Cinque Terre or Lake Como August - 3 nights
 

Cant decide where to end our Europe trip this summer. Flying out of Milan. We will be finishing off 2 weeks of traveling around. Kids are 13 and 10 - boys. Been to Italy before never to these areas. Coming from Switzerland - Grindelwald and Lucerne. Any thoughts or pros and cons of these?

Coming from Switzerland and flying out of Milan... Lake Como would make more geographic sense than the CT. It would take 8+ hours to train to the CT from Grindelwald, and then 5 hours to get to Malpensa.

How many days would you have in either place? If you went to the CT, you'd have to return to the Milan area the night before your flight.

Sorry, just noticed "3 nights" in your thread title. Is that 3rd night the one before your departing flight? You wouldn't have that 3rd night if you went to the CT, so you'd have only one day there.

I would consider Lago Maggiore---Stresa---for better travel logistics and easy access to MXP. CT is too far.

MBM...something to consider:

If you can squeeze out another night and make it 4, I think Cinque Terre is do-able and the much better choice for your kids. I haven't been to the Lake region, but it seems to be more of a romantic and "couples" type of locale. But, I could be wrong.

There is alot to do in the CT. We took our 8 year old son there for a week and he LOVED it. We hiked and boated all over the 5 towns. It's a perfect place to unwind and relax after a two week excursion. We also flew out of MXP. Took a very scenic train ride up past the Italian Riviera, spent the afternoon in Milan and last night near the airport.

I have to say that I'm partial to the CT region and recommend it to all who are traveling to Italy (if feasible geographically). Nowhere like it...

I guess CT is out and I will concentrate on Como. I will check out stressa, although my husband is very into Como for some reason. Any tips on hotels and must sees??

Both Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are good choices but Maggiore is closer to MXP. Lake Como is a more beautiful lake.

Which town on lake Como should I look at for hotels??

Stay midlake in Varenna, Bellagio, or Menaggio. The little lake ferries take you around.

When it's time to go to Milan, take a train from Varenna or Como town. There's a hydrofoil and a slower ferry from Menaggio to Como as well as a bus. Ditto from Bellagio. The buses go direct to the Como San Giovanni train station, which is about 600 yards from the boat pier. But the ferry ride is prettier if not so convenient.

Or, from Bellagio, take the short ferry hop to Varenna and walk uphill to the train station. (Warning: this station is not manned so you have to buy your train tickets at a nearby cafe or travel agency.)

I do agree that you should be in Milan the night before your departure.

I have been to both and they are very different and both are amazing. If you can possibly squeeze in another night I would definitely got to the CT --- it's so incredible and your kids would love the hikes between the towns. If you do go to the CT i would recommend staying in Vernazza. If you go to lake como I recommend staying at the villa serbelloni .

If you haven't done so then a spectacular way to get to mid-Lake Como would be to take the Bernina Express from Switzerland to Tirano and change there for a train to Varenna.

OK, so it isn't exactly "logistically blindfolded and no thought involved" but I think you'd find iot is worth the effort.

Going to cut the Como stay down to 2 nights and then stay near the airport on the last night. Our flight out of MXP to Ny leaves at 930 am. First Hotel Malpensa near the airport seems OK. Any feedback?

When are you leaving? You say summer. The dates can make a lot of difference as to what is open and what is suitable weather wise.

We like the First---eat next door.

Why re-locate to another hotel when you can get a taxi transfer from the lake to Malpensa? If you have a car, get rid of it before you go to Lago di Como, where you will just be parking it anyway.

It is hard to advise without knowing where you will be before le Cinque Terre.

But at a minimum, if for some reason I felt I had to leave Lago di Como to better position myself for a morning flight from Malpensa, I'd stay in Milan without a car or in Stresa with a car rather than go to an airport hotel. All of them require a drive to the airport anyway, and they are just dreary pods with lousy food.

In 2011, we stayed in Lenno (on Lake Como) the night before an early morning departure from Milan. It was no problem at all: we hired a driver from our hotel (Albergo Lenno) to Malpensa (approx. an hour, as I remember). Had to get up on the early side, but it was absolutely worth having that extra night to have dinner by the lake.

That said, I have only been to CT and Como in May and September, so I can only begin to imagine the crowds and the heat in August...

First Hotel Malpensa is good.

Im having the toughest time finding something in Bellagio - Hotel Florence doesn't have 2 rooms adjoining or next to each other (need to be close to my kids if not together) and a few apartments I checked are booked. Any suggestions?? Hotel Belvedere wants 500 euro a night (right now thats $670 a night!!!) for the 2 rooms sharing one bathroom, ouch!!

Are you intent on staying in Bellaggio? It can be pretty Disneyland-y, especially in the summer...

Other than the Florence, what other hotels in Bellagio have you checked? I think you'll find most apartments in high season are only available for weekly rentals.

Have you looked in Varenna or nearby Perledo?