First time to Italy next year. Flying into Milan and plan 4 nights in the
Lake Como area before heading off to Santa Margherita for 5 nights and then
Tuscany 7 nights. Lake Como offers beautiful scenery from the water, But
what else is there that is a "must see or do" ? All ideas welcome as this
is 1st time to this area. We definitely plan to have a hire car for
Tuscany but am unsure about Como and Santa Margherita. How easy is it to
get around by train (both in the local areas and between areas)? Is car
hire for Como and Santa Margherita recommended to see some of the sites
given the time available ??

No accommodation has been booked as yet - any gems out there (5 star tastes
with 3-4 star budget)
Thanks for any advice you can offer.

A car isn't really needed for Como. There is good regular train service
from Milan to the town of Como and good ferry/hydrofoil service between Como
and the other towns surrounding the lake. Most of the towns are small and
easily walkable. Add to that the fact that in most, parking can be
difficult to find so I've generally found a car to be a liability.


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"amber" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > First time to Italy next year. Flying into Milan and plan 4 nights in the
    > Lake Como area before heading off to Santa Margherita for 5 nights and
then
    > Tuscany 7 nights. Lake Como offers beautiful scenery from the water, But
    > what else is there that is a "must see or do" ? All ideas welcome as this
    > is 1st time to this area. We definitely plan to have a hire car for
    > Tuscany but am unsure about Como and Santa Margherita. How easy is it to
    > get around by train (both in the local areas and between areas)? Is car
    > hire for Como and Santa Margherita recommended to see some of the sites
    > given the time available ??
    > No accommodation has been booked as yet - any gems out there (5 star
tastes
    > with 3-4 star budget)
    > Thanks for any advice you can offer.

as far as i know there is a direct bus service from Malpensa Airport to
Lake of Como.

you will not need a car there..
and as far as santa margherita is concerned..
it will be almost impossible to find parking places.

use local transports..
Italian trains are normally very fast and cheap.
"amber" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
    > First time to Italy next year. Flying into Milan and plan 4 nights in the
    > Lake Como area before heading off to Santa Margherita for 5 nights and
then
    > Tuscany 7 nights. Lake Como offers beautiful scenery from the water, But
    > what else is there that is a "must see or do" ? All ideas welcome as this
    > is 1st time to this area. We definitely plan to have a hire car for
    > Tuscany but am unsure about Como and Santa Margherita. How easy is it to
    > get around by train (both in the local areas and between areas)? Is car
    > hire for Como and Santa Margherita recommended to see some of the sites
    > given the time available ??
    > No accommodation has been booked as yet - any gems out there (5 star
tastes
    > with 3-4 star budget)
    > Thanks for any advice you can offer.

"tile" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > as far as i know there is a direct bus service from Malpensa Airport to
    > Lake of Como.
    > you will not need a car there..
    > and as far as santa margherita is concerned..
    > it will be almost impossible to find parking places.
    > use local transports..
    > Italian trains are normally very fast and cheap.
    > "amber" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> First time to Italy next year. Flying into Milan and plan 4 nights in
    >> the
    >> Lake Como area before heading off to Santa Margherita for 5 nights and
    > then
    >> Tuscany 7 nights. Lake Como offers beautiful scenery from the water, But
    >> what else is there that is a "must see or do" ? All ideas welcome as
    >> this
    >> is 1st time to this area. We definitely plan to have a hire car for
    >> Tuscany but am unsure about Como and Santa Margherita. How easy is it
    >> to
    >> get around by train (both in the local areas and between areas)? Is car
    >> hire for Como and Santa Margherita recommended to see some of the sites
    >> given the time available ??

Just to clarify, there are several towns on Lake Como; the town of Como is
not the only place to stay. Bellagio is more centrally located on the lake.
(And I've heard good things about the Hotel Belvedere there from more than
one source.) But, assuming you will be recovering from jetlag, that works
better in a slightly bigger town or in a city.

Lago di Como is a laid-back destination. You take the boat to visit the
little towns and tour the villas along the lake. Varenna has a nice
waterfront walk.

But in any case you will not need a car for either Como or Santa Margherita
or for the trips in between. A car is great for Tuscany, but NOT in
Florence.

Marianne

"CAVoyager" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    > A car isn't really needed for Como. There is good regular train
    > service from Milan to the town of Como and good ferry/hydrofoil
    > service between Como and the other towns surrounding the lake. Most
    > of the towns are small and easily walkable. Add to that the fact that
    > in most, parking can be difficult to find so I've generally found a
    > car to be a liability.
    >
    >

I would agree and add that having driven around the lake it is one of
the most dangerous roads in Italy ( and that says something in itself)
with several blind turns, the trucks do blow their horns, but if your
window is up and the radio on, you may be history.

I agree with all the other posters that you will not need a car for
either Lago di Como or SML; however, boat service in both places is
somewhat contingent on the season. You say you are going "next year"
but do not mention the time of year.

If you are going in winter, and the weather is stormy, well then....

I highly recommend the Hotel Belvedere in Bellagio on Como. We just
stayed there, in a "classic" room with balcony and lake view, for about
175 E. They also have more expensive rooms. Book early.

In SML, I like the 4* Hotel Metropole. This is a great area to visit; I
have been to SML three times and would go back tomorrow.

debbie


amber wrote:

    >First time to Italy next year. Flying into Milan and plan 4 nights in the
    >Lake Como area before heading off to Santa Margherita for 5 nights and then
    >Tuscany 7 nights. Lake Como offers beautiful scenery from the water, But
    >what else is there that is a "must see or do" ? All ideas welcome as this
    >is 1st time to this area. We definitely plan to have a hire car for
    >Tuscany but am unsure about Como and Santa Margherita. How easy is it to
    >get around by train (both in the local areas and between areas)? Is car
    >hire for Como and Santa Margherita recommended to see some of the sites
    >given the time available ??
    >No accommodation has been booked as yet - any gems out there (5 star tastes
    >with 3-4 star budget)
    >Thanks for any advice you can offer.
    >