bobthenavigator

With 7 nites I would spend time at all 3 since they are so close. I would do 2-3-2 or 2-2-3---your call.

nessundorma

You can drive to the Italian Riviera, including areas near Portofino, from Piemonte. If you stayed in Piemonte all 5 nights, then you'd have lots of flexibility when it comes to weather. In addition, from Piemonte, you could sample a beautiful fishing village like Camogli on one day, and then a marvelous hill town like Apricale on another. But if it rained, you'd have Torino right there and find other things to do, which is harder on the coast (unless you want to go to Genova).

nessundorma

Here's a picture of Apricale on a website that is also good for tracking down other beautiful Italian towns you might like in Piemonte or Lombardia.

http://www.borghitalia.it/html/borgo...dice_borgo=420

Keren

Thanks again, repete.

burlview

Thanks for all your comments. The weather advice was good... Think we'll do the 5 nights at Sampaguita and two at either Orta or Stresa. Now to figure which... everything looks great! Suggestions?

Bobthenavigator - just heard you also hail from Amelia!

cmt

I did not like Stresa. I posted some reasons on these threads:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34819191

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34503684


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34456283

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34552714

bobthenavigator

Sure nuf !
Been here 11 years now--live in Summer beach near the Ritz.

nessundorma

burlview,

If you get rain, I know that Stresa has a train to Milano. I don't know if Orta does, but perhaps it has a bus. And of course if you still have your car, you can drive to Milano, but that may not be the most relaxing way to end your vacation. (You could also drive to the train station in Stresa or elsewhere, and park.)

The other part of my answer about which lake to pick depends on whether you will be driving yourself to Malpensa or relying on public transportation. I've never traveled to Malpensa from Lago di Orta, so I don't know what public transportation is available and whether it is reliable. I have done it from Stresa, and as long as you book your bus seat the night before, you can leave as early as 5am to get to Malpensa on a fairly inexpensive coach shuttle.

I think if you are driving and returnign a rental car, there is not much difference in distance from either lake to Malpensa.

With two nights in the area, you will have time to visit both Orta and Stresa. I might spend the nights in Orta, but spend part of one day visiting the Borromeo Islands on Lago Maggiore. I think Isola Madre is the most interesting, and that the palazzo (not just the gardens) on Isola Bella is one of the nicest I've ever seen.

justretired

We spent some time in the lakes recently, and you can see my trip report at:

"Italy trip report: The Lakes District":
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34821416

I also posted the following general thoughts about the Lakes region: "One objective of our trips is to meet local people, and learn something about the culture of the country we are visiting. This trip was not as good in that regard as our earlier trips. ... the Lakes District is tourist oriented, and so the people we met were mostly either tourists themselves, or serving the tourists. Although there were some exceptions that we’ve noted, we met very few people who actually lived in the area and had no connection to the tourist industry.

In the past, we’ve liked visiting small towns, watching children get out of school, men playing bocce, and similar things. We like sitting in a small caffé and watching people pass by. In the Lakes, the people passing by were all tourists. When choosing where to go, we had not really thought about this aspect of the region, and had we done so, we might have chosen a different portion of Italy to visit.

- Larry

burlview

Thanks everyone! We will have a car so public transportation isn't an issue.

Looking at 3 hotels - Hotel Orta, Villa Ruscello and the Lido Palace. Anyone have any experience with these? I think I've read good things about all of them!

Bobthenavigator - we're down the road in the plantation. been here a year - and several years about 30+ yeags ago.

bobthenavigator

We have stayed at the Hotel Orta 3 times and I have sent a dozen clients there. It is a bit worn but oozes old world charm and has the best location on the lake. Orta is magical. Try hard to get a lake view room with balcony.