atam

We are family of three with a 2.5 year old toddler, and going to Piedmont and Lake District for 9N/10D in Mid October. Have booked four nights at Asti, two nights at Stresa , and two nights at Bellagio. Due to the schedule change, we can add more more day at either Piedmont or Stresa.

In Piedmont, we plan to visit Turin, Asti and surrounding area. Enjoy the food and wine. For Stresa, we plan to visit The Borromean Islands and Lake Orta area. Any other suggestions, especially for kid friendly ones?

Between Piedmont or Lake Maggiore, which one is more suitable for kid? And which area deserve for the additional day? Please help. Thanks.

Jean

I hope you have a car for this and that your hotel in Bellagio offers parking.

Nine nights means 8 full days plus partial days on arrival and departure. I don't see how you could have 10 days to work with. Although your stops aren't very far apart, it still takes time to change hotels and transfer, esp. with a small child.

Two nights in Stresa means only one full day plus probably the afternoon of your arrival. Ditto for Bellagio. That isn't much time in either place. I probably would have picked one or the other and not both.

As to choosing between Asti and Stresa for an extra night, if Asti/Stresa/Bellagio is your entire itinerary/trip, I'd probably choose Asti in case your child needs more time to adjust.

FYI, the ferry timetable on Maggiore reverts to winter service (less frequent) on Oct. 10th. On Como, the change will be on Oct. 3rd. You may find it isn't possible to see as much as you thought in the time you have, esp. from Bellagio which is a ferry ride away from most sightseeing attractions on the lake.

atam

I actually will stay in french Riviera one week before heading to Asti, and will have a car.

Will the ferry service significantly during the winter season from Bellagio? I cannot find the winter schedule yet for the Navigazione Laghi website. Can you give me an idea about how bad it will be? Will Menaggio be a better base during mid Oct?

traveller1959

Take weather into consideration. If you are staying at Lago M. for just one day you cannot count on fine weather on exactly that day.

Jean

I'd probably stay somewhere on the western shore of the lake rather than Bellagio. You'll still need to use the ferries if you want to go to Varenna and Bellagio, but you'll have more sightseeing options with a car from the western shore.

You'll have to wait for the winter ferry schedules to be announced before you'll know how "bad" it will be. A lot depends on your sightseeing plans, where you want to go, and how you like to plan your days... i.e., how early you like to start out, how late you end, how long away from the hotel, whether your child will need down time (nap) in the middle of the day, etc.