B & B in Varenna Italy

I can't help with suggestions, but I hope they are okay. They are so nice, especially Piero.

I have a suggestion though it's not specifically for a B&B. We stayed at Albergo Milano & loved it. We had a room with a lakefront balcony & the views were incredible. The rate included a nice breakfast buffet & we had told the owners that we needed to leave really early on our last morning for the airport & they were kind enough to set up an assortment of breakfast items for us on a table in the dining room the night before so we could eat before heading out. They offer dinners there as well & I heard the food was really good though we didn't eat there. The room we stayed in was very comfortable and clean.

THanks for the idea. I did email them tonight so I'll see if they have any rooms available. It makes it more difficult since we have three people, and June is coming soon! I'm such a planner that I had everything set many months ago. It makes me nervous to have it be this close now with no reservations!

Susan and Monte, It may be a bit of a challenge getting a booking at Albergo Milano for June, but they have several companion properties so you might be fine. One other suggestion to mention is Albergo Olivedo which is right next to the Ferry dock. They also offer rooms in a separate building. Even if you don't stay there, I'd suggest stopping by for dinner one night as the food is great! Good luck and Buon Viaggio!

We did get an offer with Eremo Gaudio, and it looks great, only problem is they want 150 E for an upper room with a view - no balcony, and then 50 E for an extra bed which is an "arm chair" that makes into a single. The single doesn't sound very good and then 200E or $300 sound way too high for us! Nothing else yet!

Susan, I hope you have gotten some responses by now. Ken says, "One other suggestion to mention is Albergo Olivedo which is right next to the Ferry dock. They also offer rooms in a separate building. Even if you don't stay there, I'd suggest stopping by for dinner one night as the food is great!" I have to disagree. We did have dinner there one night and got totally ripped off. The food was okay, but the service was lousy, and they brought us salad which we didn't ask for and then charged us for it. When they gave us the bill it was literally a torn off scrap of paper with scribbles and a number at the bottom for the price. We didn't have drinks, I had only pasta and Jim had only fish, we didn't have dessert or anything else. The total was about 40 euros. We only spent 30 euros the next night in Bellagio (I can give you the name of the place - it was great!) and we did each have wine and split a dessert there. Maybe they would have treated us differently at Albergo Olivedo if we had been staying there.

We stayed at Eremo Gaudio in April 2009 and will again this summer. Best view on the lake. A hike into town, but well worth it for the view. You may want to check them out. We are paying 135 euros a night for a lake view. Mike

@ Andrea, Sorry to hear that your dining experience at Albergo Olivedo was so unpleasant. I was suprised to hear that as Laura usually runs a "tight ship". I've dined there a number of times with no problems (the last time on a day trip from Milan when I wasn't staying there), so I can only relate my personal experiences at the Hotel. I vaguely recall that I've also received a bill written on a slip of paper. That's really not a big deal for me. As long as the meal is properly itemized and the total is correct, I'm not concerned with the type of paper they use for the bill. Cheers!

@ Ken, I wouldn't have minded the bill on a slip of paper if it had been itemized. My complaint is that there were scribbles (no actual words or numbers) on the paper and then a number on the bottom for the amount owed. That was it. The amount owed was larger than was reasonable for the food we ordered and consumed. We were in Italy for 3 weeks and never had that happen anywhere else.

@ Andrea, The only explanation I can think of is that they were a bit "off their game" that night. I'm not sure when I'll be back in Varenna again, but I'll definitely be stopping there for a meal, and will be interested to see whether I have similar problems.

Looking at a place in OLCIO of Mandello Del Lario about 8K from Varenna. Anyone stay there? The place looks nice- BED AND BREAKFAST FRONTELAGO but it is away from Varenna.
Good or bad idea?

I don't have personal experience with the B&B that you referred to but I personally wouldn't want to be that far out of Varenna. Varenna is a very quaint and enjoyable little town. We liked visiting the nearby mid-lake towns that were busier and bigger & then returning at night to Varenna and walking around the lakefront promenade. It's a really lovely town and I personally would want to stay in Varenna itself. Just my 2 cents!

We stayed for a week (June 2008) in one of Marilena's flats in Varenna. We are staying again for a week in one of her apartments this Oct. I don't know how long you will be staying, but she may have something available. We highly recommend her and her flats. Not a B&B, but they do have kitchens! Here is her website: www.varennaflats-marilena.com
Good luck!

What about staying in Menaggio across the lake instead? You can always go across to Varenna by boat to visit. We couldn't get any accom. in Varenna for last September, and I also plan way in advance. We ended up booking at Hotel Vapore in Menaggio instead. It was spotlessly clean, if basic. No breakfast, but cafes nearby; and they serve up great food for dinner in the evening in their restaurant. The cooks are Turkish . You book by email, with no deposit; just confirm nearer the time. A few of the rooms have great views of the lake, and have balconies. I would recommend it!; and I liked Menaggio better than Varenna in the end.
Look for reviews on TripAdvisor.