monk3515

Please help! Planning to spend 4 nights in the Lake Como area in July, driving from Milan. Our current choices are down to:

Hotel Florence in Bellagio, no lakeview.
Casa 3 Archi in Varenna
Hotel Bellavista in Menaggio, with lakeview.

Prices are similar among the choices above. We're in our late 30's - enjoy good food & wine but don't need a plethora of bars and shopping is not important. Which do you recommend?

scatcat

I stayed at Hotel Florence in Bellagio in April. I loved it! This was my 3rd trip to Bellagio. Once I stayed 2 nights in Varenna, but I much prefer Bellagio. There are lots of shops and places to pick up a slice of pizza and of course gelato. I even found a small market and asked about a ham sandwich. The butcher made me a sandwich on a roll with a sweet tasting ham. Delicious. cost: .78 €

Varenna is much quieter than Bellagio. Mennaggio was nice. I went there for a couple of hours by ferry. So I don't have a lot to compare.

bobthenavigator

If you have a car, Menaggio.
If not, Bellagio.

monk3515

Is it worth giving up the car and stay in Bellagio, rather than Menaggio?

Jean

Are your days mid-week or weekend?

If weekend, I would stay in Varenna as Bellagio will be choked with people. But have you read the reviews that mention the street noise at Casa 3 Archi? That would nix it for me. Also, in July you'll want A/C, so you should check into that. If Casa 3 Archi doesn't have A/C, look at the Hotel du Lac in Varenna as an alternative. FWIW, I would pay more for A/C and a quiet room, but that's me.

http://www.albergodulac.com/

If mid-week, hands down Bellagio although it will still be crowded. We've stayed at the Hotel Florence a couple of times. It's a lovely family-run property, but make sure the room you're considering is air conditioned.

Exploring with a car is easiest from Menaggio, but IMO Varenna is a close second. It depends on where you want to go.

Jean

You don't have to give up the car to stay in Bellagio. Just make sure you have somewhere to park it because you're not likely to use it while you're there. I think the Hotel Florence has guest parking somewhere in town.

monk3515

Thank you! We're going Friday through Wednesday, so would be there during the weekend as well as midweek. Given that we're planning so late, the above choices are basically our only options.... (Hotel du Lac and other hotels are booked). As you advised, we are nixing Casa 3 Archi, given the lack of A/C. Both Bellavista and Florence have A/C. Bellavista has free parking. Florence just advised me that there is no hotel parking for guests but there is free or paid parking around town. Would parking be so problematic in Bellagio in mid-July? Florence sounds a nicer property, but I'm also swayed by the lakeview room and easy parking in Bellavista.

Dukey1

I think you may find the rooms at the Bellavista not quite up to the decoration in the Florence. BUT, the hotel is at lakeside and if they offer parking then i would definitely consider it.

Menaggio is not as busy as Bellagio, does not have nearly the amount of retail (although Menaggio is far larger in size) and I suspect a lot of people don't find it as "charming." And it probably isn't depending on your definition.

I will say I've had some wonderful relaxed meals in the Bellavista's restaurant and it is within walking distance of the ferry dock and yes I think you will appreciate A/C a great deal.

Look, Menaggio just doesn't have the so-called "cachet" that Bellagio does and for a lot of people here that's a big deal maker/breaker.

uhoh_busted

If the hotel can get you parking (and you have reason to need a car for after your stay) go for it. We had a car in Bellagio and did a ferry trip to Mennagio, driving on to Lake Lucern CH for lunch one day. But we had a car for 3 weeks, so by that point it was just as easy for us to keep it and turn it in when we flew from Milan to Prague. But otherwise, there is no need for a car around the lake. I would really want to have a room with a lakeview...but if the Florence has a nice terrace you can hang out on as a guest...I might consider it.