trippster, thanks for the offer, but my wife's idea of a hostel is the Holiday Inn.

ttt

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.

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.

ttt

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&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?

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.

BobandBunkie,

What do you mean by the "lakes district"? 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 "pretty view" 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 "view" 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 "upscale" 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 "town square" 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.

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