Accommodations in Menaggio on Lake Como
 

Looking for a place to stay in Menaggio next Spring. I know many of you have stayed in Bellagio or Varenna, but I want to be on the other side of the lake to do day trips. I will have a car.

Any first-hand recommendations? ((b))

Sure Budman,I have have done two there.

My fav is GH Menaggio, but is a 4 star and about 170E depending on type of room. However, just next door, is the 3 star Bellavista for about 120E. Both are next to the boat dock and very convenient. Good idea !

Thanks, Bob. I sent an e-mail a week or so ago to Bellavista, and they responded, words to the effect, to contact them in January/February.

I'm guessing most of the places close for the winter. ((b))

Como is beautiful in the Spring. Wish we could join you. Directly on the lake, and adjacent to a boat dock, is the Albergo Villa Belvedere, located just south of Menaggio in Argegno. We had a very nice visit there including very good food. At the time of our visit, they offered an all inclusive rate.

You are correct about the BellaVista which, as I recall, opens for business in the March timeframe. It is a short walk from the ferry dock (where the GH Menaggio is located).

Another possibility is the GH Victoria Menaggio which is a few minutes' walk further on from the BellaVista.

The BV and the GH Menaggio are right on the lakefront; the GH Victoria is across the street from the lakefront but the lakeview rooms on the upper floors are unobstructed.

I've stayed in the GH Victoria; had a great view but the room was about as dull as dirt; staff wonderful and buffet breakfast typical.

We looked at rooms in the BellaVista which were more rustically decorated (at least the ones we saw) and smaller than those at the GH Victoria. Ate twice in the BV restaurant (lakeside) which offered good food and service.

Another vote for the GH Mennagio, we had a lake side room and the views in the morning were spectacular ! There is a Pub next door which is a lot of fun as well and a well stocked grocery store about 30 metres down the road ( a great selection of wines and nibbles for that lakeside picnic !)

Hi Budman - We were in Menaggio for two nights this past June and loved the town. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Mennagio and were very happy there. They have a great pool with a view of the lake and surrounding hills that we found very relaxing and they are right next to the ferry.

GH Victoria is lovely from the outside but they do not have a pool, if that is a need.

We ended up being really glad to stay in Menaggio rather than Bellagio, which many prefer. It just felt a little less touristy. We were there during the world cup which added to the fun. One night while eating dinner in one of the piazzas in Menaggio, the local people set up a screen and many chairs in the square to watch the game together outside. All neighbors and friends and families came out of the woodwork to watch the game, waving Italian flags, drinking wine and beer, and cheering like crazy. It was just very cool.

GH Menaggio has a restaurant on the premises which is fancy but there are some casual restaurants five minutes walk away in the little town.

Hope that helps -

We stayed at GH Tremezzo which is pretty close to Menaggio. Very pretty hotel, good service. Worth the money.

I've stayed at GHV Menaggio... room &quot;as dull as dirt&quot;? Ummm, I'd say that's about right. It was uch a magical four days - - for everything <i>but</i> time in the room (basically just slept in it, at night) - - that I really don't have anything but good memories.

But the GH Menaggio is a better location in my opinion, and others who have posted here have suggested that the rooms are nicer. I bet that they are right.

Being on the Menaggio side of the lake, especially with a car - - is a very good decision, in my opinion.

Best wishes,

Rex

p.s. great litte enoteca (truly just a wine store, not the kind that is tasting bar with little snacks, stc) in Tremezzo, just down the road. The kind of place that you'd give your right arm... to have in your neighborhood back home.

I'm pretty sure it's the only enoteca in Tremezzo. Kinda in a little arcade. Look for any of several labels of Teroldego Rotaliano there. You'll thank me.

I have stayed at the Grand Hotel Menaggio and thought it was excellent. Perfect location, wonderful staff and the view room was about as good as it gets.

On another point I actually preferred Mennagio to Bellagio ! Also try to have a long lunch at Locanda dell'Isola Comacina you will not regret it!!!

Yes, Rex, the room was very dull with exactly one picture on the walls. But it was one of, if not <b>the</b>best room in the place located directly over the hotel front entrance with a huge balcony and a great view.

We found Menaggio to be very relaxing (fewer shopping oportunities than Menaggio but we weren't there for shopping) and far, FAR less crowded with visitors than Bellagio.

And, Budman, with the rental car you will definitely appreciate being in either Menaggio or Varenna as oposed to Bellagio unless you don't mind taking the ferry out of town for most every trip.

Clarification: I don't think we are in disagreement. My room was NOT one of the best, and it had NO picture on the wall, nor any view. But it was still a great stay. I also concur on very good staff.

That aside, GHM seems to be a better hotel - - you would agree on that also?

No, we aren't disagreeing at all. We enjoyed the GH Victoria but I think if I went again I would be more inclined to stay at the GH next to the ferry dock. We actually looked through that hotel (although weren't able to see any rooms) and the public areas were very nice; more upscale than at the Bella Vista.

The reviews of the GH on tripAdvisor are interesting and worth reading I think.

