We are planning a trip in April 2011. We want to go from the Cinque Terre to Lake Como. Does anyone know if it is smart to make a stop in Milan to see The Last Summer on the way. We originally thought to go from Lake Como back to Milan and then fly home but we are having trouble finding affordable hotels in Milan around April 14th. Any ideas? Thanks By the way we are taking the train
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
Milan is the most expensive city in Italy. Check tripadvisor.com for hotel suggestions. They list over 400 hotels in Milan; you might be able to find one that's not priced through the roof.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8022 posts
I had to laugh at this - back in 1997, I took the train from Lake Como to Milan in the early morning, raced over to see the painting (I think I was the only person there - it was back when they were still restoring it), and still had time to get to my noon flight back to the states!
I don't think that's a possibility now... :)
Posted by
Kihei, Hawaii
475 posts
We are staying at La Duca di York in September and it is pretty reasonable, for Milan :)
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
Steve is correct that it is way too early to look for hotels in Milan for next April. Most will say "no avilability" for April 2011, but that means they just aren't taking reservations yet.
Milan is well worth an overnight stay on your way between Lake Como and your airport---there is much more to it than the Last Supper. We just returned from our trip 3 days ago, spending our last night in Milan, and both our daughters lamented that our time there was too short.
Some of the chain hotels (not mentioned in Rick's book) offer good prices and are well-regarded on Tripadvisor. Hotel Cristoforo Colombo (a Best Western) usually has double rooms under 200 euro even during trade fairs, for example. (Actually we could have stayed there for 106 euro per room, but chose to pay more for a location closer to La Scala and the Duomo). Prices for most hotels are higher during trade fairs, and often lower on weekends.
Also, the jounrey from Cinque Terre to Lago di Como by train is long enough (minimum of 5 hours to Varenna, for example) that I wouldn't want to extend it with a several-hour stopover in Milan to see the Last Supper. Checking your bags there takes time and $$$. Better to enjoy more time at the lake and spend more time in Milan afterward.