What is the cheapest way to go from Milan Linate airport to Bellagio's Du Lac hotel?

Any restaurant recommendations in the mid range would be appreciated.

1. Airporter Bus from Linate to Milano Stazione Centrale (30 mins.)
2. Regular train to Varenna (70 mins.)
3. Ferry to Bellagio (20 mins.)
4. Walk 50 yards to hotel entrance (1 min.)

Bilacus Ristorante in Bellagio. The fixed price menu selections are very reasonable.

I agree totally with GAC on this and just some added info. Trains to Varenna leave Centrale about every two hours and often at 15 minutes past the hour.
The Varenna railroad station is about a ten minute walk (all downhill)from the ferry dock. Taxis usually meet all the trains stopping in Varenna.
Sit on the left side of the train (facing forward) for the best views of Lake Como which begins at Lecco. Enjoy your trip.

The restaurant at Hotel du Lac was very nice and not too expensive. We sat on the balcony overlooking the lake - beautiful!

I'm curious if it is any easier to take the train from Milano to Como, then get the ferry (hydrofoil) there all the way up to Como. When I was checking this last year it seemed like a good system -- and at that time the train wasn't running to Varenna. I guess it is now, but curious if the Como route still might not be better or have better (more options) of connections.

We took the train from Milan to Como then the ferry as you said. The train only stops in Como for about 2 minutes so you have to be prepared to get off immediately. We were on the train with a family who did not have their luggage by the door when it stopped going south so they had to ride to the next town, get off, and take another train back north.

When you get off the train, you'll have to get a cab into the town to buy a ticket for the ferry. We had to wait quite a while as there were not very many cabs and had to ask one with a load before us to come back and get us.

Also, there was some confusion about getting on the right ferry. There were several of us traveling (2 adults and five children) so we probably caused the confusion ourselves. It was a beautiful ride that makes several stops along the way.

I think the only possible "problem" with taking the hydrofoil from Como is the fact that it is totally enclosed and you may not get to see as much scenery along the way. The trains are definitely running throughout the day to Varenna.

Intrepid - I'm afraid I have to disagree with you about the hydrofoil between Como and Bellagio. You do sit inside the boat in coach-type seats but the windows are large and you can see as much, if not more, than you can from the train. I took the train from Milan to Varenna and the hydrofoil from Bellagio to Como and I actually prefered the boat since you have views on both sides and can see clearly no matter which side you sit on. On the train you have hills on one side and the lake on the other so only views on one side.

To clear up some confusion about the train to Como/hydrofoil to Bellagio route:
1. There are two train stations each in Milan and Como. The train from the central station goes to downtown Como, which is about a quarter to half-mile from the hydrofoil dock. The train from the other Milan station (the name of which I forget) goes right near the dock in Como.
2. There are two hydrofoils leaving from Como. One, which I'll call an "express," only makes a couple stops before Como and takes about 45 minutes. The other one makes many stops and takes about 2 hours.