Travel Answers

Hello world travelers,

I just found this fantastically inspiring site by seeing one Auroea/Jelena beautiful photographs and this is my first post. I regret that this is my first trip to Italy in 19yrs and my girl has never been. we are leaving from Los Angeles to Milano May22 and leaving from Rome June 25 and I want Lago di Como to be our first stop for 3 nights. With so many rooms being booked at this time of year I am have difficulty deciding on a b&b or small hotel or near a town that has great views, isn't very busy, has an authentic feel and good food. My budget for a room is flexible up to about $I20 a night. I am thinking I may rent a car since I would like to visit many towns. Any recommendations?

I sincerely appreciate. Claudio Marangone

We are traveling to Milan, Lago di Como and Barga in September and was just wondering how to pack. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Grazie!

I'll be visiting Lake Como in September and staying in Como. I'll have 4 full days to explore the area without a car. I'll be using the water transport most of the time to get around and want to maximise my time efficiently whilst keeping the cost down where possible, but not at the expense of trying to do too much at a time. I realise that the Centro Lago is the most scenically attractive part of the lake and I was wondering if anyone could tell me whether I should visit the likes of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio on 3 separate days or would it be possible to skip across the lake to see all 3 in one day - or a combination of both. A big thank you to anyone who has any suggestions on the best way to spend the 4 days.

I'm planing a day trip from Verona to Lago Como, where should I go? How many hours?

So I am trying to plan a day trip from Bergamo to Lake Como. We can either take the train to Como San Giovani or to Lecco. Then buy a day ferry pass so we can hit Bellagio and Varenna and Como. Can anyone tell me what the price for a day ferry pass is along with how much the supplemental for the high speed? I have been going crazy trying to find a site. Also, any alternatives than the train, e.g. buses? TIA, Karl

Which towns/village could you suggest to visit as a day trip at the lake area?

I'd like to spend some days on a nice place at the lake of Como. Could you suggest a nice town or village and also a good hotel/bed and breakfast? Thanks in advance for you're replies!

Good evening I am in the very preliminary stages of assessing feasibility. This would be a flat - not a villa (I wish). Does anyone have some good resources (books, websites) to recommend in doing research? Tax aspects, foreign owner pitfalls, letting the property afterwards, and so on? We usually stay mid lake (Lenno or Varenna) and I think I'm partial to the western side but would probably expand the search to other areas - but no farther north than mid-lake. I have experience in owning a second home but the one I have is not a rental - so the rental aspect would be completely new to me. Many thanks.

Hi, I'm really hoping someone could help me out. My husband and I are travelling through a majority of Northern Italy. To save quite a bit, we are booking a lot of hotels and B&B's ourselves. my question is..at one point we will be in Innusbruck, Austria, at which time we will make our way down to Lago di Como (Lake Como). We were thinking of staying in the town of Pallanza. Do you think this is the best town to stay in at Lake Como considering we are coming from Innusbruck?

I plan to take the 2 grandparents together with my wife and my 4year old daughter and go to Lago di Como end of October. I have never been in this area and i wanted to ask for your reccommendations about which town to stay in as well as hotel reccommendations (3 or 4 stars). We are looking for something with nice view. Thanks

Hi, I wanted to go to Como from Milan. I have seen that there are some trains that goes there, but I wanted to know if they are so expensive and the time they spent. Thanks

I'm traveling by car from Malpensa to Varenna in late September. I need to know if there is a car ferry that crosses the lake between the two towns of Menaggio and Varenna. I read the ferry website schedule but it's not entirely clear to me if there is a ferry that takes cars. Also, does one need to buy a ticket in advance for the trip? Finally, is it better to drive to Lecco and on to Varenna and avoid the ferry altogether?

Are we likely to find any supermarkets open late afternoon/early evening on a Sunday anywhere between Malpensa airport and Lake Como?

Hello We are staying in Bellagio for 3 nights. What are the "MUST DO". things? We have a 5yr old and 18month old. Happy to take ferries, do short hikes,exploring towns etc. Also any family restuarant suggestions What can we expect the weather to be in September Thanks in advance

Can someone tell me a nice & cheap accomodation in Varenna??.. Thanks Francesco

Hi there! I need you advice. What do you think about Villa Bellagio to stay overnight? Is it nice and clean? Thank you.

Hi there! I will be in Lago di Como early November this year. Any suggestion for best local food and things to do there? Thank you so much!

