To Varenna from Milan Malpensa: By car or by train?
 

Is it worth the extra cost to take a car to Varenna from Milan Malpensa, rather than taking the express train from Malpensa to to Milan Centrale and then taking a different train to Varenna?

Thanks!

Depends how much the extra cost is? Per person it may not be that much more - trains will cost probably $25 each.

The train is so easy and inexpensive. I would take the train.

Thanks for your replies! It looks like the extra cost to take the car to our hotel in Varenna will be about 110 Euros. Normally we would take the trains. However, we will have some rather heavy luggage with us, thus my hesitation and this post.

Car will certainly be faster.

All depends on the dy trips you may do from Varenna:
Swiss Alps/Bernina
Valtellina/Stelvio
medieval Bellinzona castles
Bergamo
Lake Iseo and prehistoric rock carvings at Capo di Ponte
......

Is there any chance that you will have jet lag? Many people are unaware of the mounting evidence that driving with jet lag is just as dangerous for themselves -- and for others -- as driving drunk. Best to give a day or two to recover from the worst of jet lag.

I think the OP is referring to a car service, not renting a car.

If it's a shared shuttle (like flytolake.com) and you have to wait more than an hour for the next departure, the train option could be faster. But not having to schlep luggage on/off trains and the last step of your journey to your hotel could definitely be worth the higher cost. Your call.

IF you are, in fact, speaking of taking a car service directly from the airport to the hotel in Varenna I might say it definitely is worth it. However, since your issue seems to be centered around luggage then keep the following in mind.

You could spend the money to take a taxi to Milano Centrale vs taking the MXP Express. Either way you are going to be handling some luggage both at the airport and again at Centrale and again in Varenna and you have to hope that a taxi will be meeting the train IN Varenna (they often do but there won't be a whole lot of them and you may have to wait for one).

Varenna is not a station with a bunch of city-like long flat platforms. The last time we arrived we got off the train and had to troop across some uneven ground in order to get to the station itself. We could have avoided that by making our way through the coaches but again, you are handling luggage.

A car service at MXP should help with the luggage but you are going to have to move from the place where that driver meets you to that driver's car. You expecting the driver to handle all the luggage or are you expecting to help?

Worth it? Taking

Oops, sorry.

Worth it? Some things are worth any amount.

I hadn't focused on your saying the luggage will be "heavy."

How will you be leaving Varenna? You're going to have to deal with that luggage eventually. Is there some reason it's heavy? If you're taking things you won't be using until later in the trip, you could train from Malpensa to Milano Centrale, leave a bag there and pick it up when you leave Varenna. Unless your next destination is north of Lake Como, you'll most likely be going through Milan when you leave Varenna.

All depends on the day trips you may do from Varenna:>

And do not forget Milan itself!

There is another way by rail and boat to Varenna without going thru Milan Centrale - take the Nord de Milan airport train and with one change before Milan you end up at Como Nord - right opposite the boat dock- no long walks with heavy luggage as likely changing trains in Milan. And dirt-cheap- much cheaper than mainline airport express trains.

For others info - car transfer seems the best bet if not on a low low budget.