I think I'm even starting to annoy myself trying to figure this out! We know we want to hit Rome, Venice, and Lake Como. So...

Arrive FCO (5/23/09)
Days 1-3 Rome
Days 4-6 Venice
Days 7-8 Lake Como
Day 9 Depart MXP (5/31/09)

Does this seem reasonable? Couple of questions:

1. For those who have been to Lake Como, we are pondering just staying in Como for two nights and exploring the lake via ferry. While I really would like to stay in Bellagio, Como is an easier starting point for a trip to the airport on an early Sunday morning. Will we miss some of the joy of the lake by not staying in one of the prettier towns?

2. The hotels in Venice proper are so expensive. Has anyone stayed at the Hilton? they have a room rate of $189 and provide frequent boat service to/from the main area of town. Again, will we be sacrificing some of the experience of being in the middle of Venice by staying there?

Thanks for the help!!!

Last year when I picked up my BMW in Munich I made friends with the couple from California who picked theirs up at the same time. They were drafting us on Lake Como and their selected location was Cernobbio. I'll find out where they stayed - their hotel looked marvelous. Cernobbio is on the west side of the Lake and not too too terribly far from Como - not so much that it would make the morning drive hell, at any rate (and I still think you should opt for a driver!)

But to answer your question - while I think mid-lake would be prettier and more sedate (and lots of beautiful villas!), I don't think Como would be awful. You can still visit the villas, you are still beholden to the ferries and if you stay in Como definitely spend a day visiting Varenna, Bellagio, Villa Balbianello and Villa Monastero (a full day...)

Como is a town, the mid-lake villages are just that - villages. I'd prefer mid-lake but with only two nights you will be moving each morning - not relaxing at all.

Hi mj,

>The hotels in Venice proper are so expensive. Has anyone stayed at the Hilton? they have a room rate of $189....<

That's about the same price as the special package from the Times Sq. New York Hilton.

">The hotels in Venice proper are so expensive. Has anyone stayed at the Hilton? they have a room rate of $189....<

That's about the same price as the special package from the Times Sq. New York Hilton."

Yes, but I live 10 blocks from Times Square, so I don't need to go there! ;-)

But most of the hotels I'm seeing in the main tourist areas are in the 300-500/pn range. Yikes!

Stay mid-lake at Como--you will not be sorry. Varenna is your best bet if by rail.
Forget the Hilton--stay in Venice at a smaller local hotel for less--look at Locanda Barbarigo.

Hi MJ - What time do you have to be at the airport? Como is certainly nearer and easier from that perspective.

Steve

Options for an 8 AM arrival at MXP:

Como - easiest but not as scenic/not the same relaxed Lake Como feeling.

Cernobbio: Maybe 3 miles up the west side of the Lake. I have flown over it, and driven past it - but I haven't stayed there nor stopped there. I've been told it's quite lovely and friends have stayed at the same hotel twice and raved about it.

Lenno - mid lake, across from Bellagio/Varenna and slightly south. If you really want to stay midlake (which I'd recommend anyway) I'd suggest staying here and getting a driver for the airport run. This would be the best mix - midlake and driver/no hassle. Albergo Lenno - highly recommended.

Varenna - great location, and the train station is right there. It won't be as hassle free as just having a driver pickup and since it's on the east side of the Lake you are probably better off with the train anyway. If you choose this, I really love the Eremo Gaudio - stunning views and not expensive. If you don't actually stay here, at least once on your stay you should trek to their restaurant or at least the outdoor seating/bar area and have a glass of limoncello and drink in the scenery.

Here are a few examples taken from our balcony:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/671278200/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/2771450097/

ps. Venice hotels:

I've stayed at the Wildner a few times. It's right on Bacino San Marco. It's a few doors down from the Danieli and the Londra Palace but about a quarter of the price (same view). It ran 250E in May 2006 and 2007. In this photo below, you are looking at the view from the Campanile on the island opposite it. The hotel is roughly in the middle of the photo, maybe a little to the right. I.e. what a view you will have!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalkerbeth/703949401/

My friend Monica stayed at the Pensione La Calcina during my 2006 trip and I visited her at her hotel for breakfast one morning. Very nice hotel, nice location and her single room was about 100E give or take.

