nord Lago, in the city of Como at the south end of the lake. From there you would have to take a land bus or ferry to travel to the mid-lake region (most popular and scenic) where Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio are located, an average of an hour away depending on mode of travel.

Since many people are headed to the mid-lake region, they opt instead to travel from Mapensa via bus to Milano Centrale train station. There they can take a train to Varenna-Esino, right at mid-lake. Bellagio and Menaggio are a quick 10-minute ferry ride across the way.

Big_Red

There are lots of good hotel choices. In order to shorten the list you need to think about about what town you want for the hotel. Since your trip is in April, I doubt any hotel will be fully booked.

Can you tell us your price expectations? Can you carry your bags up two sets of stairs? What else do you need?

mlegeyt

We would like to stay in the $120 US dollar range. We are staying at the Sofitel in Milan. We realize that prices in the lake district are probably expensive. Carrying bags up 2 sets of stairs is not ideal. Other than that we have no other requirements.

I appreciate your help.

scatcat

Last September I stayed 2 nights in Varenna, then a week later I stayed 2 nights in Bellagio. I much preferred Bellagio. I stayed at Hotel Du Lac in Varenna and Hotel Centrale Bellagio in Bellagio. If you don't do steps, then you will not be interested in the Hotel Centrale. It is up many steps to get to the hotel. But you have an elevator in the hotel. Very nice place and a great breakfast. Air conditioning and helpul, friendly staff. I think our twin room was 130€. It is rated #1 on Tripadvisor. I highly recommend it.

drbb

Are you only doing Parma when you go south? The Emilia-Romagna region is large and really needs a car for traveling between towns. I recommend Modena, Ravenna, and Bologna in particular.

Big_Red

With the exchange rate at US$1.35 to Euro 1.0, your price target works out to 90Euro per day. Even in April, 90Euro per day is limiting and will take research (and some compromises). Ultimately you might e-mail the hotels directly, you might get a small discount for booking several nights and (as antiquated as it may seem) you might get a small discount if you can pay cash - not card.

You might research the following hotels, they should have websites:
The Hotal Garni Carona in Menaggio. Evidently they have some lake-view rooms.
The Albergo Olivedo at Varenna. I beleive that all rooms are lake-views. They offer a half board, so when you combine the cost of puchasing meals to the room cost, it might be okay price-wise. No Elevator.
Hotel Bazzoni Tremezzo.
A 20 minute walk along the lake from Menaggio - Hotel Garden in Nobilallo di Menaggio. This is a small hotel. Sits directly on a roadway. Website says 75 euro per night low season, lake front, with in-suite bath.
La Limonera APARTMENTS in Bellagio. Note sometimes apartments end up being less expensive than hotels, especially for off of peak season (like April).

The website Menaggio.com has an extensive listing of hotels and apartments in Menaggio.

Probably no lake views:
Hotel Vapore Menaggio. This is a one star hotel, probably bath-room down the hall.
Pensione Beretta Varenna
Albergo Sole Varenna

Finally, if you have difficulty with stairs then please tell us (me). There isn't much flat land around Lake Como. I left off one or more hotels because of the stairs involved to get there. Also, I do not have personal experience with all of these hotels so please research before you commit.

Jean

I second Big_Red's suggestion of Residence La Limonera in the center of Bellagio. Their studio and small apartments are both well under your budget, at least through April 30th. Depending on your date(s), the studio may already be booked. Here's the website:

http://www.residencelalimonera.com/