Hello, this summer one couple in our party must leave Bellagio to catch a plane by 9:00 out of Malpensa. We learned from this site that it could take 2 hours using a car ferry from Bellagio, as we will have cars. Do the car ferries run all night? Any thoughts on the logistics for this departure? Thank you.

The drive from Bellagio to Malpensa takes under 1:30 hours. There's no need whatsoever to take a ferry (from Varenna it'd be a different story). Just drive south to Como, on SS583, following the lake shore.

Current time schedules (till March 22) for transportation through Italian lakes may be found at<BR>http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/<BR>(ferries = traghetti; hydrofoil = aliscafi)

The drive time from Menaggio (as opposed to Bellagio) is easily a half hour less - - and the hotel costs might well be more affordable.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Look at the map of the area. There are two ways to get into and out of Bellagio by car. One goes straight into the town and the other goes up the west side and you ferry over. The one on the west by ferry is quicker. When you leave by car to go to the airport I recommend you take the ferry (if running) to the west shore and then drive down as the road out of Bellagio straight is very narrow and you can get stuck behind trucks. We did the ferry route and had no problem getting to the airport although we had a later flight than your friends.

We will try to get the ferry schedule altho we need a date well past march-have emailed the hotel. Rex, do you have a suggestion for lodging in Menaggio? We booked a small Hotel right on the Lake in Bellagio that seemed perfect-175E. Thank you all, Sally

Sally, I must be missing something. For a 9:00 takeoff you will need to be at Malpensa by 6:30 to allow time for car return and check in. Even at Mennagio that means on the road at 5:00. I would stay near the airport that last nite. Look at Villa Malpensa or Hotel Cervo.

I can recommend the Grand Victoria - - www.palacehotel.it/fghv.html without reservation. I might also recommend searching this forum for Menaggio, as there is another nice hotel right next to the ferry landing, and others have suggested that it is at least as nice and may be nicer.<BR><BR>I agree with Bob - - half way. You will need to leave VERY early in the morning to catch that 9 am flight.<BR><BR>But I disagree with moving hotels just for that reason. Getting up and leaving at 5 am doesn't seem like a very big problem to me. Just let the hotel know the night before so that check-out is streamlined.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Rex and Bob, here's the rub-our flight doesn't leave until noon. It's another couple that must catch the 9:00 am flight and the hotel wants a three day minimum. I think we'll explore the other hotels mentioned by Rex and just hope our friends are early risers. Thank you for the reality check. Regards, Sally.

That "other" hotel has a VERY similar name. I searched this forum and found the following, which is posted here for your use.<BR><BR>=====================================< BR><BR>Here's the info on the Grand Hotel Mennagio: <BR><BR>Web site: www.grandhotelmennagio.com <BR>Email: [email protected] <BR><BR>Address: Grand Hotel Menaggio, via IV Novembre n.93 22017 Menaggio, Lago di Como (Co) Italy <BR><BR>Telephone: 39 0344 30640 <BR>Fax: 39 0344 30619 <BR><BR>===================================<BR><BR >This comes from the thread:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1319110<BR>