We are planning our 4th driving tour Europe for next September. Have never been to this area and will have 2 or 3 nights. Have been considering Vareena on Como or Stressa on Maggiore. Does anyone have any comments or suggestions? Thanks for your help. Mary Ann

I have never been to Maggiore, but I hear it is like 1590 on the SAT's.<BR><BR>Como is like 1600.<BR><BR>You can't go wrong.<BR><BR>If you do choose Como, try to make time for a visit to Villa Balbianello. Reservations required. The only approach is by boat (unless something has changed). The Grand Hotel Victoria (Menaggio) has a private craft, and can set this up as part of a wonderful afternoon for you.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I have only been to Lake Como ,but it is truly fabulous. We stayed in Bellagio at the hotel belvedere - beautiful hotel with great views. Just a short walk into town. The food is really great at all of the restaurants we tried in town. The hotel's food is good as well but more expensive than in town. Terrific pottery shops in town if you are into that - I bought a beautiful bowl and vase. www.bevederebellagio.com is the site for the hotel. We had a family room (we had two kids with us) with a beautiful view for 217 Euros including a very nice buffet breakfast - not cheap but not bad for 4 people in Europe. There is a beautiful swimming pool which overlooks the lake which we unfortunately did not get to use as it was in early April when we went. We took a boat ride to Maggiore - not impressed - couldn't find a thing to do! Definitely recommend Bellagio.<BR>Have a great trip.

for Mary Ann<BR>

Mary Ann: We have been to Como and Maggiore. They are both beautiful, fun, enjoyable areas and you could not go wrong with either. We stayed at Varenna and on Isola dei Pescatori off Stressa. If I had one trip and had to choose, it would be Maggiore. It is, in my humble opinion, the idyllic Italian Lake. But, again, you can not go wrong with either.

I have been to both and would (and will) return to Maggiore. But I wouldn't choose Stressa. Check out some of the other villages on the lake. Also, be sure to take a boat trip to Locarno and maybe even continue on by train to Bellinzona. It's an incredble town with beautiful ancient castles.

Both are really, really beautiful, although Varenna and Stresa are poles apart: the former is a very small, quiet, quaint fishing village recently discovered by yuppies, with very small hotels; the latter is a very well established, large (5000 inhabitants), patrician lakeside resort, with much more vehicular and pedestrian traffic and with large, elegant lakeside hotels.

Thanks for all the great information. I think we are tending toward Vareena. The only draw back is the Hotel Olivedo requires half bord and we do not know if it would be better to not be locked in. However, we hear their food is very good.<BR><BR>Thanks again, Mary Ann

One advantage (or disadvantage) of the Olivedo is that you walk out the front door, cross the sidewalk, and you're at the ferry jetty! You can almost talk to passengers from the windows of the hotel. Five minutes away on foot is the train station (going to and from Milan). Also, rooms don't have air conditioning.

We spend 2 nights and days at Maggiore &amp; loved it. Stayed on Isola dei Pescatori at Hotel Verbano - hotel &amp; restaurant I highly recommend. Took the public boat service around to the islands &amp; Stresa. All beautiful &amp; we found Stresa charming along with other, smaller lakeside towns.<BR><BR>Did a day trip to Varenna &amp; Como on a rainy day so didn't see the scenery at its best. Hotel Olivedo IS right at the ferry dock. Thought Bellagio was VERY touristy &amp; overpriced, but beautiful too.

Bellagio is very high-priced. In line for the Beverly Hills set.<BR>

TTT