My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy in mid to late October from Milan. We are on frequent flyer miles so this was the only option for the time we could go. Our plan is roughly as follows:
Arrive MXP rent car
2 Nights Bellagio
3 Days Italian Riviera
3 Days Tuscany
Drop Car (Orvieto?) Train to Rome
2 Days Rome (I know it's short, but....)
Train to Venice (For anniversary)
Train Somewhere close to Malspensa (suggestions?)
Depart early am
After reading many of the postings, I want to do everything, but want to spend time wisely as we likely will not go back anytime soon. Any comments are appreciated, but specific questions are:
1. Bellagio seems highly recommended, but is the time of year we're going a factor? We live in mountains, so we are familiar with alpine scenery.
2. We'd like to see the riviera from France to Portovenere, but is it better to base in say Santa Margherita and day trip as we'll have a car?
3. We leaver early from MXP, any close hotels?
Thanks in advance, this site has been helpful to a newbie like me.

Looks like a good plan to me.

Yes, SML is a good base for Liguria but I would go south and skip west.

Be sure to check drop times at Orvieto.

If flight is real early, then train to Milan, bus to the airport, and take taxi to either villa Malpensa[****] of Hotel Cervo[***].

Nice trip--have fun !

Bellagio in Oct. may be a little chilly. It will also be after the season so some of the places may be closed. This is even more true of the Italian Riviera. We were there the 2nd half of Sept., and bunch of restaurants and stores had closed.

In Ligura I would base myself in Sestri Levante. I thought it was charming and fun. You can easily get to Cinque Terre, Santa Marguerita, Portofino etc. on the train.

Thanks for the input..perhaps we will skip Bellagio and spend a couple more days in Rome. Unfortunately the Locanda Orseolo is sold out when we're to be there, any other suggestions for Venice?

Have you tried the Pensione Accademia? That's where we always stay. In general, I think Dusoduro is so much more preferable to other busier areas. Very quiet and still easily walking distance to everything.

I have tried it - full. My choices next choices are the Metropole or the Antico Doge.