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Help deciding if I want to add a third stop

Posted by on

Hi All,

So after 20 years of marriage, many challenges caring for elderly parents, and 4 kids we are finally going to be able to go somewhere together for more than 2 nights (that doesn't involve a hospital trip to have more children). Luckily, that place is Italy, and even more fortunate my wife's sister is relieving us for 8-9 days. We are pretty much set on flying direct to Milan and then spending 2-3 days in the Lake Como area. I have also penciled in a couple of days in Portofino. I also had designs on visiting a small hotel right on the border of Tuscany and Umbria that comes highly recommended but I am starting to think we might be spreading ourselves thin. For the Italy pros, should we just make the most of what we are already thinking and leave Tuscany for another day, or should we go for it? For some insight, we are going to be doing some sightseeing, but I would classify this trip more along the relaxation/relationship mindset than turbo tourist. Lots of good food, good wine, and down time.

Posted by
5107 posts

I would choose two--and savor every second!
If you arrive early in the day and can press on to the Portofino area (highly recommend Santa Margarita Ligure or Camogli) first, and then if you don't depart too early, you can probably stay in Lake Como until departure and not have to do three stays with a night in Milan.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate the idea of hitting Portofino first. That makes a lot of sense, as I was thinking the opposite chronologically.

Posted by
4657 posts

How wonderful you can get this trip away together.
I want to give you that 3rd location for different scenery, but time taken up by getting around may make it not worth it.
You don't say whether you are returning g from Milan Airport, or whether you will have a car or rely on trains.
When I did a quick check, Lake Como to Portofino looks to be several train and bus legs and over 5 hours. Driving is over 3 hours. Getting to the Umbria border is going to be a good chunk of your day. Any Italian transport is going to be a learning curve...perhaps best to limit the moves, or choose a location closer to Milan...or at least on a more direct train line.

Posted by
3 posts

We will be departing from Milan also. For transport, we will have a private driver. I know, it costs a fortune...but this is a rare outing for us, and I don't want to waste time trying to figure it out myself. I really need this trip to go as right as humanly possible.

Posted by
7886 posts

Brian, it sounds like this trip is well-deserved. I hope you both have a wonderful time!

A couple of comments which are not trying to talk you out of anything. Please do exactly the trip you want!

The time you have is preciously short, so I would recommend maximizing your “enjoying & doing” time vs. the travel time between locations. To go from Varenna at Lake Como to Portofino will be more or less five hours on the trains. To return to Malpensa or Milan is another four hours.

Italy is absolutely wonderful with a variety of things to enjoy! I see that you have chosen two water locations. So, I would tend to advise picking one water location and one that sounds like your Tuscany/Umbria location. If you could describe what’s intriguing you about that hotel or describe the appealing part of the location, we may be able to come up with options that might be closer to the Milan area, maximizing your time overall.

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