gdynianka

Here is the itinerary:
Arriving in Milan
Santa Margherita Ligure - 1 night Hotel Fasce
Verazza - 2 nights - Francamaria room #1
Florence (through Piza) - 3 nights - Hotel Il Bargellino
Siena ( through SA Gimi) - 1 nights - Hotel Chiusarelli
Rome - 3 nights - Hotel Navona 18 (B&B)
Venice - 2 nights - Hotel riva
Bellagio or Varenna - 2 nights (not booked yet)
Milan - 1 night - not booked yet

Return flight from Malpensa at 9:35 am.
We will be driving from Bellagio to Milan the day before the flight. This will leave us at least 1/2 day for site seeing. I can't figure out the best way to arrange sleeping, returning the car and being at the airport on time. As ypu can see from my hotel choices I rather not spend more than 100 EUR/db, per night in Milan.Can anyone with experience help, please? 3 other people are depending on me. Thanks.

i_am_kane

I understand your dilema, and I was trying to keep the hotel cost under control for our last night. Our flight departs Malpensa at 8:10 a.m., so we did a lot a searching, and decided on the Villa Malpensa, which is lovely, and about 5 min. from the airport. The cost of 170 Euro per night. I caved in, and I hope it was worth the convenience. Sorry I can't be of more help.

bobthenavigator

Drop the car in the city of Como and train into centro Milan. Go to www.venere.com for hotel options, but the Mazzini is close to the station.
Good luck--I am going to bed now--you have worn me out with this itinerary. I hope you are young.

Alice_Twain

I wpoould rther stay in Bellagio or Como and take the bus to Malpensa in the eraly morning. Half a day will not allow you to really see anything of Milano, and Como is almost on your way to Malpensa.

Therese

How about a hotel near the Cadorna station, Alice Twain? Train directly to Malpensa in the AM, and they'll have had some time in Milan to do a bit of sightseeing and shopping. Would it be possible to drop the car off near Cadorna that afternoon?

I've not done this myself, but it was a possibility suggested to me by a friend that lives there.

gdynianka

Thanks Bobthenavigator, you put a smile on my face. Actually I am a young (and fit) grandmother, who is trying to execute her long time dream. Also, as you can see I am a planner. It took me almost a month on the internet to find the air tickets and all the hotels. Thanks to this forum - otherwise I would be lost. Regarding sleeping in Milan; I think I prefer to splurge on a Bellagio hotel then an airport hotel. I found a B&B, 5 min from the Duomo, called Milano. The price is reasonable 85 EUR/db. Parking 10 EUR/day. They say it is about 1 hr drive to Malpensa, or 3 stops by metro to the station with the Malpensa Express, then 45 to the airport. So, it looks to me that the time of a car vs a train will be the same. Well, if we get up at 5:00 am., leave by 5:30, be at Malpensa by 6:30, drop the car by 7:00, that should be enough time to check in - wouldn't it? Is this a good plan?

bobthenavigator

Yes, but that means driving in Milan. Not my idea of fun. I would still drop it in Como. Have fun, Granny.

Tess_Durberville

No matter whether you choose to stay your final evening in Milan or Como or Bellagio, turn the car in on that last day and NOT on the morning of your departure. If there's any issue when you turn in your car, you'll not have any time to deal with it as you'll need to dash off to catch your plane.

gdynianka

Point taken, Tess. Thank you so much. Does anyone know the schedule of the metro/trains? If I stayed near Duomo and had to take 3 tubes to the Malpensa Express and then to the airport what time is the first ride? Do they run all night? Bob, I just stumbled on a topic 'Who is bobthenavigator' and all of the about 175 responses. So, I know you are a retired airforce navigator. Congratulation. I can't wait to retire, unfortunatelly is will take quite a few years to do that. My handle comes from the city I was born in (yes, I am a Europe born and USA loving citizen), it is by the Baltic sea. I just came back from my Fri morning NIA session (no impact dance/spiritual movement - nia-nia-.com) and I feel more energetic then ever. Thank you all who give your free and brilliant advise on this forum. In numbers we are strong.

Therese

My friend from Milan suggested the following (presented as an excerpt from his email):

"There is a train leaving Milan Cadorna every 30 minutes for Malpensa. it's a 45 minute ride, very reliable...Lots of hotels in the area. It is a nice area for a walk, by the castle and within walking distance of the last supper."

Therese

To get info about the Malpensa Express go to:

http://www.malpensa-airport.com/english/getting.htm

There's a link to the schedule as well. Lots of other info at the Malpensa site as well. You can apparently buy your ticket on the train, but it's bit less expensive to buy it before boarding (remember to validate it).

gdynianka

Thank you all for the information. It is most helpful.

twin1chrissssy

we're staying at Sanpi Hotel for about 120euros a night

Alice_Twain

Therese (Malaussene?): I do not know if it is possible to drop the car near Cadrona, but Cadorna station is right in the center of Milano and I honestly doubt there is a way to drop it.

gdynianka

Alice, if you'll be so kind to answer one more question; assuming that I drop the car before Milan (maybe in Como as Bob suggested), what time in the morning the metro starts running from Duomo to Cardona station? Will it run at 5;30 am or do I need to arrange a taxi to Cardona? Is there another place in Milan, besides the airport to drop the car?
Thanks.

Alice_Twain

I do not know where to drop the car because I do not have a car nor drive You might check out Linate airport, which is closer. If you are in Como you do not need to coem to Milano in order to get to Malpensa, there are buses grom Como or you might take a taxi to Saronno and take the Malpensa Exprss from Saronno (or take another FNM train to Saronno and the Malpensa Express from Saronno). The metro starts at 6 am, but you can also walk from Duomo to Cadorna (approx 10-15 minutes).