P.S.

We have also decided to take the late afternoon early evening train to Venice, thereby giving us most of the day in Florence to see "David" etc...

Still seems like too much backtracking to me. I would go on to Venice after Lake Como since it's so close. From there you could rent your car and tour Tuscany for several days and then drop the car in Florence. Or train to Florence from Venice and stay a few days before picking up your rental for Tuscany and drop it in Milan.

Why not pick up your car in the town of Como and drive to Siena? You are going to pay for the whole day anyway, the cost of gas is negligible compared to two train tickets. Drop off the car in Firenze at the end of your Tuscany stay and go see David.

Just make sure you leave Como before noon.

I think you are on the right track to give up a night in Lago di Como unless you really need a vacation and some relax time after you flight before plunging into sightseeing. But since you are already getting over your jet lag in London, I think two nights on Lago di Como is enough -- then add a night to Firenze after you drop off your car so you can relax a bit and see of the town than just David.

Hi kp,

>We decided not to drive except in the countryside....<

Good idea.

Since you are staying in Siena, I suggest that you take the SITA bus from Florence to Siena. The bus station is on Via Sant Caterina da Siena, about 2 blks from the SMN train station.

You don't have to lug your baggage, as it goes in the luggage compartment of the bus, and the bus takes you into Siena. The train stops outside the town.

Pick up your rental car in Siena.

Drop off your car at Piazzale Roma in Venice. You won't have to drive in cities.

Have a nice visit.
((I))

A question for Ira.

Ira,

Our plan was after visiting the countryside and leaving on Monday morning from San Quirico, to drive back to Florence for Monday night and part of Tuesday. The museums are closed on Monday, so we will have to see the Acadamia on Tuesday before going to Venice. So, if we rent the car in Siena (good choice) should we drive to Florence and then on to Venice or drop off the car in Siena and train back to Florence and then train to Venice on Tuesday late afternoon?

Also, I emailed the our hotel in Bellagio (the beginning of our trip) and asked about a driver to pick us up at the airport. We have researched getting from Malpensa Airport to Bellagio and it seems a real ordeal. There is a bus that goes to Varenna and then a water taxi that takes us to Bellagio, but the times are sporadic. There are supposedly only two buses a day that go to Varenna and if we miss that last one we are in a mess. The other options are so complicated. The taxi that the hotel will arrange charges 150 Euros for a one way ride to the hotel. Has anyone done this trek? Our flight arrives at 2:30 p.m. from London, assuming everything goes as planned. What is the Fodorites advice?

Grazie,

Karen

Hiring a car for Malpensa to Lake Como would be the most simple, especially if you lots of luggage. For other options, I think most people go to Milano-Centrale train station and take a train to Varenna, rather than the buses. You take the Malpensa Express shuttle bus to Milano-Centrale. The Shuttle Bus Train combo should be around 15-20 euro total per person.

Karen,

I think you mean taking a bus to Menaggio from Malpensa to get to Lago di Como.

If you do a search on Fodor's for Malpensa and Como I think you will come up with a few different ways to utilize public transportation to get to Lago di Como from Malpensa. All of them are a bit complicated and time consuming, although far cheaper than the private car.

kpilling,
Suggest you rent the car in Florence and drive Chianti road 222 to Siena. The bus to Siena doesn't help you much since you need a car to get to your lodging.