traveling from Bellagio to Lauterbrunnen
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
traveling from Bellagio to Lauterbrunnen
My wife and I are staying in Bellagio for 3 nights this June. From there, we plan to drop off our rental car in Como and possibly take a train to Lauterbrunnen. Are there any suggestions for traveling from Como to Lauterbrunnen? Do trains run from Como to Lauterbrunnen directly, or would we have to do transfers? We will stay in Wengen or Murren for 3 more nights, then go to Lucerne for 2 nights, then back to Milan for our departure flight. We just need to know the best methods of travel for this trip...? Would a Swiss saver flexi pass be worth purchasing? It will cost @ $550 total. ANY advice will be appreciated!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are several reasons we are wanting to rent a car at Milan Malpensa: it seems that it will be cheaper for us to rent a car for 3 days rather than purchasing train tickets. Plus, the hotel we are staying in our first night is a little off the beaten path (outside Bellagio). We just don't want to depend on public transportation. Unfortunately, the car will be parked in Bellagio for two of those days, so we will be paying for "nothing" in a sense. I'm sure parking expenses are quite hefty there as well. After 3 days in Bellagio, we hope to drop off the car at the Como Centrale train station, where we will then go to Lauterbrunnen. Does this not seem to be a wise plan?
#4
You will have multiple connections however you do this. Consider dropping off the rental car before you reach Bellagio to provide the most options.
If you go with your original plan, you would start from Como S. Giovanni station and your first transfer would be at Milano Centrale. Without the car, you could ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and taxi or walk a short distance uphill to the train station for a train that would take you to Milano Centrale for that first transfer. So, you decide, drive to Como, deal with the car and get to the station -or- ferry to Varenna and get to the station.
A third option also assumes you've dropped the car before Bellagio. Ferry from Bellagio to Menaggio, bus to Lugano and train from there.
You'd have to investigate which option is the fewest transfers, shortest journey time and preferred route (if that matters to you scenery-wise). When searching the Varenna option, use it's proper station name of Varenna Esino. Ditto Como S. Giovanni.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/
If you go with your original plan, you would start from Como S. Giovanni station and your first transfer would be at Milano Centrale. Without the car, you could ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and taxi or walk a short distance uphill to the train station for a train that would take you to Milano Centrale for that first transfer. So, you decide, drive to Como, deal with the car and get to the station -or- ferry to Varenna and get to the station.
A third option also assumes you've dropped the car before Bellagio. Ferry from Bellagio to Menaggio, bus to Lugano and train from there.
You'd have to investigate which option is the fewest transfers, shortest journey time and preferred route (if that matters to you scenery-wise). When searching the Varenna option, use it's proper station name of Varenna Esino. Ditto Como S. Giovanni.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/
#5
The car rental rate may compare favorably to the train fares, but you also need to factor in the tolls, high cost of fuel and parking fees wherever you go. On the last point, depending on where you're driving, traveling by car can be less convenient when you discover you have to park outside a town and walk in (vs. trains that usually arrive in the city center) and avoid traffic fines that are assessed when you drive into an area you shouldn't.
Which hotel in/near Bellagio? And you're moving after the first night? What is the second hotel? If you're thinking you'll use the car to drive into Bellagio to catch the ferry, go shopping, have dinner, etc., there is very little parking in the town which I assume will be even more difficult to find in June.
Which hotel in/near Bellagio? And you're moving after the first night? What is the second hotel? If you're thinking you'll use the car to drive into Bellagio to catch the ferry, go shopping, have dinner, etc., there is very little parking in the town which I assume will be even more difficult to find in June.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the heads up. I am considering your idea of dropping off the car before going to Bellagio - probably in Como. Then I suppose I should take a bus to Bellagio? Or is there a better/cheaper alternative? We are staying at Castello Casiglio our first night (near Erba) then traveling to Hotel Florence in Bellagio for the next 2-3 nights. If you have any knowledge of either of those hotels, I would appreciate a heads up! Again, THANKS!!! : )
#7
We picked up our car in Milan , drove to the Berner Oberland, Grindelwald, next over to Pontresina and then returned to Italy dropping it off in Como before staying in Bellagio. You will take a ferry(slow or fast ferry) from Como to Bellagio. We walked from the car rental agencies to the ferry dock.
#9
I would ferry to Bellagio from either Como or Lecco. Erba is about halfway between the two cities. I haven't driven in either, but Lecco is small compared to Como. Investigate the car return situation in both towns, make sure one or the other is open on the day you want to return the car and determine where the agency is located in relation to the ferry dock.
You can check timetables at the link below. The website is now showing the spring schedule (to May 28th), and service will only increase during the summer. On the Como-Bellagio leg, I'm partial to the slow ferry, especially if you don't plan to explore this "leg" of the lake. But it is slow and service is not as frequent as the fast ferry. In compensation, some boats have restaurants on board. You'll see the Lecco-Bellagio service is less frequent.
http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/com/nlc_o...rile_2011.html
I'm not familiar with the Castello di Casiglio, but it looks lovely. We've stayed at the Hotel Florence a couple of times and would stay there again.
Have a great trip!
You can check timetables at the link below. The website is now showing the spring schedule (to May 28th), and service will only increase during the summer. On the Como-Bellagio leg, I'm partial to the slow ferry, especially if you don't plan to explore this "leg" of the lake. But it is slow and service is not as frequent as the fast ferry. In compensation, some boats have restaurants on board. You'll see the Lecco-Bellagio service is less frequent.
http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/com/nlc_o...rile_2011.html
I'm not familiar with the Castello di Casiglio, but it looks lovely. We've stayed at the Hotel Florence a couple of times and would stay there again.
Have a great trip!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
john183
Europe
32
Dec 15th, 2011 12:31 PM