Lake Maggiore? Other destinations ?
 

First of all, should we even bother going in August? To crowded or is it still okay? We are booking a last minute trip and I need some HELP please. We visited Lake Como and stayed at the magnificent Villa D'este! We are now thinking of going back again to explore other areas on the lakes. Anybody have any experience with The Grand Hotel Majestic on Lake Maggiore? Also would you drive from Milan airport stop along the way such as on Orta San Giulia, than other hotels or stay in one hotel for 6-7 days and do day trips? We have been wanting to visit Lugano as well. Would you do a day trip there or go stay for a couple of days? Someone on another post mentioned a hydrofoil to Lugano. Are there other ways to get there besides driving? As you can see I need HELP! Any suggestions, thoughts?

Lugano would I think be much more expensive as a base as everything in Switzerland is so so expensive. I have stayed there for a few days and there is IMO relatively little to do in the city itself but you can take nice Swiss postal buses into the hills or lake boats on Lake Lugano - so for the city itself IMO one day trip would be fine but as a base otherwise could be nice for a few days.

Stay in Stresa and day trip from there---Orta, Lugano, Locarno, etc. See www.stresa.com

thankyou that site on stressa is very helpful. It seems like you can stay there for the week and do all sorts of day trips. Has anyone had any experience in the Grand Hotel Majestic on Lake Maggiore?

Also, it seems like you can get around with out a car? How do you get to Lugano for the day?

Stresa to me is really nice - I stayed there for a few days and got a boat pass and took boats all around - the three famous Borromean Islands lovingly lie just offshore in Stresa - on each island is a different but really nice surprise. some folks on fodor's have said Stresa was too much a tourist scene but to me at least I do not mind those kind of places, where are at times overrun by tourists for good reason!

I would stay in Stresa.
Drive to Lugano via Locarno and the Val Versasca.

Thankyou for your help and replies. Would you skip august though? I know it is what we are thinking but it might be crazy.

Given a choice, yes.

If you can go at another time, I'd do so. But we spent a lovely 10 days on Maggiore one year in August and still had a great time. I don't remember it being too crowded, and it was great to cool off swimming there and at Orta and up in the mountains.