I will be staying on Lake Maggiore in June. Some of my family will already be staying there in Pallanza. I can stay at LaPalma in Stresa or Albergo Verbano on Isola dei pescatori. I am also open to other suggestions. Any thoughts?

Also, Our entire trip will be for nine days and I was thinking that after 5 days on Maggiore I may want to drive somewhere else. Again, any thoughts and suggestions would be welcome. We have been to Florence and venice multiple times so we would pass on those but are thinking the riviera might be nice.

Thanks in advance.

I would not recommend that you stay at Albergo Verbano unless you just feel irresistably drawn to do it. You will be rather stranded on the tiny island, should you want to pop back to your room, and apart from the hotel's restaurant, there really isn't a lot of choice when it comes to where to eat. You'll have to get on a boat and travel to Stresa proper. I didn't care for the fancy-fancy hotel restaurant when I ate there, and when I looked up in to the windows of the hotel rooms above my table, I wondered if staying there might having to listen to partying diners long into the night.

I'm sorry I can't steer you to another hotel on Maggiore. (I stayed at La Perla Nera, but it's a bit out of the way). If you don't have to be in Stresa, you might also consider looking at Baveno, just one town north, which struck me as a nice town.

While on Lago Maggiore, it is worthwhile to visit the Borromeo Islands, especially Isola Madre, which is the least touristed of the islands because it's 20 muinutes longer on the boar ride! Also, not many people enter the palazzo on Isola Bella. They just visit the eccentric garden. But the palazzo is one of the more light and airy and lovely I've seen in Italy.

You certainly could easily get to Riviera, even by train to Camogli or another Ligurian town. With a car, Lerici and Portovenere are available, and they are not as sleepy as Camogli, but they are not clogged with tourists like Portofino or the Cinque Terre. From Camogli it is easy to take a train into Genova if you get a rainy day and want to amuse yourself indoors.

Another possibility is to visit Torino, which is about 90 minutes from Milan. It's especially fun for people with an interest in cars, movies or Egyptian mummies (because the best museum for each in the world is in Turin) and because the city itself has a distinct personality, plus lots of delicious eats and good shopping. I wouldn't take a car into Torino, but I would consider renting one to explore the Piemonte.

buon viaggio

Hi M,

We actually did stay in Hotel Verbano for 2 nights a few years ago and really liked it! Yes, the restaurant is formal, but I thought it was very good. Our room shared a very large terrace that faced north/east on the lake with wonderful views. There was NO noise from the restaurant at night. Breakfasts at the hotel were the usual and just fine.

Given that, if you have a car and are staying for a full 5 days, I think I would not stay on the isola. Getting around for 5 days would be easier on the shore since you will probably be going places other than just the islands. Isola Bella and the villa is great, very interesting. Isola Madre was nice too with beautiful gardens and exotic birds. We also took the boat up the Villa Taranto, which has very impressive gardens.

Buon viaggio!

We stayed at La Palma 3 years ago, and really liked it. It was very convenient for walking into town, and easy to get water taxis to the Borromean Islands. If you go, try to reserve a lake view room. It's well worth the extra money!

La Palma is a good choice. Be sure to day trip to Lago Orta during your stay. For your extra time, I would head north to Luzern or south to Santa Margherita depending on your tastes.

We love Cinque Terre. I don't care how crowded it has become. It is overwelmingly beautiful. We are going back this June. So we will be staying in our rental house in Manarola for 9 days and then off to Stresa and the Isola dei Pescatori. This is our kind of vacation.

I agree that Orta is a good day trip. Also, be sure to take a boat to the north end of the lake to Locarno or Ascona. From Locarno, take the train to Bellinzona and visit the three ancient castles. If you have time, a ride on the Centovalli train (from Locarno) to one of the stops with a gondola that will take you to the top of the mountain (Monte Comido or Rasa) is fantastic. You can have lunch at one of the charming Rusticas.