My wife and I are flying to Milan from the US, then taking the train to Nice for 5 nights Friday-Wednesday (july 17-22). We plan to return to Milan by train Wednesday late afternoon/early evening, and then have our flights back to the US on Friday morning July 24, 7am.

The (ambitious) thought was to try to rent a car in Milan near the train, then to drive & visit/stay in Como/bellagio from Wednesday evening, having the entire day Thursday, then leaving extremely early Friday (3/4 am) to make it back to Malpensa for our 7am flights.

* Is it possible to rent a car near the train station in Milan, and return it to the airport when we drive back Friday early am without extremely high extra fees? Which rental car companies should we try?

* What time should we aim to return to Malpensa for our return flights (international) - is 5am ok? What time would this mean to leave Como/bellagio? About one hour for the drive?

Other creative ideas for the time after Nice, if this is too crazy an adventure?...

thanks,

Stephen

Do not do it !
The drive is over 2 hours and you have to return the car.
And, you do not want to drive in centro Milan.
Bad idea.

I would allow 2 days---spend a night in Stresa on Lago Maggiore---and stay near MXP the last night--we like Hotel First only 5 minutes away with a shuttle.

I second Bob: stay on Lake Maggiore instead of Lake Como, equally beautiful but much closer to MXP airport (shuttles to MXP from Stresa, Arona, etc.).
Stresa can easily be reached by train. If you want to return alolng another itinerary, travel from Nice by train through the extremely scenic Roia Gorges and the Tenda Pass to Limmone - Cuneo - Turin - Novara -Arona/Stresa.

ok, thanks for the heads up bob! The drive from Stresa looks to be about the same as from Como (under an hour)? Do you have a preference to Stresa/Maggiore area over Como?

for the time-frame, all we will have is arriving Wednesday around 5pm to Milan via return train from Nice until departure early Friday am. To avoid driving in Milan centro, I suppose we could take the shuttle (losing some time...) form the train to Malpensa to pick up the car there for easier driving. Then drive to Stresa/Como for Wednesday night, able to stay until Friday ~3:30am.

Or we could drive just for Wednesday night, then enjoy the day Thursday, and return to local hotel near Malpensa (as you suggest).

Would it be adequate to arrive at the airport (car return) at 430am for a 7am flight back to the US?

also, in researching, someone said they needed International driving permit for Italy (said to see AAA), is this true?...difficult to obtain?

The other option for us would be just to extend our trip in Nice (and nearby areas/daytrips) a day. We currently are planning to stay there Friday-Wednesday, but could add a day & stay until Thursday there it this is all too much. Then train back to Milan Thursday and stay nearby Malpensa for early departure Friday am.

We are adventurous, hearty, and like the option to see Como since my wife used to go there when she worked in Coldrerio, and would love a return, albeit a quick one. BUT, we don't want to be completely stressed/rushed for something that makes little sense. Tough call.

What would you do?...

The drive to Lake Maggiore from MXP is easier than driving on shoreline of Lake Como with mountains coming right down to road. Stay in SE area of Lake Maggiore in Ranco or Angera. You can take a ferry over to Stresa to see that area but would be better located for drive to MXP from Ranco/Angera.

Why hire a car at all?

Wednesday travel to Como. Your options then become spending Thursday night at a hotel near Malpensa - the Sheraton is within the Terminal 1 complex so you don't even need to worry about the courtesy bus - or stay Thursday night also in Como and take a taxi to the airport. At the hour you need to leave the trip will be no more than 40 minutes especially since there is the new connection to Malpensa from Lomazzo Sud.

The second solution gives you a full day in Como with time to visit Bellagio. Depending when you arrive on Wednesday you will have time for two dinners in Como or nearby.

The Sheraton, being an airport hotel, has no problem with late check-in so you can leave Como reasonably late taking the Como-Lago train to Saronno and then connecting with the Malpensa Express which arrives at the airport right where the Sheraton entrance is.

If this solutions suits you I can provide links and restaurant recommendations for Como as it is my home town.

many thanks!

Approx what time would be the latest train to leave Como to get the Malpensa express to the Sheraton Thursday night?

The English language version of the site is - http://www.trenord.it/en/timetable/timetable.aspx

For Como enter - Como Nord Lago and for destination enter Malpensa Aeroporto

Currently the last train leaves Como at 10.16 arriving at Malpensa Terminal 1 at 11.32

I agree with nochblad. Why rent a car at all? It gets way too complicated and tight. I think it hardly matters if you are adventurous or hearty: the time frame just doesn't work and the complications are myriad.

If I were you I would do as nochblad suggests.

Train from Nice to Como (are you sure it's Como the town that you want, or another lakeside town?). Spend your Wednesday and Thursday there, getting the last train at 10:15.

That said, if you really don't want the town of Come there are other questions that need to be asked.

Last trains/buses from Como area to MXP:
Como Nord Lago dp 22.16 - Saronno 22.56/23.16 - MXP T1 ar 23.32
Coldrerio dp 22.17 - Chiasso 22.32/22.52 - Como SG 22.58 - Milano C 23.35/0.00 - MXP T1 ar 0.50
Mendrisio dp 21.25 - MXP T1 ar 22.15

Trains from Nice to Stresa:
Nice dp 8.09 - Stresa ar 14.38, change at Milano C
Nice dp 9.49 - Stresa ar 16.38, change at Ventimiglia and Milano C
Nice dp 14.09 - Stresa ar 20.38, change at Milano C
Nice dp 15.49 - Stresa ar 22.38, change at Ventimiglia and Milano C

Thanks to all for the kind guidance and info, will get to further research.