We thought we had decided on staying at Hotel Orta for four nights next May, 2007 and, in fact, have our reservations for a room with a view of the lake. I would like to get some pro and con feedback for the different lakes. We visit Italy twice a year, but this will be our first stay in the lake region before driving down to Tuscany for a weeks stay. Let's pretend this may be the only time we stay in the lake region and want to see as much as possible. Is our decision on Orta best for us? We will have a car and can make day trips or we may just relax and enjoy the surroundings of our hotel and lake. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Sharon

Well, we LOVE Lake Garda and stay at a lovely place, Villa Giulia in Gargnano. Quiet but walking distance to the town where there are excellent restaurants and wonderful strolling on the lake. The hotel sits right on the lake with many rooms having lake views....incredible breakfasts taken either outdoors on the patio overlooking the lake or indoors. Day trips to other towns are a pleasure and boating and swimming just a stones throw away. If you should decide to go there, make sure to ask for a room in the main house...these are very, very charming! Sorry I can't comment on Lake Orta...we're just real Lake Garda fans!

Donna Marie, Am I missing something? When I click on the pricing, it gives me a long list to read, but not prices. I tried clicking on the calendar for the days I wanted, thinking that might show the prices, but nothing.
Sharon

Sharon, I think your decision for Orta is a good one--you will love it. The obvious day trip from there is to Stresa and the Borremean Isles. I would also add Villa Taranto north or Stresa on Lago Maggiore---best gardens I have seen in Italy. Also, read about the Centovalli train trip from Locarno to Domodossala and the Val Versasca north of Locarno. Lots to see in this area--no reason to drive 3 hours to Garda.

Hey, Donna Marie...

We're neighbors: I'm across the bay in Fairfax.

Why do you like Lake Garda over Como? Can one boat from Gargnano to other nice villages? Is it less swarming with tourists?

I may start another thread on this, but I'm looking at my first visit to the lakes region for about 3-4 nights between a stay in a Tuscan B&B, and arrival in Venice on 19 September.

Knowing nothing of the area, I'm trying to decide on a good place for a lake region introduction from which I can drive (not a rental car) fairly easily to Venice in a few hours.

I was thinking Varenna, from which I would boat around Como; but I gather everybody thinks it's dumb to take a car rather than train there: is it that the road to Varenna is hard, or that there's no parking there? If I wanted to train to Varenna, where would I leave my car? Is Varenna less zooey than Bellagio?

Also, can anyone recommend a website for the Lake Region which isn't commercial, but gives one a "big picture" orientation to the region, maybe maps of it with the names of villages, etc?

Karen

quote:

Originally posted by Karen Mickleson:
...can anyone recommend a website for the Lake Region which isn't commercial, but gives one a "big picture" orientation to the region, maybe maps of it with the names of villages, etc? Karen

I suggest Lario online.

Orta is the bomb! I don't care for the other lakes much.My wife LOVES IT!!!! RR

Donna Marie,
We also spent several days at Villa Giulia on Lago di Garda and LOVED it! Charming, beautiful grounds, plenty to see and do around the lake, go up to Riva for a daytrip, restaurants nearby, spectacular scenery, Limon di Garda, boat to Sirmione, swimming (I could go on...)

This past summer we spent a week on Lago di Garda (Desenzano) and four days on Lago D'Orta. They were quite different experiences but each was enjoyable.
Garda is a much larger lake with a network of ferries which can take you to several beautiful towns such as Limone, Malcesine, Riva del Garda and Torri del Benaco. Desenzano and Sirmione have fabulous public markets.
Orta has more of a small-town feel to it. There is a very pretty main piazza with all kind of restaurants and shops. There are also some nice churches and the St. Francis shrine/walking trail.
The one difference I found was that on Lago di Garda, people used the lake. There are beaches and people actually swim and boat on it. I didn't see any real beaches on Orta and I didn't see anyone in the water. While we were at Orta we stayed at a hotel with a pool and the lifeguard told us that he grew up there and he would never swim in the lake.
I guess the test is whether one could see himself returning to a particular place. I could see myself going back to Garda, but I don't think I'll ever make it back to Orta.

I'm keeping out of this discussion for obvious reasons... HOWEVER... there is NO DOUBT which is THE lake to visit!!!

Ciao and what ever you choose you'll have a great time

I can't weigh in on Orta from personal experience, although I have read some very complimentary things about it from trusted Slow Travelers. Having spent time on both Lakes Como and Garda, I can tell you that although Garda is beautiful, and there are some lovely towns on its perimeter...especially Gargnano, my favorite is Lake Como.

Lake Como is indescriably beautiful, romantic and elegant and old-world. But then again, we were fortunate to be staying at the gorgeous Villa d'Este. One of my most favorite day trips EVER was to the Villa Balbianello, where Vanessa Redgrave's "A Month by the Lake" was filmed, followed by pranzo at the Isola Comicina (By the way, the scenery of Lake Como in that movie is wonderful.)

Which ever of the lakes you choose, you will not go wrong....all have their individual characteristics, charm and beauty.

quote:

where Vanessa Redgrave's "A Month by the Lake" was filmed

One of my most favorite movies! I can watch that closing scene over and over! The visual complemented with the lovely music of that scene is quite moving.

Peter