Como/lake region and Santa Margherita in 10 days?
 

Planning a honeymoon in July and as we are flying on miles, we will be flying into and out of Zurich. Our first plan is to train down to Como and spend some time there. We have a total of 10 days travel. Does it seem too ambitious to try to fit in a few days in SML with perhaps a day trip to hike the Cinque Terre? I know it will be crowded in July, and wonder if we should even bother, but rather spend the whole time in the Lake region of Italy. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

A few years ago I came down from Switzerland and stayed in a beautiful hotel in Lago di Como that was so enchanting, we asked the hotel manager if we could stay another 3 nights. She told us she had room for us, and then we asked her to help us cancel our other hotel reservations. When she learned we were going to Liguria (in particular Camogli), she urged us to stick to our original plan. We've never regretted taking her advice. We've been back to Camogli almost every year since then.

Your trip to SML sounds great so long as you are prepared for lots of tourists. There are other towns in the area that you might also consider that have train or boat connections to Cinque Terre: Portovenere, Lerici, Levanto and Sestri Levante.

I suggest that you consider going to Camogli instead of Santa Margherita Liguria. There is a marvelous hike you can take high above the peninsula and into Portofino, and then take the boat back to Camogli. It's also possible to take the train from Camogli to Cinque Terre, although it's a bit further than SML.

You can find pictures of all these places on the web.

I think the perfect honeymoon would be 5 days around Lake Como and 5 in SML. Two romantic experience, both Italian, but very different from each other. Yes! The perfect plan. I have posted my SML article so many times that I'm embarrassed to do it again. If you'd like, you can email me at [email protected]

I'm going to Italy on Wednesday (hooray) so if you decide you want it, I will send it before then, or after the 13th. You can probably find it on Fodors by searching for my screen name and SML

Just to give another view of the SML/Camogli question: we had stayed in SML several times (easy access to all the same hikes and boats; even more boats from SML) and I was thinking of Camogli for a change. A friend who had just stayed in Camogli urged me to stick with SML as there was so much more to do and so many more shops (local and upscale tourist) and restaurants, etc.

It will be lively, but it will be fun. My DH and I walk at night to the end of the town and watch the beautiful yachts on the water. You don't really have to take part in the lively night cafe scene unless you want to.

Thanks to you both for your replies! I myself have been to SML and Cinque Terre before, but my fiance hasn't been to Europe before. I loved Cinque and SML, and know he would love the beauty of the area, I am just concerned about the crowds in July. However, you only live once and I think it would be a great adventure. I will consider staying somewhere other than SML and doing either a boat or train to the CT for a day trip... good advice! Thanks so much!

I should have added sooner I stay in La Casmona in Camogli. (Get a room with a terrace.) The famed four-star there is the Cennobio al Doge and it has great views.

Also, I found this on the web from someone who stayed in both SML and Camogli, and you might find it interesting.

http://www.cs.unm.edu/~crowley/trips/Italy2002.html

If you start and end in Zurich then I would spend time in CH--especially in July. I would start in the Berner Oberland and end in Luzern with Como in the middle. Why kill yourself getting to the CT?

I will start looking into that as well! That's the problem, so much to see, so little time. But seeing a bit of Switzerland might be a good adventure, too, and I am sure it's lovely....
the research continues....

tuscanlifeedit -- i tried emailing you at the address you posted with question about your SML report and got a bounce back. Is your correct email address on post? thanks. i had some questions about camogli and SML and would like to see your report. [email protected]
many thanks.