Has anyone stayed at either the Grand Hotel Imperial(just outside of Bellagio) or the Belvedere in Lake Como? Considering one of them for a stay in Sept. but we really prefer a smaller property which could be away from all of the towns (which look extremely congested in the pictures. Are there any small upscale hotels on the lake but away from all of the towns in a quiet but scenic location? We are looking for an independently run hotel or upscale bed and breakfast but of a very nice caliber. (similar to those found on some of the Austrian lakes or Swiss lakes) Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We stayed at the BELVEDERE in Bellagio in September 1999. We were with friends and we all enjoyed the hotel. It was easy to leave our car and stroll into Bellagio. The first two floors have large balconies off the rooms. They then get smaller. We were on floor 2, I believe, on the back side of the hotel. It gave us a great balcony for drinking wine in the evening and a view of the lake.

Hope this helps some.

We like Hotel Milano in Varenna.

Look at Albergo Lenno in Lenno---right by the ferry dock.
And, Albergo Du Lac in Menaggio---in heart of town

We stayed at the Belvedere on our first trip to Lake Como. Great views to the east, parking, easy walk into Bellagio.We hada large room with a terrace and balcony. It's in a quiet location away from the waterfront which was important to us.

I would not consider the towns in the Lake Como area congested, not in the September time frame. We have stayed at GH Menaggio and GH Victoria in Menaggio and at Albergo du Lac in Varenna. All are very nice but if you're looking for peace and quiet, the latter might be best. It has the added advantage of being in Varenna from you can travel by train as you move on--if you are so inclined. Varenna is quite peaceful, especially after the ferries stop running at night. I think you'd find it comfortable and relaxing. Do a search on this board for Lake Como or Varenna of Albergo du Lac and you should find plenty of information to help you decide.

Do you mean the Grand Hotel Imperiale in Moltrasio? If so, it's not "just outside of Bellagio." It's on the western shore of the lake and logistically quite far from Bellagio.

Moltrasio is not well served by the ferry, and it would be a difficult base if you wanted to explore the lake without a car. If you just want to relax at a beautiful resort in a quiet spot, the Imperiale is probably a good choice. Unless you don't mind eating all of your meals in the hotel, you might want to research your dining options in Moltrasio.

I can second the recommendation of the du Lac in Varenna, but it is not in the same league amenity-wise as the Imperiale.

I would NOT recommend a hotel in the heart of Menaggio to a poster with the OPs requirements. And Albergo Lenno is cute, but the rooms are only fair and the place is right in the center of the action, such as it is, in Lenno.

The Belvedere in Bellagio might be a good choice. Great view, lovely pool, gets good reviews; I have not seen the rooms.

On my own list for a future trip is La Perla in the hills above Tremezzo.

http://www.laperlatremezzo.com/en

One more, in Laglio; I've not stayed there but it looks lovely:


http://www.relaisreginateodolinda.it/

ekscrunchy
I loved reading your blog and the wonderful hotels you suggested. Unfortunately, the smaller ones (ie La Perla and Relais Regina appeared to be booked b/c one of our days is a Sat. However I have contacted them directly in case there is a cancellation, etc.) We are booked at the Belvedere so we may just keep that for now but was really hoping to find a charming high quality smaller hotel since we don't really need all of the extensive facilities (and higher price) of the Belvedere. Since we will only be in Lake Como for two nights,(and we plan to do a bit of touring--perhaps that lovely trip you took up north along the lake) we won't really be able to use a pool, spa etc. In any event I will keep in mind some of your restaurant suggestions.
Having a similar problem in Portofino area. Also a Sat night (one night only) Am booked at San giorgio hotel(now called Hotel 8) in Portofino at a very high (and inflated?) price. Will continue to look outside of Portfino (a couple of the small hotels you mentioned are not available, but they, too, look lovely) Any other suggestions would be appreciated. (For the first time I learned about this Fodor's forum so I am not sure if I am even corresponding correctly but it certainly provides a wealth of wonderful information!)

I am always happy to share advice/opinions and I think I now understand better what you are seeking.

Honestly, I would NOT base myself in Portofino. I know about the reputation of the town (more of a hamlet, really) and it is undeniably beautiful. But apart from the views, there is nothing much there save a collection of high-fashion boutiques, a couple of eating places, and some places catering to the hordes of daytrippers (think tour buses full of them, as well as cruisers) that descend on the town. It is too small to afford much wandering around--just one or two streets, unless I missed something-- and window shopping and there is little "real" Italian life. If it were me, I would much rather base myself in more of a "real" town, unless I was staying at the Splendido or the Splendido Mare.


Since you will have a car, you might even consider the Villa Rosmarino in Camogli:

http://www.villarosmarino.com/

Tell us exactly what your objective will be in that area; have you been before? What do you like to do? Maybe then we can come up with an attractive hotel alternative. Also, in what month will this trip take place?

This is our first trip to this part of Italy. We are going in early September and
are driving through this area on our way from Geneva to Tuscany. Since Tuscany is the main focus of our trip, we will have a maximum of two nights in the Portofino/SML/Cinque Terre region. We certainly don't expect to "do it all" but would just like to get a taste of the area. Maybe an afternoon visit to Portofino might be enough and perhaps we should stay in another nearby town for the two nights. Should this be SML or Camogli or somewhere else? Should we try to get to Vernazza or one of the other towns in Cinque Terre for an afternoon?
Next we will drive to Florence for just one night. (We are not interested in touring the museums--just seeing the architecture, the Duomo, enjoying a cafe, etc) and then stay 4 nights in the Chianti area using it as our base. ( I read your blog regarding Tuscany and now I don't feel guilty saying I don't really care about seeing all of the museums!)
After we leave Tuscany, we drive to Lake Como and are booked at the Belvedere in Bellagio. The hotel looks lovely but we probably won't be able to enjoy their facilities to the fullest because we would like spend our time touring the area. I have been looking for a small charming upscale inn (used some of your suggestions in your blog) but have not been successful. We generally like the smaller hotels such as the Romantik Hotel group, the Relais and Chateaux group, or small independent upscale hotels with character but not outlandishly expensive. Seem to find them more easily in Tuscany than other places we are visiting.
After the lake district we have two days to get us back to Geneva for the return home. We are planning one night in the Courmayeur area and the last night outside of Geneva. (we have been there before so we may just go in to the old town for the afternoon)
Any suggestions you could provide especially in the Portofino and Lake District area would be greatly appreciated. (I also will reread your blog on Lake Como--it contained a wealth of info) Thank you for your help.