My husband and I are flying into Milan, spending one night there, and then hoping to explore the Lake District for 5 nights. I thought we'd spend two nights in Bellagio. What next? Where else is a must see for first timers? Any hotel suggestions?

When? Will you be driving? What price range on hotels? Hard to answer with no facts.

We will have a car - we want hotels moderately priced but spectacular in terms of views, and well located (of course!!!) Thanks.

We are going to be there next month. We are thirty-somethings.

BELVEDERE HOTEL in Bellagio is very nice. The rooms have a view of the lake. The rooms on Floor #1 (2nd floor in US) have very large balconies that are great for enjoying the views and some nice wine. We stayed there in 1999 and would again.

Bellagio---Hotel Belvedere for views

Then, go to either Stresa on Lago Maggiore via Lugano[www.stresa.net] or my favorite www.orta.net---magical Lago Orta. They are close enough you can see both from either. We like Hotel Orta for old world charm and the best location in town.
Good luck--the Lakes are my favorite destination in ll of Italy--and that is after 12 trips to Italy. Either is only :45 from Malpensa when you depart.

We just returned from 16 days in Italy with Bellagio as one of our stops. Most beautiful place we've seen. We stayed at Hotel Belvedere-Room 402-the only corner room with a balcony and the best view you'll ever have! The hotel was nice, and the only bad thing was no shower curtain or door so it was hard showering! We also went over to Menaggio. Not much to do there.

klt,

We stayed in the town of Garda for 4 nights in 2002 and loved it. We stayed at the Elxcelsior, they have a website, and had a room overlooking the lake. There was a nice pool, downstairs bar, and meals there were great. It is jsut at the edge of town and is easily walkable. We spent time in the town, but used it as a base to check other towns with a rental car and found it wonderful.

We paid $104 US, so I consider that reasonable for the quality. We had told them it was our honeymoon and got a wonderful balcony room in the front.

Good luck deciding! Kristy

Another vote for Lake Maggiore. If you intend to spend 5 nights in the lake district and you are planning to spend 2 nights in Bellagio, then I would advise you to spend the other 3 nights in Stresa which is IMO the liveliest town on the lake, even if in Fall it is quieter. Plenty of things to see from the Borromean Islands (Isola Bella with its gorgeous palace and garden with peacocks; isola Pescatori really lovely with tiny shops; Isola Madre where Toscanini lived for some years. Also worth a visit is Arona with its beautiful Rocca di Angera, the Matterhorn, Villa Taranto with its awesome gardens, Verbania for a glimpse of the lake from the other side. A MUST is also Lake Orta really near Lake Maggiore with its beautiful San Giulio Island with its monastery. Then you can also drive along the Piedmont side of the lake and pass the border with Switzerland arriving up to Locarno and Ascona (I prefer Locarno though, because it is lively and neat).

In Stresa check out Hotel Astoria, Hotel Villa Aminta, or also Grand Hotel Dino (which is not in Stresa but in baveno, about 2 miles from Stresa, but beautiful and elegant, right on the lake).

For anyone familiar with Stresa: How far is Stresa from Malpensa Airport?

I need to be at the airport about 7:30 on a Friday morning. I will need a taxi or limo service.

How much time do you think it would take at that hour on a Friday morning for that drive? Will there be rush hour traffic going in that direction?

I thought it might be interesting to stay in Stresa before my flight (instead of staying in Milan). But I want to be sure it is convenient to get to the airport for such an early flight. Otherwise I may need to change my reservations to Milan.

Have you heard of the Antico Palazzo at Villa Muggia on Viale Siemens? I have reservations there.

Thank you for any help or advice you can give me.

I would like to recommend a hotel that is right next to the Malpensa Airport in Milan and it was wonderful. We have stayed there and recommend it to everyone since it is so close to the airport for those early morning flights. It is the Hotel Villa Malpensa - swimming pool and all!
fax 011390331230944 (at least that's what it was in 5/2000). It was an old Villa that belonged to the Caproni family in the 1920's. It has beenupdated of course. In fact the Malpensa airport was once the private landing strip for the caproni family. There is a very good restaurant in the hotels as well.

Shar: Thank you for this recommendation. I will keep it in mind.

I have to decide on an interesting way to spend the day before we leave Italy while having some plan to get to the airport early the next morning.

I suppose we could check our bags at the train station in Milan, visit Milan for the day, and then spend the night at the airport hotel.

I am considering all the options. Thanks again.

Lake Como is very close the airport Malpensa. Probably less than an hour as I remember. Good way to spend the last day in Italy.

I highly do NOT recommend Villa Muggia.
My wife and I stayed there when the previous people used to run it, a lovely young couple from the states, and it was great.
It looks like NEW management is there now as of 2005 and all I can say is that I'm trying to get my money back.
They think they can hand you a key to your room and then ignore you for the rest of your stay until it's time to pay the bill, then they look at you again. AND, it was dirty.
Also, Stresa is just ok as far as a town is concerned, it's more like a giant tourist trap. It's better just to go there for the day to see the islands. Orta is 100 times better, it's a genuine quaint medieval town, and the people are so friendly.
I think the citizens of Stresa are sick of the tourists because they are really unfriendly!