best way to get from Nice to Lake Como Saturday, March 28th

From Nice, take a train to Ventimiglia. Transfer to a train to Milano Centrale and then transfer to a local Trenord train to Varenna-Esino. Buy your Ventimiglia-Milan-Varenna-Esino tix at www.Trenitalia.com

On the Trenitalia website, look for the direct trains from Ventimiglia to Milan at 9:10, 10:59, 15:10, etc. The others require changes.
The Nice-Ventimiglia train is a local commuter train that runs every 20 minutes.

You can find trains on www.bahn.de
That site has all the schedules.

Tickets are a bit tricky, as SNCF is basically in a cold war with Trenitalia. But just buy Ventimiglia - Varenna (or wherever on Lake Como you are headed) from Trenitalia, and buy the local Nice - Ventimiglia ticket at the station.

rome2rio is another site that maps out options pretty well, better than google maps for public/private transit connections. And if you are staying somewhere along the lake, the ferry becomes an option for the final leg (I've taken it).

Be aware if you depart at noon the frequency of the train from Nice has dropped (and night service as well sun->thur). They are also doing work on the line this year, so that hopefully trains will increase in frequency and Trenitalia will be let back into Nice directly.

Thank you all so much! Right now it appears there is no train from Nice to Ventimiglia on Saturday March 28th. Maybe a glitch, but it shows the schedule the day before and after. Questions:
1: Should I get a private transfer from my hotel (7am to 8am) to Ventimiglia station so I don't have to worry? We need to make the 9am train from Ventimiglia to Varenna-Esino.
2: I've heard taxi/uber may also be an option but make sure they will take me to Ventimiglia first (bc some may not want to cross border).
Or another option you suggest.

A taxi or private driver will be about 100 euros. My in-laws live next to Menton and they pay about 80 each to and from the Nice airport.
The train is reliable, but if you are a bit nervous about getting to the station and want a more relax trasfer, a driver will get you there via the autoroute in just slightly less time than the train.
I can see trains for March 28 from Ventimiglia to Milan very clearly on my computer.

JWhitt,
What website are you using to see March 28 trains?

It looks like on that on the 28th there are no trains from Nice, but there are trains from Monaco. So it looks like part of the line is closed for maintenance. Usually when that is done there is a replacement bus service. I suppose more details are still forthcoming.

Don't worry to much. Book from Ventimiglia, and arrange how to get there once you are closer to your travel date.

Here is the information on the works and the alternatives:
https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/se-deplacer/info-trafic/travaux/travaux-cannes-monaco-nice-breil-tende
(as I noted, they've been doing a lot of this lately as they work on the tracks to make repairs and increase the frequencies of trains)
If you are concerned you can book a private transfer in advance. It is just one unlucky day that you have to leave.

Thank you all so much for this valuable help! I will do accordingly!

looks like that bus replacement will work. Just need an early enough one

or spend the night in Menton

1. Does anyone have a suggestion for a private transfer rom Nice hotel to Ventimiglia on Saturday morning 3/28? Can't seem to find one except from airport.
2. Any suggestions to take a bus? what service do you suggest?
3. If we took a train to ventimiglia on Friday the 27th, is that a safe city we could get a hotel in for the night before the next morning train to milan? or another suggestion?

Ask your Nice hotel to recommend or book a driver
Or
Check
www.daytrip.com