PalenQ

I loved Como itself - a nice old city with loads of restaurants, shops, etc. I hate the Bellagio type places that are innundated with tourists - last time I was in Bellagio the whole town was literally elbow to elbow - small area with so many day trippers. Just not a real town with everything tourist oriented.

bobthenavigator

You want mid-lake---with a car I often suggest Menaggio on the west shore opposite Bellagio. Or, also Lenno on the west shore.

steviegene

We will be there at the end of September - will ferry service be reduced then?

steviegene

Is it really busy still at the end of September? We tend to like a place with some things to do at night -- not night life per se. But definetly a selection of restaurants, gelato shops and some people watching. We loved Capri at night!

Do Menaggio or Lenno offer this? They seem small, but I'm still researching.

bobthenavigator

Yes, Menaggio does for sure---and it is :15 from Bellgio by ferry.

nomenemo

I stayed in Sirmione last spring. Nice walled town on peninsula on southern shore of Lake Garda. Southern Garda is touristy, but rest of lake less so. But heaven to me was Asolo, in the Veneto, and the Villa Cipriani. Perfect small medieval town on top of hill with Dolomites in distance. Close to any number of Palladian villas; you can also do day trip(s) to Padua and Vicenza, probably even Verona. Not far from Venice.

steviegene

thanks, nomenemo....With all the wonderful things to see, its looking more and more like I'll need to plan 2 trips!

Im thinking now that doing the Lake and the Dolomites might be too much driving for an 8 day trip. I really want to see the both!! But Im now considering 3 nights on Como instead to really enjoy things and kick back (also we'll have a car, so we could do a daytrip if we got bored). Then taking one leisurely day to drive to Venice stopping at Bergamo (per travelino's suggestion) and Verona on the way. That puts me at about 4 hours of total driving, as opposed to doing Garda and Dolomites which — stopping at all the places we'd want to — would put us more at 10 hours.

Thank you all here for letting me talk this out! LOVE this site for planning trips! Invaluable.

qwovadis

Have done this by car circumnavigate the lakes they are beautiful and not far.

38 miles north of MXP is stresa.org Isola Bella is awesome there drive up to the Simplon

Pass very close many wonderfl hotels there Regina Palace or Grand Hotel Dino for me

Cross over to Lugano on to Como Menaggio car ferry to www.bellagio.info

Www.hotelflorencebellagio.it my fav there Mark Twain staued there

or grand hotel menaggio or Villa Del Este

For a splurge,.. On to Garda sirmione.com Hotel Eden there good enough for Orwell

And Ezra Pound good enough for me simply beautiful.

Cortina dolomiti.it nice not as pretty as the lake country though farther away

qwovadis

Viamichelin.com excellent site helps me a lot when I drive over there

qwovadis

Otel.com cash back ten percent facebook like discount currently for me

Usually can snag the Grand Hotel Dino for 100 euros per nite there

Booking.com another good site for reviews usually a bit more $ no dc cash back

steviegene

thanks qwovadis...
Maybe when we pick up our car we could drive around a bit, circling around the lakes before stopping at whatever town we choose on Como.
Stresa looks beautiful and Bellinzano in the mountains looks interesting too.

PalenQ

I loved Stresa and if you base there you do not need a car but rather take the boats that go frequently to all the lake's attractions - the main ones being the three Borromean Islands lying just offshore - very famous islands - each with a different surprise on it. Boats are better here than cars IMO if wishing to visit the things on the lake.

steviegene

Soooo, is there any reason not to stay in Bellagio? Found a great hotel there with a terrace overlooking the lake!

Im looking at the forums, and while some people say its touristy others say its lovely. Wouldn't the crowds be smaller in end of September? We like a little activity at night, so that would be good. Is there any reason not to stay there besides it being "touristy".

feedback appreciated!

bobthenavigator

Getting the car there and parking are the only reasons not to.

travelino

My two cents: Bellagio is nice for a day trip, the lake is beautiful from that point. But the village is unremarkable and kind of tourist trap. To spend three nights there, with all the beautiful historical towns in northern Italy, well it would a pity in my opinion. By the way I was born and raised twenty miles from Bellagio. The Dolomites are magnificent and stunning and there is just no comparison.

awfulrealalie

Hi steviegene, good idea to rent a car, as public transportation in italy sometimes lacks and there are too many little towns without train stations or whatever.
Milan is quite a chaotic city, not to mention that the center is off limits for cars (car restrictions changing every day).
So my suggestion is to leave the car and visit first Milan in a nice, safe budget accomodation well served by public transit. Me and my boyfriend stayed at Ostello La Cordata - http://www.ostellolacordata.com, a nice budget accommodation close to Navigli (the most typical, scenic and lively quarter of Milan (with restaurants located in boats), to Duomo and to something you can't miss as an art lover: Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, one of the masterpieces of this genious. Please bear in mind that the paiting and his museum / church Santa Maria delle Grazie can be visited only upon reservation, from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 7:00 pm. All Italian museums remain closed on Mondays, and on special days like January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
I suggest you to stay at least 2 days in Milan. After two days go north to enchanting Como Lake or east to stunning Lake Garda. Every lake in this area boasts charming towns, great places to stop and sip a wine, or eat a pizza or an ice cream.
On both lakes you can navigate with ferries to reach every point you like to reach. I agree Bellagio is ok for a day trip, but i would not go so far, cause between Milan and Venice, there are some beautiful cities to visit like Bergamo (old town well preserved), Verona (ever heard of Juliet and Romeo?) and Padua (one of the oldest universities of the world and masterpieces by Giotto).
As i only stopped in Milan and in Venice by a friend, i can't suggest you hotels / accommodation between Milan and Venice!
Anyway have a nice trip and feel free to ask questions.