My fiancee and I are planning a honeymoon for Lake Como area in late May 2003. We'd like a quiet place to relax -- we're thinking Menaggio, Varenna, and to a lesser degree, Bellagio. I am wary of Bellagio because we both have stressful media jobs and will be arriving in Italy after three days of drinking and yelling in San Francisco to celebrate a good friend's wedding. Is the Hotel Florence too close to ferry and merry-making? We've enjoyed out-of-the-way places in Turkey, such as Kalkahn, and the smaller resorts of Mexico, such as Isla Mujeres and Zihau. Would we be better off at Grand Hotel Menaggio or Victoria, or in Varenna? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Best. Rob J.<BR><BR>

I stayed in Bellagio 3 weeks ago at the Hotel Belevedere and found it to be both very romantic and quiet. It is up a small incline from the town (a five minute walk). I have never had more stunning views from a hotel room. It was breathtaking. To maximize privacy ask for a corner room with a private balcony on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th floor. We stayed in room 414. The staff was terrific. My brother-in-law who lives in Paris and travels frequently was totally charmed by this setting. Bellagio has more going on than Varenna and certaintly more restaurants. The Florence looked lovely but it is on the main steet of town. In varenna, which is a 10 minute ferry ride away, the Hotel Du Lac looked gorgeous. You can't go wrong with either town!<BR>colleenk

I think that Italians who have &quot;stressful media jobs&quot; head to Bellagio to relax and enjoy the splendor of &quot;far dolce niente&quot;.<BR><BR>Colleen has already written for you a very nice explanation of why Belvedere gets such consistent, strong remarks here. I have stayed at the GHV Menaggio, and recommend it - - though the rooms there are not really &quot;romantic&quot; or even all that special.<BR><BR>Congratulations on your new life in marriage.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thanks so much for the advice. Just one more question. Any thoughts/opinions on the Hotel Du Lac and Royal Victoria in Varenna? Others? Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. Best. Rob J.

Here's a time-saving tip: &quot;Boolean&quot; (&quot;and&quot;, &quot;or&quot;, &quot;not&quot searching DOES work here on this forum. A search of &quot;Lac AND Varenna&quot; yields 48 different threads. The majority of these report very favorably on the hotel.<BR>

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