We are leaving very shortly for a week in Sondrio. We will have 5 additional days to spend in Northern Italy. We can't decide whether to go to Lago di Como or to Florence. We thought of staying in Varenna and hiking and exploring the lake towns on the ferries. We love to walk/hike and it looks like a breathtaking spot to explore. I wonder if the weather is good for hiking right now and if the Lake is a bit too quiet in October with many things closed. As for Florence, so many people have told us how much they love Florence that we just can't decide where to go. We love art. One friend said that Florence is like an Advent Calendar with something wonderful behind every door or around every corner and that it is a walking city. I fear we will regret not seeing Florence. I wonder also if Florence is very busy at this time of year. I posted a similar inquiry yesterday under Florence, but I can't find it now. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! I don't think I can go wrong with either choice, but since it is October, maybe one place will have a clear advantage....

In late October, does anyone know of a few small trattoria in Varenna that will be open? I've read about several hotel restaurants but nothing of the "home cooked" variety.

I am traveling in late October (one night in Como, 5 nights in Varenna, last night in Como). The ferry schedule posted goes through Oct 5th so I'm assuming the ferries are less frequent in the off-season. Will it still be easy for me to explore all around the lake and not get stranded because of fewer ferries?

Can someone kindly tell me what the building in this picture is? comoguide.com/image-files/la... I remember seeing it on my last trip to Lake Como from the ferry boat in the northern section, but nobody around me could tell me exactly what it is and this website doesn't name it. Thank you

Hi, I have found a great place for me and my friends in the town of Nesso. My only concern is getting to and from other towns in Lake Como. As I understand it, there are only two scheduled ferry stops for Nesso. Is that right? What about buses? Is there a regular bus that runs to and from Bellagio or Como that I can use in case there is no ferry service for a particular time of day? If there is a bus service, can someone let me know how to get the schedule? We will be in the Lake Como area in early October. Thanks in advance for the replies! Ed

I'm trying to decided which of the two youth hostels to stay in. Would Menaggio or Como be a better place to stay? I'd want to explore the whole lake, so which one has the easiest access to public transport? Thanks!

We can stay at either one... but at Hotel Du Lac we would be in a superior room facing the lake, but for 85 more Euros per night (hotel du lac = 220 euros, Hotel Metropole = 135 Euros)! Is it worth it? What would you do???

Hi everyone, My girlfriend and i are going to Lake Como in late July - early August and that's all we've worked out so far! :) Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best town to base ourselves in? Ideally somewhere picturesque, not super touristy, and easy to get to other places from. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I am planning a 9 full days trip to Italy early October and need some advices. 1) Can anyone let me know if the following itinerary is too ambitious: Day 1: Positano Day 2: Capri Day 3: Florence (Train to Florence in the morning) Day 4: Florence Day 5: Chianti (Drive from day 5-9) Day 6: Siena (Arrive in Siena night before. Depart after 4pm for Cinque Terre) Day 7: Cinque Terre Day 8: Lake Como Day 9: Lake Como (Drive to Malpensa airport for 7pm flight) 2) As we do not require a car for Cinque Terre, would anyone advise me to drop off my car at Cinque Terre/La Spezia and use public transports moving onwards or keep the car. Current plan is to keep the car as my time is quite limited and I can appreciate the ease of getting to the airport. Please advise if I am needlessly wasting money. 3) I can't seem to find any affordable and decent accomodation for less than Euro60 in Bellagio. The best I have found for Euro60 is in Como. Does anyone have anything to recommend? Many thanks in advance!!!

My Mom said Lugano was wonderful, but not sure if other people think it's worth it, or if it's just a tourist trap (my Mom loves tourist traps!!!). Thanks for your input.

We have two little boys--one baby and a 4 year old. We are trying to choose between these 3 hotels. They are all somewhat similiarly priced for a room for us with a view/balcony. We also want to take a sidetrip to Lugano. Thanks!

We are going to Italy next month and what is the best way to travel to Lago di Como from Sirmione (Lago di Garda). Many thanks,

We will be arriving in Como by train, wishing to get to ferry/hydrofoil dock for lake transport to Bellagio. Is this walking distance? After 3 nights in Bellagio seeking lake transport to Colico. Is it possible to walk to train station from dock area in Colico? 2 adults, 2 teenagers all with backpacks. Of all the lake transport what would you recommend to suit us? Many thanks.