Italian Lakes - Where to Stay?
 

My family are looking to take a holiday in the Italian Lakes for the first time. Having not been there before they're looking for recommendations of the nicest area to stay.

They're looking to rent a villa, and look for luxury (rather than budget) so price isn't too important.

Any recommendations would be gratefully received :)

Lake Garda - far enough away from the mountains to not catch any potential crap weather that may hang around (as in the case of Lake Como) and also big enough to take a few days to explore from one base.

Stay down the bottom end at Garda, Bardolino or even Sirmione. You can take a boat up the lake to the other towns (Limone, Riva del Garda, etc) or you can get to Verona and catch the train to Milan or Venice for the day.

Any if you are driving the roads around the lakes are stunning............maybe not the quickest due to volume of traffic but amazing nonetheless.

What time of year are you thinking about going? We went to Bellagio on Lake Como a fwe years back in September and thanks to some dodgy weather in the mountains it was wet and freezing. Friends were on Lake Garda at the same time and were basking in glorious sunshine!

Paul

Thanks for this thread....been thinking of doing the same thing and not knowing the area at all was perplexed as to where to head for. Usefull info above.

Got back yesterday from a trip to Lake Como, so a few observations:

Stayed in a hotel in Bellagio (Hotel Belvedere). Expensive and very very nice. We felt very well looked after, and the view from the room was absolutely stunning.

It was hot all week, but slightly cooler on the water since the principal means of transport is via the various boats that run every which way on the lake.

Flew from Luton to Bergamo for £3.49 one way and £7.49 the other, with Ryanair (that's about £45 total return per person, due to the usual scam of taxes and everything else - still pretty good value, and flights on time).

There were six in the party, so we had arranged a transfer from Bergamo to Bellagio, cost 100 euros each way. I've been there before and hired a car, then didn't use it except to get to/from the hotel, so this was cheaper and a lot less hassle. I'd certainly recommend the taxi people we used: http://www.milanobycar.com/
they also do transfers up to the ski resorts in winter.

Had a fantastic break and took a zillion pictures. Diet starts today ! Or maybe tomorrow...