jessicam40

Okay, travel buffs. If you have a slight moment to critique our Northern Italy itinerary:

April 2 - 10

Saturday - fly into Milan take train straight to Venice - staying at Locanda Orseolo?

Sunday - Venice - city sights

Monday - Borano (sorry if I botched the spelling)

Tuesday - Drive to Lake Como, Bellagio - stopping at Verona, staying at Hotel Florence in Bellagio (?)

Wednesday - Lake Como

Thursday- Lake Como

Friday - leave Bellagio, drive northern route to Stresa, Lake Maggiore. Stay at Antico Palazzo (?)

Saturday - Stresa - visit islands (?)

Sunday - drive back to MXP, fly out (boohoo)

Thanks for feedback, critiques, applauses (?)

Jessica

bobthenavigator

That would maximize your 8 days. Looks good to me--also familiar. I do not know that hotel in Stresa--where did you find it?

ira

Hi J,

Looks good.

Burano won't take a whole day. I think you could fit in Torcello or Murano if you would like to visit the Glass Museum, as well.

cmt

I'd suggest more time in Venice, less on Lake Como.

jessicam40

Thanks for the feedback. I found the Stresa hotel on tripadvisor. #1 for Lake Maggiore....do you have other suggestions for Lake Maggiore?

So, you think that 3 nights on Lake Como is too much and that we should extend Venice to 4 nights?

Thanks for the feedback about Burano.

Bummer - Hotel Florence in Bellagio will be closed until April 7. I am now looking into Hotel Belvedere in Bellagio and Hotel du Lac in Varenna. Any suggestions for hotel on Lake Como??

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELP!!!!!!!!
Jessica

russ_i

For my first trip to Italy I found that 2 nights in Bellagio was perfect, but I could have stretched my 3 nights in Venice into several, so I'm with cmt on that one.

Also, if you have not already gotten your plane tix, why not fly into Venice and out of Milan, saving yourself the train ride right after the flight?

Traveler863

The Belvedere in Bellagio is a good hotel. In Stresa, sorry some places I drop money...there its the Grand Hotel Bristol, get a junior suite...large private terrace over looking the lake and islands.

LoveItaly

Jessicam, I agree with russ_i, if you have not already purchased your airline ticket flying into Venice and out of Milan would be so much easier for you. That is called an openjaw ticket. This would save you so much time and would be so much nicer to be there at Venice when you arrive in Italy.

My other thought is if you truly want to enjoy Venice I would add more time there. Saturday you no doubt will be a bit tired when you land. So with your current plan,you would only have Sunday as one full day in Venice. I assume this is your first trip? If so, I think once you are in Venice you will want more time there than you are now planning on.
Do have a beautiful trip!

hunnym

Jessica - just a question about Hotel Florence - how did you contact them? I've tried twice by email but haven't heard back. Also, any idea why they're closed til April 7? Just not open yet for the season?

Also, haven't stayed at the Locanda Orseolo, but I have heard good things about it!

Your trip sounds like a lot of fun!

jessicam40

I am embarrassed and sad to report that I already booked my airline tix to/from Milan. I know, within days after booking the tix I thought "WHY THE HECK am I not flying into Venice and OUT of Milan". Oh, well. jumped the gun on that one!

Hotel Florence, I guess, does not open for the season until April 7. Huh.

Having problems with a Venice hotel - Pensione La Calcina is booked, and I think that Locanda Orseolo might be out of our price range. (I want to spend around 140 - 170 Euros/nt.) Any suggestions??

I am pondering the advice about staying in Venice longer - I live in a "big city" (well, relatively speaking), so I was looking forward to kicking back in the Lake District. I have traveled to Tuscany and Rome before - so, I was hoping to have a more "chill" trip to Italy this time. So, I am not really sure what to do!!

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!!

lincasanova

just came back from the lake and piedmont area myself and IF YOU HAVE TIME, we found the village of san guilio at orta very very special.
also stopped for cappuchino at villa crespi, which is worth a stop in itself.

the town is quaint, and a joy to walk through.

we were unable to boat over to the islands on maggiore, due to incessant rain, but still had a wonderful day roaming stresa and then orta.. they are all so close, and so close to malpensa for your return.

there was a wonderful wine bar in stresa, the owner also has a shop down the road and sold us some great herbs she had put in the oil for dipping bread. if i find the card, will let you know exact address.

trip sounds great.

BowenLinda

A friend and I spent 2 or 3 hours on Burano (walk everywhere and make sure to visit the Lace Museum) and then hopped the vaporetto for a brief ride to Torcello. We really enjoyed Torcello: quiet, with the museum, church and campanile being the attractions to view. Relax, have a glass of wine, and you can return to Venice 1 1/2 or so later.

I visited Murano last year, and while I enjoyed it, I like Burano and Torcello more.

Have a wonderful time,
Linda

MikeBuckley

I agree with those recommending one more day in Venice.

It has been 5 years since I've been to the Hotel Du Lac in Bellagio, but it was adequate, clean, and the staff was both friendly and helpful. It is on the main street that runs along the waterfront and there is metered parking immediately in front of it (if a metered space is indeed available.) Two of the rooms have a small terrace, making for great sunset viewing.

I also wonder if you wouldn't be better off going to the Lake region before going to Venice. That's in line with the person's thinking that you'll likely be tired the first day. First, I'm reasonably confident that you can drive to Bellagio in significantly less time than it takes to take the train to Venice. Second, once you get to Bellagio it will be more tranquil than Venice. Third, because Bellagio is so small, there is nothing you need to adjust to, other than the laid back atmosphere which is possibly what you'll want at the very beginning of the land portion of your trip.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip! It would be difficult not to enjoy it.

LoveItaly

Oh jessicam, you are going to have a beautiful trip. And you are not going until April and this is only November so you have lots of time to plan your trip.

There is nothing to be embarrassed and sad about, honest!!

To tell you the truth, the first time we went to Italy we used a travel agent. She had us fly into Milpensa.
To this day I wonder why (this was back in the 70's). But you know what, years later I realized I was so glad she did.

I will not bore you with the details but it turned out to be a "blessing in disguise".

Please keep happy and excited about your beautiful trip to Italy. It will be wonderful. And it will not be the last visit you make I am sure.

Each trip makes one more knowing about where and what they want to do the next time.

There is nowhere in Italy that is not beautiful. And Northern Italy is fantastic. You could spend a lifetime there and not see everything.

Will look forward to more postings from you as to your final plans. And enjoy the planning. It is a good part of the excitment.

jessicam40

Just wanted to let those of you who helped with my itinerary know that we made a flight change. We extended our trip by one day by flying out earlier, so we are staying one night in Milan - and then leaving for Venice the next morning via train. I wanted to see the Last Supper and Duomo and this will extend our time in Venice.

Thanks to all of you who helped with my itinerary. I really appreciate it.

LoveItaly

jessicam, that sounds great. Personally I love Milan. And do be sure to go into the fantastic Galleria which is on the left when you face the Duomo. You can't miss it. Sit at a cafe in the Galleria, order something to drink and "people watch". You will love it. Great shops there too.

Have fun planning your trip.