I know this topic has been discussed at length..but...since we are planning to end our stay with 3 days on Lake Como in early November. Many places are already closed by then. From reading the previous posts, I am wondering if Varenna would be 'too dead' at that time of year. Is Bellagio the better choice? Thanks for all suggestions.<BR>

In November, Varenna will be dead (unless a Scientific conference is being held there) and Bellagio moribund. Maybe a great place for peace and quiet. Menaggio across the lake will have more commercial activity.

We spent four days in Bellagio in late October 2000. It wasn't moribund. Quiet, yes, but not moribund. Most places (hotels, stores, restaurants)were still open and we had a delightful time. And, we were not the only tourists there. In fact, it was great not to be among a horde of tourists. The weather was great, high 50s, low 60s. Leather jackets were perfect outerwear.<BR>I would recommend staying in Bellagio, rather than Varenna. (I can't comment on Menaggio.) But, do take the ferry to Varenna to visit Villa Monastero and just walk around the charming little town.

Of course, I didn't mean to be derogatory when I used the term &quot;moribund&quot; which is was intended to be a hyperbole. Having been to this part of Lake Como, I'm certain that a stay in Bellagio in November would be very enjoyable, particularly since there are far fewer tourists than during the summer or early autumn.

Thanks for the info. We are thinking of extending a few more days, from the 2nd to perhaps the 7th of November. Have already received 'sorry, closed' from a few hotels. Would the town of Como be a better choice? Again, thank you.

We stayed in Bellagio one year around Nov 1 and a lot of stuff was closed or closing soon but there were still plenty of shops and restaurants open. We spent an afternoon in Varenna and almost nothing was open, but it was still a nice place to wander around. We also spent a day in Como and it's a bustling city probably all year around. We loved Bellagio and would stay there again in a flash.

Thanks to the posts, we reversed our itinerary...starting in Bellagio in mid-October to catch a bit more activity and better weather, and will work our way south to Rome. More hotel selection too. Now choosing among DuLac, Splendide, and Florence (if open in Oct. - still waiting to hear). Would have loved to end up on a relaxing note, but know it will be wonderful either way.