Does anyone have any suggestions what we should do at the end of our two week stay in Italy? We will have already done Lucca, a week in a villa in Tuscany (Chianti Region) exploring the countryside, Porto Venere, and Cinque Terre. We will have two days/one night left after staying in Portovenere before we head for our final night close to the Malpensa airport.

Hello Elaine, That is an easy choice for me---lovely Lago Orta. We seem to like the same places, and I can assure you that Orta is magical---and only an hour from Malpensa. Go to www.orta.net

We are also visiting Cinque Terre and wondered about where to stay our last night --- how bad is the traffic driving back to Malpensa in the AM - we have until 12:30 for the flight but need to drop off the car. Should we stay an hour away at Orta? OR stay closer?

Take a quick trip over to Pisa. Walk to the Tower, stop along the way and grab some wine, meat, cheese and bread. Have a picnic in front of one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.

Elaine, <BR>We drove to Milan from Cinque Terre area in June in the morning--- the traffic is pretty horrific ( and there was alot of construction around Genoa. We spent the last few days on Lake Como which was a 45 minute drive from Malpensa-- we decided to turn the car in at Lake Como since the ferries were great around the lake and we stayed i Bellagio a few nights and the last night in Como. We took a taxi from Como to Malpensa ( our plane took off at 2 p.m.) The taxi was well worth it since the driver dropped us off at the door and we didn't have to deal with returning the car etc. <BR>Ciao <BR>Mary

Thanks Mary, We have opted to stay at Villa Malpensa the last night - we start our trip at Bellagio so figure we will meander up the coast leaving Cinque Terre then arrive late at the airport to drop the car. AND shuttle over in the AM. Can't wait to visit Bellagio and Cinque Terre!