>> But most of the hotels I'm seeing in the main tourist areas are in the 300-500/pn range. Yikes! <<

In Venice (unlike in Rome), you needn't stay 'in the main tourist areas'. Here's an example (5 min from S. Marco)...
www.locandadelleacque.it

I agree with Flygirl:

Como, Cernobbio (which I thought quite charming) or Lenno. If you hire a driver, the choice between those 3 should not make much difference in time or in price.

To answer your question, I think you can feel the charm of the more northern towns even if you stay in Como or Cernobbio; you can take an early ferry and spend the entire day visiting Bellagio and Varenna if you choose. There is a trip report here from someone who stayed in Como and was very pleased with that city as a base for the lakes.

If you stay in Cernobbio, you can tour the Villa d'Este which is certainly worth an hour or two. You could get a taxi from there to Como and take the train on your last night, if you do not hire a taxi for the airport trip.

This Como hotel looks nice; it says that they are 40 minutes from Malpensa:

http://www.lake-como-hotel-terminus....i/en/hotel.htm

I forgot to say that while I was in Bellagio last fall, I met a couple from Texas who were staying at Villa Fiori for the second time. They loved the hotel and had no problem ferrying around to see the other towns.

Look away from the main tourist area in Venice. It won't matter because Venice is small. Look in Santa Croce or San Polo and the prices are more reasonable. We really like B&Bs in Venice.

If you have an early flight I would think Varenna is not an option - unless you book a taxi transfer.

By public transport it's a long journey to MXP from Varenna.

Steve

We've made our final decision. We are going to do 3 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Venice, and 3 nights at Lake Como. If we love Venice, we can spend the third day there and just take a late afternoon train instead of a morning train. We want to spend two nights at one of the mid-lake villages (Bellagio or Varenna). Our last day at Lake Como, we will wander down to Como and explore that area, checking into a hotel for just that evening. I think we will decide once we are there whether to take the train or a car to Malpensa.

Thanks to everyone for all of your thoughts and opinions. It has been a great help. Now the next fun adventure---deciding on a hotel!

Hi MJ - My sister and I are also doing the same trip from Como to Malpensa for the 10:20 AM flight to EWR. We will be there in April. We have explored the idea of the early morning train from Como (we are staying in Como for that reason) and we have also contacted a driver for a private transfer from our hotel in Como to MPX. We were quoted 90 euro cash or 110 euro credit card for a sedan car. We are leaning toward the car after reading many posts about the uncertainty of taking a train on the morning of our flight home. We will be doing this trip home on a Monday. I will let you know how it works out when I return in late April.
Marilyn

Thanks so much Marilyn! I would love to hear how it works out for you. That is indeed the same flight we are on, and to make it worse we are flying on a Sunday. Are you staying in Como for your entire trip to Lake Como? And what hotel have you chosen?

Yes, we chose to stay in Como (and spend less time traveling to other lake towns with luggage in hand). From Como, we can take the ferry to the other towns at our leisure. We chose the Hotel Metropole Suisse, very close to the lakefront. Hopefully, we will get some nice spring weather.

Hi MJ - I am back from my trip and wanted to let you know about the trains and traveling to MXP. We had decided to "splurge" and book a car and driver to pick us up at our hotel in Como (at 6:30 AM) and take us to the airport. It was well worth it! After 10 days of carrying our luggage around on trains, we did not want to look at it again. It was about a 45 minute ride to the airport - in Monday morning traffic and rainy weather - and we had plenty of time. We used that time to get our VAT vouchers stamped at customs and pick up our cash.
All our train rides between cities were extremely efficient and always on time. If you choose to take the train from Como, just leave yourself extra time as you will have to change in Saronna. Reminder - the Como station (and many others) do not have elevators or escalators and you will be carrying your luggage up and down steps. PACK LIGHT. Getting our luggage on and off the trains and up and down the steps was the hardest part of our trip.
We loved Como and if you stay there, you must make your way to a great wine bar: Bar Muralto on via Francesco Muralto, on a corner. Wine for 1.5 Euro and nice plates of bruschetta, olives and potato chips.