Bethie020780

My heart was set on Varenna (on Lake Como). It was going to be the perfect end to a perfect vacation. But when I started inquiring about hotels, I found they are all booked! I have tried: Albergo Milano, Hotel Milano, Eremo Gaudio, Albergo Du Lac, and Villa Cipressi. Hotel Olivedo requires dinner, and we'd like to try out different places. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Do we need to try another town? I think Bellagio would be too crowded for us. What about Mennagio? Or should we try another lake?

Thanks so much for your help!

richardsonsnm

I'd give Bellagio a shot. Great place.

violetduck

Check the website www.slowtrav.com.
You might be able to find an apartment,
bed/breakfast or another hotel. It is
an excellent website especially for
Italy.

PSGMARTINO

We were considering a stay in Varenna early on in our planning, before we decided on the Amalfi Coast.

I corresponded with a woman who has some apartments for rent in Varenna - I know it's not a hotel, but the locations looked wonderful and she was very receptive to email - sending pictures lots of information. Here is the link that I used:

http://www.varennaflats-marilena.com/

Good luck - Varenna looks like a great place and I hope to get there someday... Maybe next trip.

DeirdreStraughan

Menaggio is also lovely and you're right across the lake from Bellagio and Varenna. Also look at some of the other towns further down the eastern shore, because from many of them you can easily take the train or ferry everywhere else on the lake. See http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/...comoferry.html for a map of where the ferry stops. http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/ will give you the schedules.

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

living & travelling in Italy:
www.beginningwithi.com

JJBhoy

Bethie,

Here's a link to Varenna's tourist office website which details the town's accommodation - there are some you haven't tried yet.

http://www.varennaitaly.com/english.html

Both Bellagio & Menaggio have similar websites which you should be able to find easily enough through Google - if not post back here & I'll post the details (don't have time just now!)

Bellagio can be crowded but the beauty of staying there is that you get to enjoy the town in the evening once the day trippers have left. Menaggio is charming too & there's no reason why you shouldn't choose to stay there if that's where the available accomodation is.

My first vote would go to Bellagio but, really, ferry travel between the 3 mid-lake towns is so straightforward that I don't think it matters all that much where you base yourself. Trust me, you'll love it whichever town you end up in.

Jim

Dukey

The last time we were on Lake Como we stayed over in Menaggio and were very satisfied with it.

I wouldn't give up yet.

Bethie020780

We just booked at Albergo Lenno. It sounds wonderful. Thank you everyone for your replies!

-Beth

Budman

We stayed at Albergo Lenno last month, and it was GREAT!!! Nice hotel, small village, with ferry stop right there. I'm going to post a trip report when I get a chance.

Big_Red

Lenno should work fine.
Tuesday morning is market day (if you are there on a Tuesday).
There is a walkway from Griante, then north to Cadenabbia. It is a lakefront walk except for the area just at Villa Balbianello.

Enjoy your trip.

We just got back a few days ago.

RLUCIDO

We are staying in Bellano, just a bit up the road from Varenna in a hotel named Hotel Villa Stupenda. Looks lovely and we hope it IS stupenda.

gplusg

Try the Hotel Fiernza in Bellagio.Great location and a great bargain.

For the hotels you are serious about try calling directly and express your strong desire to stay with them. Offer a deposit with a credit card , and offer to pay the balance in cash.Italians do not love their tax system, and this might give you an edge.

Bethie020780

Thank you all for your thoughts.

Big Red - Market Day! Mmmmmm. We are arriving on Monday, so we will surely check it out. The walk sounds lovely. Did you do any hiking while you were there? I need to start digging for info on trails nearby.

Thanks again.

Big_Red

Beth,

No we did not do any hiking.
Our initial plan included a walk/hike from Bellano to Varenna but other things came up.

There is a UK publisher, Sunflower that publishes a book about walking/hiking trails in the Lake Como area. I think that one of the tourist info offices in the area has a map or something as well (possibly Como). The Larioonline website has a mention of a trail that leaves one of the towns at the north end of the lake, possibly Domaso and goes into Switzerland.

If you are a serious hiker, then google for CAI (Club Alpini Italiano). They
have refugios all around Lake Como.

Enjoy your trip.

luvtotravel

If anyone is interested, here is my journal from last year and lots of photographs -- including Villa Cipressi, Villa Montestaro, and Villa Balbianello.

http://www.travelswithdiane.homestea...5LakeComo.html

Jean

This may be too late for you, but try www.residencelalimonera.com for apartments in the center of Bellagio.

LucieV

An enthusiastic second vote for Albergo Lenno in Lenno (so you liked it, B'man? -- I'm so glad!!)