Rick Steves recommends Varenna. Any opinions on this? We're thinking of going sometime this spring for a few days. We're not into top dollar hotels or restaurants and prefer the more casual. Thanks!

That's a tough--but happy--choice. You can't go wrong with either. However, I think I would lean towards Bellagio as your base, as there is more to do, a greater choice of hotels and restaurants, etc., there. Either way, it's a short ferry ride from one to the other. Whichever one you choose, make sure you spend quality time in the other!

Except for the fact that the populations are off by a factor of about 100:1, this is like recommending Jersey over Manhattan. You're still going to go to see the "stuff" in Manhattan (Bellagio). but you know - - more than once, I have found that the Embassy Suites at the Meadowlands IS indeed the right base for a trip to New York. A lot depends on price, availability, your own tastes. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Rex, we don't want to pay more than $100 for a quiet double with private bath and preferably a balcony with a nice view. Is Varenna really that small? Are there plenty of restaurants? Is Bellagio for the rich and snooty? Do you know how late the ferries run? Thanks!

Rex, I cannot believe that you would stay in an Embassy Suite at the Meadowlands instead of the heart of Manhattan. You realize that this shatters your whole image!

Rex, surely you are kidding us!!!

I have only been to New Jersey once, for a couple of days, and didn't care for it a bit. So are you saying that Varenna is a pit?

Well, I forgot to metion that I have a brother in Morristown, so sometimes that's a factor. He doesn't have enough room for all five of us. I've used a Sofitel (somewhere between NY and Morristown) too. <BR> <BR>I come back to the issue of price. $400 in Manhattan (if you haven't planned ahead well) vs $95 at the Meadowlands with that big buffet breakfast for a family of five. I make no apologies. <BR> <BR>Paige - - Varenna is one-fifth the size of Bellagio (perhaps smaller than that, if measured in foreign currency spent in their respective shops, hotels and restaurants). The ferries run until about 11:15 to Menaggio, less certain about Varenna. Menaggio is certainly worthy of consideration as an alternative. <BR> <BR>Mam - - this is a tough morning to make myself go to work - - so many good questions!

Paige, Verenaa is a charming little town. There are some restaurants and hotels, but you'll have a much, much wider choice in Bellagio. And, no, Bellagio is not just for the rich and snooty, not by a long shot!

Thanks, guys. I'm leaning towards Bellagio now. I think the comparison to NJ ruined Varenna for me (ar ar!).

Even though it looks like you made a choice, I gotta put in my vote for Varenna. Yes its wayyyy smaller, but what a setting! I'm not big on night life, I'd rather sit and have drinks with the locals which is what you do in Varenna.And I love the Albergo Olivedo. A small inn run by Laura who can seem kind of gruff but really isn't. She runs a spotless hotel with great food. The rooms are cheap, filled with antiques and most require sharing a bath, but not all. Plus you can have a stunning view of the lake with the ferry steps away. An incredibly relaxing place in my book and not at all like comparing New Jersey to Manhatten, more like comparing San Fransisco to Sausilito.

Paige-- When my family visited the area last summer, we were advised to base ourselves in Bellagio, for the range of restaurants and for the presence of a pool at our hotel (we have two kids). We stayed at the Hotel Belvedere, which I think may be a bit above your budgeted price, but it was very clean and friendly, with terrific food and views (and yes, a nice pool). It was a 5-minute stroll to the heart of Bellagio. We found Bellagio to be a touristy, if diverting, town, with lots of shops and restaurants. We did take the short ferry ride to Varenna (via Menaggio), to have lunch and stroll around. Varenna was quiet and relaxing, a very pleasant place. The Rick Steves-recommended restaurant was hopping, however, so it won't be a remote, locals-only experience. I would expect you could enjoy a couple of relaxing days there. My only concern is that there did not seem to be a huge selection of restaurants-- you (and all the other tourists) might end up eating and window-shopping in the exact same places. If I had to give an advantage to the touristy Bellagio, I would say it is because you will have many more shopping and dining options. Our hotel was just outside of town, quiet and away from the crowds, so all we had was a lovely view of the lake to contemplate.

