txhomes

We have rented a villa in Menaggio on Lake Como and will be driving there from Linate airport. The other couple will already be in Italy and we would like a place to meet for lunch before continuing on our way to Menaggio. Any suggestions for an easy place to meet on the way. Thanks.

adrienne

Does the other couple have a car? Where will they be coming from?

txhomes

Yes the other couple has a car. They will have been in Italy for about 4 days. Coming from a hotel in Milan. We will have another couple in the car with us. We didn't want to go into Milan and were thinking if there was someplace outside of Milan that would be easy for us to find.

asps

You will be driving different itineraries, but eventually you should both end on the A8 motorway, that has four lanes for each direction. After a few kms, past Lainate exit, there is a fork; you keep on the right, direction Como/Chiasso, and you find yourself on motorway A9, that has three lanes for each direction. Past the exit marked "Lomazzo nord" there is a gas station/bar marked "Area di servizio Lario" - the only gas station in the three lanes stretch. It is not a large area and meeting there should be easy, as long as both of you have clearly understood the place. - After that, in a few minutes you are in Como.

txhomes

Thanks, Just what we were looking for, I'll let the others know about your suggestion.

adrienne

You're going to have someone drive or take the train all the way to Como to meet you for lunch (over an hour)? What about Monza where the other couple can take a 15 minute train ride and not have to drive their car out of Milan.

txhomes

Sorry for not being clear. The other couple is also staying at the villa in Menaggio. We wanted to meet and follow each other to Menaggio. We thought if it was a restaurant and one party was late it would be an ok place to wait.

adrienne

I see. My recommendation is to meet in Mennagio and have lunch which would be far nicer than trying to connect in a rest area off the autoroute and perhaps missing each other or having to wait for the other party. Following someone can be a pain and Como is a city so it would be difficult to follow each other when you have no idea where you're going and don't have a definite place for lunch. It's only a 2 hour drive so why break it up with waiting in a rest area and then trying to find a restaurant with 2 cars. You can check into the villa separately and wait there and then have a nice relaxing lunch in Menaggio along the water.

txhomes

Thanks Adrienne, that's kinda what I thought but the other couple kept asking about meeting so I thought I'd give it a try.

adrienne

If they press the issue tell them to meet you in Cernobbio which is a small town so you don't need to deal with the rest area or Como City. You could meet at Villa d'Este for lunch (if your budget allows) and then continue on the main road to Menaggio - it's an easy ride from there.

I would be wondering why they aren't doing the work to find a meeting place if they are the ones who want to meet.