Thanks for all the great information. I was a little concerned as I didn't find a lot of info on Menaggio, but now it appears it will be my best bet.

Marko, I looked at the website for that restaurant -- Wouldn't it be better to have a large, late breakfast, skip lunch, and have dinner there one evening?

GBC, what price did Albergo Villa Belvedere give you. I can't seem to find a price on their website. Maybe I'll just e-mail them. ((b))

ttt. ((b))

Budman - they are featured on Karen Brown's website which quotes a price of 200 to 220E for a double. Here is the site that might help you.

http://www.karenbrown.com/property.asp?propid=4417

Thanks. I just received an e-mail from this saying they want 110 per person for half board. I really don't want half board -- maybe one night or so -- leaves out options for other dining. ((b))

Menaggio in Spring. Sounds lovely :)

We had stayed there also in our last Summer trip. Definitely preferred it to Bellagio (less crowded and more of a holiday-feel to the place)

We styed in a hostel there and quite enjoyed the experience. I was a bit apprehensive since we were four of us travelling and first time in a youth hostel. But we had a great experience and undoubtedly the best part of our vacation was in M. Let me know if you need details on hostels and I can dig out the contact info etc.

- T.

trippster, thanks for the offer, but my wife's idea of a hostel is the Holiday Inn. :-) ((b))

ttt ((b))

Budman, have you made a decision yet? If not let me add that I commend your decision to stay in Menaggio. It's fun and local and you can still go to all the other places on the lake by boat. I've stayed most frequently at GH Menaggio and we like it a lot. If price is an issue, however, Bellavista has nearly the same view and location and is about 50 euros or more cheaper. Both have pools on the lake though Bellavista's is much smaller. You will find info on Bellavista on the Italyby.com website and I'd assume you can book it there. My daughter stayed there on her honeymoon. It's plain but perfectly nice and their food is quite good. It has a homey feel. Enjoy.

Julie, I have pretty much decided on Menaggio but up in the air on where to stay. Thanks for your input. ((b))

Bellavista won't let me know until Jan/Feb. Still looking for a place in Menaggio for next May. Most of the places only offer half board which takes away any dinner options.

Anyone stayed or know anything about Hotel Adler? I'm not sure if they are on the lake or not, but they do offer rooms with both lake and mountain views. ((b))

ttt ((b))

Budman, you may be ahead of me, but have you personally checked with the places that only list half-board? I avoid that like the plague, and have several times been able to talk hotels out of the half-board requirement.

I've been checking with everyone - one hotel would only give me the B&amp;B rate for 1 night, and the other 2 nights I had to take the half board.

That's why I'm looking.

Anybody heard or know about Hotel Adler? ((b))

Budman, The Adler is too far off the lake in the hills above the town. I would want to walk to the ferry.
I would not balk at the half board--the Bellavista has a good food and great views back at Bellagio. But, the GHM is still my pick if you can spring for it.

Have you checked out this place in Menaggio?

http://www.cadenabbiadigriante.com/info/riviera.htm

We've stayed at the BV...and yes, the views are stunning. But if I had to do it over again, I think I would have sprung for the extra money and stayed at the GH. That's just my 2 cents worth.

We haven't heard anyone report on Hotel du Lac. I know it is quite inexpensive. The reviews of previous guests are glowing, but I know they're on a square in Menaggio with a partial lake view. Has anyone stayed there? We will have three nights in the Lake District and are trying to figure out whether or not to spend all three nights at one place. Any thoughts?

I'm leaning towards the Bellavista, but they won't take reservations until January. I'm keeping all options open. Don't necessarily have to stay on the water with lake view, but that would be nice. ((b))

BobandBunkie,

What do you mean by the &quot;lakes district&quot;? Unless you have a car, it isn't easy to visit more than one Italian lake at a time, and even if you have a car, the roads are not usually winding two-way highways. In the peak seasons they crawl with traffic. Best to pick one lake and enjoy it. Sometimes, if someone is visiting Lago di Como at the end of a trip and flying out of Milan/Malpensa airport to return home, it's a nice idea to spend the last night in Italy at either Lago Maggiore or Lago d'Orta because of their proximity to the aiport. (Lago di Como is more out of the way.)

But like I said, otherwise stick to one lake.

BTW, here's the view from the Bellavista:
http://tinyurl.com/yhdve4

The name means &quot;pretty view&quot; in Italian, as you're probably aware.

~ mr_go, posting from my LW's computer

Hmmmm...let's try that again:
http://image55.webshots.com/155/7/28...9CoDCNC_fs.jpg

Bookmarking.

The &quot;view&quot; you'll get at the BV will be of the lake and Varenna and not Bellagio. Frankly, I'm not sure viewing one town is any better than viewing the other.

And remember, the BV isn't that far from the ferry dock. The place doesn't look as &quot;upscale&quot; as the GH and now I really wish we had eaten there, too, so I could make a comment as to how the food compared to the BV. But there are several other places to eat in Menaggio..the &quot;town square&quot; is a bit closer to the BV than to the GH...but it is all a mater of minutes.

I hope you have a great trip.

bookmarking

bookmarking/topping ((b))