A friend and I are leaving for Italy in a month, and I just got an email from our b&b in Varenna (Orange House) that, due to a temporary but serious health condition of the owner, our reservation has been canceled. Clearly I'm freaking out just a little bit. Their email listed some alternatives which I'll check out, but I'd already looked at several of them the first time around and many were much more than we were hoping to pay - we're trying to keep to €100 or less per night for both of us.

I liked the idea of staying in Varenna, since it's a smaller, not-as-touristy town and we wouldn't have to take a ferry to our hotel. But I'm definitely open to other towns on the lake now too! We'll be coming in from Venice on a Monday and leaving for Milan on Thursday. Any suggestions would be VERY helpful! There are two of us, women around age 30. We're not planning to have a car, so we'll be relying on trains and ferries.

A few years ago, I visited Bellagio and I stayed at a hotel called Il Giardino. It was up the hill, near the church in Bellagio, away from the lake. It was the absolute cleanest hotel in which I've ever stayed. It was relatively small, about thirty or so rooms, but it had a very pretty view of the gardens around there, I guess the name Il Giardino was appropriate. I don't know if it's still around, but I would recommend it to anyone. The rates were extremely reasonable, and a great meal was had at an unusual place around there.

I stayed at Hotel Du Lac In Varenna a couple of years ago. It is very nice, but a little trouble getting to from the train. There are some taxis but I never saw one at the station when I arrived. On the same trip, I stayed just across the lake in Bellagio at Hotel Centrale. Also very nice and good breakfast at both. My next visit there, I will stay at Hotel Florence in Bellagio if they have an air conditioned room available. I prefer Bellagio over Varenna because I like to browse the shops and Varenna doesn't have many.

Oh no! I remember your earlier posts; I'm so sorry to hear the news. The Eremio Gaudio appears to have rooms at the top end of your budget (110 euros); I've not stayed there but have visited the property, and would definitely be happy with that if available. The place I actually have stayed, the Villa Cipressi, appears to be out of your price range for even a standard room; however, if you ultimately decide to go above your projected budget, I would recommend it (and it is large enough that they are likely to have availability, I would think).

Finally, you might consider using "venere.com" - put in "Lake Como" as your destination instead of Varenna, and then click the box in the upper right hand corner that says something like "find all solutions for this region". Be sure to sort the search results by price -- that's not necessarily the way they come up.

Good luck!

p.s. re: taxis, if you do wind up in Varenna: it is true that they are not necessarily plentiful in terms of hailing one on the street, but it is easy enough to arrange through your hotel to have one pick you up at the station, or your hotel, etc. They work more on an as-needed basis.

Check out the Tre Rose in the village of Nesso (between Como and Bellagio). Clean, simple, fab views €55 a night. They don't speak much English but it's worth it.

Try www.promobellagio.it (I think this is correct. You may need to google it). They have a good section on accomodations--hotels, apartments and b & b's. Also, lodging across the lake tends to be less expensive except for the big hotels.

Website for the Tre Rose http://www.trerosehotel.com/hoteltre...lese/home.html
They also have a few Trip Advisor reviews...

I mistook. The name of the hotel I was referring to is "Albergo Giardinetto". Thanks to Kimison's input on this subject, I was able to get the name right. It's only rated as one star, but it's much better than that.

THANK YOU so much, everyone! My mission for this afternoon is to check out all these suggestions and the ones the Orange House gave us. I'll keep you posted! Hopefully this is our One Thing That Will Go Wrong - you know something always has to.

alihutch, the views at Tre Rose do look lovely, but would it be difficult to stay there without a car? We're looking to relax but also to sightsee, and it seems like we would need to take the ferry just about anywhere to stay there.

No mater where you stay, you will take the ferry, or bus, to see the main points of interest on the lake shores. Nesso is even less touristed than Varenna. The focus on this forum is always on the most famous towns, but those are not the only places to stay, as you know..I would have no hesitation staying in Nesso. (I have never done so but have visited)

Thanks, ekscrunchy. I guess my concern was not even so much the sights (we planned to day trip to Bellagio at the very least, and maybe hike up to Castle Vezio above Varenna), but it sounds like Nesso has very little in the way of restaurants or anything. We'd like to be able to walk to a few restaurants/cafes, get some gelato, walk around a town with shops, that sort of thing.

Varenna seems like a happy medium, from what I can gather - not nearly so touristy as Bellagio, but still quite a few restaurants and easy access to both the train and the ferry. But I've emailed a couple of places in Varenna and one in Bellagio so far, so we'll see what shakes out. We may not get that much choice in the matter!

You might call Albergo Milano in Varenna and see if one of the apartments is available fornyour dates. They are not as popular as the rooms as they are not right over the lake. At 130 euro it is a bit over your goal, but if you want to cool in you could save enough to make up the difference. And you'd still be close to the great little gelateria there.

jent103
You can get the bus from Nesso as well as the ferry, either towards Bellagio or Como. I guess it depends what you want at the end of the day when you get back, Nesso is small so not full of nightlife...
We usually stay in this apartment in Nesso, it's right on the water and has a private garden. Might be over your budget though http://lakecomoapartment.com/

Thanks, alihutch. We don't plan to go clubbing or anything like that , but wouldn't mind walking around town at night, grabbing some gelato or a drink or something. I don't mind a small town vibe, but don't want dead quiet, if that makes sense!

enzian, that could be an option. We're staying in an apartment in Rome under the same logic. Thanks!

Guess I'll be waiting till tomorrow to hear back from any hotels. Crossing my fingers!

http://www.residencelalimonera.com/node/9 These are fabulous apartments in Bellagio within your budget.

KarenE, thank you - I had Residence La Limonera on my list from when we were first looking for somewhere to stay, but unfortunately the only spots they have available for our dates are pretty far above our budget (I think just the larger apartments).

After sending several emails yesterday to some of the above recommendations and the ones in Orange House's list, I have availability from <b>Eremo Gaudio</b> in Varenna, a superior room with no view for &euro;120/night, and from <b>Locanda Barchetta</b> in Bellagio, &euro;80/night. Obviously Eremo Gaudio is highly recommended, especially the superior rooms; Locanda Barchetta only has two reviews on TA but they're both quite positive. I think it's down to whether staying in Varenna is worth an extra &euro;120 for our three nights. I'll consult with my friend, but any thoughts are welcome!

Have you tried looking in Lenno?

Don't rule out staying in Como. It's a great Italian town. I really fancy staying here http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p87288
but haven't been able to yet. It's a great location and works very well with your budget.