Lake Orta - Is it a good choice ?
 

Lake Orta looks like an interesting and off the main track place to go for a few days and nights in a European Itinerary ! ?

I would appreciate your opinions and any advice on a great place to stay and a top restaurant(s). Thank you.

Orta San Giulio is my favorite town of all The Lakes but Lake Orta (as a lake) is not. Lake Lugano is.

A few days and nights might be a couple too many IMO...

Yes, excellent choice. We have been 4 times and love it. Look at www.orta.net for more---we like Hotel Orta or Hotel Bussola. Here are some pics as a sneak preview:
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4173

I spend a delightful afternoon there last fall. I loved the area and would be able to spend a couple of days there easily. A easy town to get around in and a bit off the beaten track.

Thank you for your recommendations and the links provided.

we LOVED that town and had a tea at the over the top hotel/restaurant on the corner when you turn onto the road to go into town.. is it San Giulio hotel?? (someone will know for sure. my notes are WAY packed away)

it is really ornate. they do a lot of weddings there. definitely worth a stop of some kind.

One thing (and several others) that bobthenavigator and I agree on...Orta! I think it's the best little town to headquarter in within the lake region. You can drive to Maggiore, boat to its islands, and go further afield if you have a car, to Lugano, and Como.

We also like the venerable Hotel Orta, on lakeside...it's "turn the clock back" comfortable...ask for a terrace room that overlooks the lake. Bob's pix show all.

stu t.

When we discovered Orta during our week-long stay in Stresa, we wished we'd chosen to stay there instead (not that we didn't love Stresa, but Orta was smaller and more appealing to us).

The Hotel mentioned above is Villa Crespi, which is really over the top and some distance from the lake.

thanks, bob!

Thank you for sharing the additional comments. It sounds wonderful. I would love to find a few more places with a similar level of appeal at locations off the beaten track.

bookmarking

I suggest Lake Garda. We will be stopping there for our 4th time next month. Sirmione is very touristy but all the other towns on the lake are great. Well, Descenzano was not a favorite but have been back to the rest of them. We ususally stay in Riva Del Garda. If you have a car you can easily take day trips into Austria.

I stayed at Villa Crespi two years ago. The trip into town (we walked around the lake) was very nice, and peaceful. Loved the town itself, and bougth three pieces of art work from the local galleries. The hotel itself is nice, but nothing to rave about (in my opinion). The best part was the ability to take the steps the whole way to the top of the tower, for very nice views.
The hotel also has a nice breakfast on the terrace. Very easy trip to MXP for morning flight too.

Well we did not make it to Lake Orta in 2009, but we should have an opportunity to visit in Mid-September.

It seemed that Fodorites favorite place to stay was the Hotel Orta which closed sadly.

Where should we stay for a night or two enroute to Liguria ?

Thank you for any advice on this and any information on local restaurants, food and regional wine.

With a car, Hotel Bussola.

Funny you should say "with a car". I have been on the DB site for the last hour trying to navigate my way down from Switzerland to Orta Miasino Station and then on to the Cinque Terre. I know there is a local line that runs from Domodossola through Orta Miasino to Novara but I just cant seem to get DB to understand that and then link to Genoa :-) Thanks again bobthenavigator