Base Town for Lakes - Need to choose between Menaggio and Verbania
 

Hi guys,

I need to choose between Menaggio and Verbania for a 3 night stay at the Lakes. Objective is to relax and see as much of the Como lake region as possible.

So given the fact that we will be using trains to arrive and depart, which is a better place to halt in? Reason i am restricting it to these two places is coz i found decent hostels at very affordable rates in these two places.

I read that we need to take a train to Varenna and take a ferry from there to either of these two places. Will we be able to carry our luggage in the ferry (1-2 pieces per person)? Alternatively can we leave the luggage in a baggage counter in Varenna? Does the train station at Varenna have baggage counters? Any info on this would be appreciated?

Thanks a ton!
Trippster

I'm interested in this same topic for my next trip. Here is a link to a previous thread with some helpful information: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

The train station at Varenna-Esino is UNmanned. There is no need to attempt storing luggage there. The ferry dock is about a ten-minute walk downhill from the train station. As a general rule, taxis meet every train that arrives.

You can easily take luggage aboard either the foot ferries or the combination auto and foot passenger ferries which leave for both Menaggio and Bellagio at frequent intervals.

I am confused--Verbania is on Maggiore.

As is often the case, Bob the Nav is 15 minutes ahead of me.

Menaggio is a great place to stay on Lake Como. So are Varenna and Bellagio. I don't think you can go wrong with any of these three.

<<I'm interested in this same topic for my next trip. Here is a link to a previous thread with some helpful information..>>

I'm guessing that you meant to cite http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34572250

The URL you listed is simply the forum - - it's all that routinely shows in frame view. To get the actual URL of any particular thread, right click on the header in the RIGHT frame.

Best wishes,

Rex

Rex, thanks for fixing that URL.

You might have noticed that I cut and pasted the address at 1:48 A.M....one of my sleepless nights. Must have been more tired than I thought.

Thanks guys. Good to know luggage is not going to be a problem while moving from train station to Menaggio. (Yes, we made our choice!:)

Bob, you are right. I had initially planned for two lakes - Como and Maggiore. Hence had made reservations in two places. Finally I decided to stick to one lake. Hence the choice between Menaggio and Verbania. I guess basically I wanted to know if it is okie to plan a trip to Menaggio if I am going by train b'coz my initial plan had been to drive around the area. Do you think it is a good idea to rent a car for 3 days in Como. Or just stick to ferries and walking?

Thanks once again!