Posted on 08/15/2013 8:47:54 AM PDT by Former MSM Viewer
I want to go to the Lake Country in Northern Italy. Anyone been there?
Stresa, Laveno, Verbania...
Any thoughts?
Thanks for the link.
Have you been to the area?
I’ve been there and the hotel we stayed in had a cruise that we went on around the lake. Beautiful lake from all angles and on the lake you can see how big it is. Not far from Milan either.
It’s worth going to.
I haven’t been there but my mother writes reviews for the site. I don’t know if she wrote this one but generally she does a lot of internet research plus phone calls to local resorts and government for info.
The region looks stunningly beautiful.
I want to take the Centovalli Rail thru 81 tunnels and 32 bridges...sounds awesome.
Where did you stay? What town?
It’s VERY nice, and the money will evaporate from your wallet at an astounding rate.
In 2008 we went to Europe, but only stayed 4 days in Rome. We’ve been told that not many people speak English in the rest of Italy. Did you have a language problem? I’d love to go back to see more of Italy.
Thats surprising...the hotel rates I am seeing are very reasonable...what is it that costs so much?
Was there on business 10 years ago. Stayed at the Ritz (A local hotel, on the lake). We were able to walk from there to the center of Verbania and had some super meals, in addition to those in the hotel (a little Fawlty Towers, but....).
I wish I had days to explore as the trip from Verbania to my customer was so intriguing.
One thing of the region - there are many gun manufacturers there, some 200+ years old. They were the state of the defense industry centuries ago. I have to think there are some wonderful ancient arms collections.
Depending on your stay length you may want to research a rail pass. That area is beautiful. Best way to get there is to go to Atlanta first. Delta has a daily non-stop to Milan.
Any other Italy travel questions?
By the way, “outlet” stores near Milan for fashion, purses, shoes etc.
The younger they are, the more likely they are to speak English. It's required in the schools. My great-grandfather immigrated here a hundred years ago this year and we've always stayed in contact with the family there. All of the cousins under 30 speak very good English. Their parents, not so much. Moreover, anyplace you're going to go as a tourist, they're going to speak English. It's everyone in Europe's second language. I was on a train going from Florence to Milan and was sitting across from a Greek DJ trying to pick up a Belgian girl and get her to come to the club where he was spinning that night. They were speaking English to each other. Finally, Italians are very friendly. Go.
We love Italy and have been there, poking around, maybe 5 times. First time we stayed in Varena on Lake Como. Yes, it was quite beautiful. No, we did not take a cruise. I would not go back, just my opinion, because - once you are up there, you have left Italy and are really in Switzerland or maybe Germany, culture-wise. The food was mostly Italian, but not the wonderful food we had found down on the flats. The people were Germanic in nature, but we had left this wonderul Latin culture of loud greetings, laughter and hugs, and suddenly it was very formal and ‘tidy.’
This is just my take on it, ok? Might have just been the folks at our hotel, which was quite beautiful and right on the lake. They wouldn’t put our son’s room next to ours, but they had him down the hall. He was 10, so it was ok, but the guy acted like it was OUR problem and we should just let him grow up and not worry. That was not actually his call.
My overall take on that area was that we had left Italy already, and it was too soon for me.
We were there a couple of years ago. Spent three days at a B&B when driving from Rome to Venice to catch a cruise. Three days was not enough! And don’t forget the other lakes: Como & Lugano. In fact, the entire region is beautiful. There are many hotels and private rooms available on the lake but I recommend you choose from the many great B&Bs in the area. A car is a must to get around.
Brush up on your Spanish. (basically the same as Italian and you can use it more places)
Carry one euro coins with you. The big fad in Europe is charging to use public restrooms.
When traveling on trenitalia go ahead and pay the few extra Euro’s for first class. AC is not always included in 2nd class cabins and if it is it doesn’t work well.
Don’t forget to validate your train ticket either. Fines the price of the ticket if you don’t.
eurocar is a cheap rental.
If you smoke bring them with you. Tabacchi shops are the only place to buy them and you can’t purchase cigarettes with a credit card. about 4,50 Euro a pack.
best places to eat are off the beaten path but you need to be able to communicate.
You are right that German people are different than Italians. I like them both for their own characteristics.
I like the forthrightness of Germans and I like the love of life that the Italians show in their daily living...
One of the places I want to go while there:
http://www.villataranto.it/eng/default.asp
Lots of good info...thanks
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