best place to stay on Lake Como?

monty,

I'm sure you'll get a variety of responses, but my favourite is Varenna. It's a beautiful smaller town in the mid-lake area and very convenient transportation to get back & forth to Milan.

For hotels there, I've enjoyed Albergo Olivedo which is right at the Ferry dock. It's an older hotel but very clean and comfortable. You could also look at Royal Hotel Victoria or others. Check the RS Italy guidebook for a more complete listing.

I second the vote on Varenna. We spent theee nights at the Casa Rossa which is an annex of Albergo Milano. Beautiful balcony room with the lake right outside. Varenna is very convenient because it has a train station and a ferry. You can get there very easily from Milan and once there you can get anywhere else on the lake very quickly.

Rick

My vote Is
for VARENNA. IF U CAN JUST FERRY Around TO Bellagio, Menaggio.

Royal Hotel Victoria in Varenna.......splurge for a lake front room. The views from the room's balcony were breathtaking. The ferry is close by to explore other areas.

I try to stay away from RS recommended hotels as I always seem to have bad luck in them. I didn't realize this hotel was in his book until after I got there and an RS group arrived. But, it turned out to be okay.

We just got back from Italy and we stayed in Bellagio at Borgo Le Terrazze again. We prefer it to Varenna and Menaggio; I would say in large part due to the views from our hotel room. They have the most comfortable beds and pillows of anywhere we have stayed in Italy, as well as a delicious breakfast. This is also the least expensive of any of the places we have stayed and by far our favorite.

http://www.borgoleterrazze.com/

We prefer Bellagio, up at the top of the town away from tourism crowds on the waterfront near ferry docks. There are many more restaurants, things to do, places to walk than in Varenna. Stunning views from top of town and out at LaPunta. Varenna is very nice but too small for us.