We will be finishing our RS Village Italy tour in Lake Orta and need to get to the Milan Central Train Station. From there we will be heading to Santa Margherita Ligure for a few days. How do people finishing the tour get to Milan and how long does it take? I am sure some people will be heading to the airport, but we need to get to the Milan Central Train Station. Maybe someone who has done Village Italy can give us some idea on how people got to Milan when finished with the tour. Thanks for any tips and ideas.
Posted by
Puyallup, WA
136 posts
Our guide arranged several cars/vans to Milan. We went to the airport and grouped up based on flight times. I remember there was a car going to Milan central district - I think it was to hotel(s) but I was not really paying attention. It was a pretty long drive, maybe an hour and a half? Not sure. My recollection of local commercial transportation was that it was an awkward combination of bus and train to the airport but there may be train connections direct to Milan Central.
Check google maps or just wait and talk to your guide. He/she will take care of you. Great tour. Enjoy!
Robbie
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
Several days before your tour ends, your guide will begin asking who’s staying, who’s flying out and who’s going to Milan Centrale. S/he will arrange a private car transport for you. If you are leaving on the morning the tour ends you can join with others in the car, which will reduce costs. Otherwise it’s quite spendy. There’s really not another way to get out of Orta, which was the one element of the Village Italy trip we didn’t really like.
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
Failing that, the train is 2 changes at Novara and Milano Centrale to Sant Margherita Ligure, Or an early morning departure with 3 changes at Novara, Alessandria, and Genova Piazza Principe.
Schedule at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en, departing from Orta-Miasino.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
My experience is the same as the others...the guide will start working on exit arrangements and will offer to group people for van or taxis in to town. On my tour 2 people were taking the train somewhere else so the guide helped them buy their tickets while we were in Levanto as there was no way to purchase tickets in Orta altho the train does stop there. The guides are very well-versed in organizing this so I would not do much ahead of time. Certainly don't stress or worry about this - one real advantage of being on an RS tour.
I'll also add that we (3 of us) stayed an extra night (I would not recommend that) as did another couple so the guide arranged for a van transport for us to the hotel where 3 of us were staying in Milan. The other 2 were my brother and SIL and they were heading to Malpensa after an afternoon of sightseeing at the Duomo. Several of the folks who left the day before did have a van going to the Milan Centrale station.
Posted by
1 posts
We were thinking of staying in Lake Orta an extra night or two after the tour. I'm wondering why you thought that was not a good idea?
Posted by
11569 posts
You will love Santa Margherita Ligure. We have been there twice and hope to return. Beautiful setting, many restaurants, short trip to Camogli.
We did not care for Lake Orta and one night there is enough.
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
893 posts
My hubby and I stayed 1 extra night in Orta and by noon we were looking at each other and saying, "What do you want to do now?" It is an enchanting place, but we had seen it all, walked around the lake and enjoyed it, but we were done.
The guide, Lisa Anderson, was great and helped us all make travel arrangements, so just know where you have to be, airport, train station or wherever, This was our first RS trip and Lisa and the itinerary hooked us! We've done 7 RS tours and planning another!
Have a Great Trip,
Mimi