Paige: Stay in Varenna, visit Bellagio as often as you like (short ferry trip; runs often and late. Varenna is a charming old fishing village. Stay at Albergo Milano; knock-out views (make sure to insist on a balcony facing the lake), charming ambience, Amelia is friendly and helpful, great veranda for breakfasr and hanging out. Right about at your price range and ensuite. The water's edge at night is romantic vs honky-tonk waterfront at Bellagio. Sip a drink and take in the views across the water. Sometimes there are fireworks from Bellagio. Depends on your tastes and preferrences, but I, too, stay at Meadowland with my family and take the bus into Manhatten (runs often, late, takes twenty minutes if that and is a short block from the Hotel).

Paige, my vote is for Bellagio! I did not think that Bellagio was veryt big at all. You could easily take a stroll and familiarize yourself within two hours! However, that would mean that Varenna would take about 40 minutes. I loved Bellagio and thought that it made a great base because you always had something to do should you want to do it. I too stayed at the Belvedere, which is more than you prefer to spend, but it was well worth it. There are other smaller hotels that might be in your range. Bellagio is not a big, bright noisy place, just bigger and brighter than Varenna--but not by a whole lot in my opinion. <BR> <BR>

If I was staying just one night, I might opt for Varenna, but any more than that, I'd pick Bellagio. Forget Rex's comparison of Varenna to the Meadowlands. Varenna is a charming little town that you should definitely visit and walk around. Also, visit the Villa Monastero in Varenna and stroll its gardens and avail yourself of some fantastic views of the lake area. <BR>For more than one day, as I said, I'd pick Bellagio. We didn't find Bellagio that touristy and loved strolling around. (P.S.: We also stayed at the Belvedere and loved it.)

The analogy to New Jersey and Manhattan was so weak that it has clouded this question. I like the comparison to Sausalito and San Francisco better, but this too is off the mark. I'm guessing that the population of Bellagio is about 5-10,000; Varenna one-third that. And the distance is really short. you feel as if you could throw a rock between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. I also agree that Bellagio is not at all snooty or for the rich only. <BR> <BR>Like Manhattan, it IS the star attraction. I can't imagine any one going to Menaggio nor Varenna and NOT going to Bellagio. And there must be people who choose Varenna, enjoy it and have no regrets. The same is true with Menaggio. <BR> <BR>I don't think there are any really bad choices in this triangle. Some more central, some more crowded, some more expensive - - and some less of all the above. I shift gears from one end of the spectrum to the other on all of these parameters from time to time. <BR> <BR>

Paige, I visited Bellagio last summer. I would have been bored with a town any smaller. I was there for two days and saw all of the town and neighboring towns on a hike. I'm afraid that if you go to Varenna, your options of hotels and restaurants will be quite few.

I vote for Varenna, also. We have also stayed at the Albergo Oliveda and the food and view from the room were absolutely fabulous. <BR>My only issue with the room was that it overlooks the ferry stop. It's great people watching, but in the summer the crowds trying to get on the ferry line up for hours on Sunday nights until midnight.

My vote is for Varenna. You can always hop the ferry to Bellagio and wander around the town and buy!! Also stayed with laura and enjoyed the experience. The ferry stopped running at 10 at night. The noisiest part of our stay was when the cleaning group was knocking dirt off the metal roof alond the dock. Charming walkway along the river into town.

Hi Paige; <BR> <BR>We are going to be at Lago di Como in September, and I picked Bellagio, primarily because my daughter and her family stayed there in 1997 and found it delightful. We booked a double room with bath, lake view terrace and breakfast for 230,000 lire ($115) a night, complete with all service and taxes. A lake view room with a balcony runs 220,000 lire. Add 30,000 ($15) per person for demi-pension. Hotel is right on the waterfront. Hotel Ambassadeur Metropole, Piazza Mazzini 1, 22021 Bellagio (L. di Como), Italy. Tel 011-39-031-950409; fax 011-39-031-951534. <BR> <BR>Ciao, Chet