Jean - I was interested in visiting Bellagio, but not sure about staying there. Is it just expensive shops and restaurants, or is the town charming, as well?

The link to the apartment you sent look nice and not too expensive -

Is Bellagio a better base than Varenna?

Is there a train from Varenna to Malpensa? We don't plan on having a car in Como, if we go.

Do the Lakes. WE stopped at Maggiore (STresa) for a rest after flying into Milan and before heading up to Switzerland. It was very relaxing, but still had a lot to do/see with the various islands to tour, local villas and gardens, etc.

Bolzano
Kids would enjoy Otzi the Iceman at the museum. Great shopping and even a cable car.

nytraveler - where did you stay in Stresa - how was the drive from Malpensa to Stresa - is it possible to get to Malpensa for a 12:00 pm flight out?

travmimi - never even heard of Bolzano - I'll have to check into that.

Thank you both -

Driving time Stresa to Malpensa is about an hour. There's a direct bus: www.safduemila.com. So yes, it's easy to make a noon flight.

As to your Lake Como question, Bellagio is a small deluxe resort town. Varenna is smaller, a little more rustic. With your children in mind, you might want to pick something more lively, like the town of Como or maybe Menaggio. From Menaggio there's a bus to Lugano -- for your dip into Switzerland.

ferrara - urbino- padova

Mimar - my sister who has been to Stresa said the drive was very scary - windy roads, I think. Is that true? Is Como or Mennagio just as easy to get to Malpensa for the 12:00 flight, and is the drive easier? Thank you.

Sorry, I've never driven the road from Stresa to Malpensa. Maybe some more experienced Fodorite can chip in.

The drive from Menaggio is a little longer, 1.75 hours according to www.viamichelin.com. Como would be closer.

But are you sure you want a car for this part of your trip? You certainly don't want a car in Venice; you'll just pay to park it. If you go to mid-lake Como (Menaggio/Bellagio/Varenna), you'll use the little ferries to get around.

Also, with 6 people and their bags, you'll need something bigger than a car, a small van. Big cars are a bit difficult in hilltowns and on small roads. Maybe you're renting 2 cars for your time in Umbria? Makes for more flexibility.

Sorry, I did not read the replies, b/c for me you answered your own question in your query! When you say that you may not get back to Italy again, it seems that you must choose the place that meant the most to you, b/c otherwise you may have regrets, IMO.

My vote is with Bologna. You'll hit four regions in one trip - not bad.

Verona is a wonderful town, but it is kind of out of the way with so much good stuff to see before it.

It will be difficult to go through Florence from Umbria without stopping - but Bologna will offer something entirely different.

Emilia Romagna is a wonderful region to stay in. People, food and sights are really nice.

As others point out, from Bologna you may visit Parma (my favorite in Emilia Romagna), Padua, and Ferrara. All worth the trip.

Sounds like a wonderful family vacation. Enjoy.

Thanks to everyone for the advice - it is all being considered -

Right now we are thinking after the week in Umbria (yes we'll have a car)

Drop off the car and train to Bologna for 2 nights -

Train to Venice for 3 nights -

Train to Varenna or somewhere in the Lake District for 2 nights, leaving on the 27th to catch a 12:00 flight out of Malpensa.

This sounds like a lot of moving around, but I don't think the distances between destinations are so far that we'll miss more than a few hours a day.

Mimar - how did you get from Mennagio to Malpensa - did you take a bus?

Thanks again...

I think this plan is very doable. We did the same kind of travel in Sicily--rented a car for the west coast and did the train on the east caost and left from Palermo. We also flew into Sicily. Train travel in Italy is very cheap--do the city to city option.

I believe SPT suspended it's Como-Malpensa Shuttle bus earlier this year

Depending on where you choose to stay on Lake Como, you may need to book a taxi transfer.

The alternative public transport option will be train from Como via Saronno (- connecting with the Malpensa Express at Saronno).

For train timetables see:

http://www.lenord.it/orari_e_news/post.php

http://www.malpensaexpress.it/orari_e_news/post.php


[Alternatively train from Varenna to Milan - then Malpensa Shuttle bus from Milano centrale].

Hope this helps ...

Steve

My wife and I just returned from a 16 day driving tour of Italy. We flew in and out of Malpensa and visited a lot of the same area you are talking about. One of the highlights for me was spending a couple of days in the Dolomites...spectacular! But you do need clear weather and would need a back up plan if the weather was not good. We also spent a night at Lake Garda and found the towns along the
southeastern shore more appealing than those at Lake Como. (Only MY opinion, Como lovers). Parma, Mantova and Ferrara were nice stops and are fairly close together. Or, how about the Cinque Terre...nice but I imagine very crowded in June. We also went into Milan to see the Duomo, castle and shopping area ... that was well worth it....except for the air pollution. We spent one night at Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Not much of a town but very convenient to the airport....it took us a little less that an hour from there to the airport. We were winging it the whole trip with a lot of flexibility....I'm not sure that would work so well in June.

I should have read some of the other replies to see that you have already been to CT before recommending it....
Anyway...the drive from Stresa to the airport couldn't be easier...not scary at all. As for Bolzano, I was just there, nice town but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there. If you go to the Dolomites, it is an easy stop.