Help with train and ferry travel

When you ask what train to take I am not sure what you are asking. Are you asking about time or type of train - Regionale, IC, high speed? I would go on the trenitalia site and pick the schedule that best fits my time frame. You only have one choice of train from the airport to Milan - the Malpensa Express. Since you show a Centennial address come to our monthly meeting on the 20th for more detailed information.

Which end of Tremezzo? Is there a reason you don't want to go via Varenna?

I think this is why; I picked this up from the Grand Hotel Tremezzo website:

"From Milan Centrale station: trains to Como S. Giovanni station leave approximately every hour.
From Milan Cadorna station - Ferrovie Nord: trains to Como Lago station leave approximately every 30 minutes. Just few meters away from the Como Lago train station you can take the hydrofoil fast boat service to Tremezzo.
Approximately 1 hour from Milano to Como by train, and 30 minutes from Como to the Grand Hotel Tremezzo both by car and by hydrofoil. Updated timetables and tickets online purchasing available on the website www.trenitalia.com"

So yes, you'll want to take the Malpensa Express from the airport to Milano Centrale and then another train from there to Como S. Giovanni, or the M. Express to Milano Nord Cadorna and then another train to Como Nord Lago.

Cadorna> Nord Lago is the one I'd personally do as it's closest to the ferry dock.
(Editing to add: taking another look, the stations looks to be nearly equidistant from the docks so you could do either one).

http://www.malpensaexpress.it/en/
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

If you want to go to Como S. Giovanni station, then you change from the Malpensa Express to a regional train at Milano Centrale station. Or you can take a train from Milano Centrale to Varenna (1 hour), from where there's probably more boat service across to Tremezzo.

You can also stay within the Ferrovie Nord system and connect at Saronno station (faster than going into Milan) to reach Como Nord Lago station in 1h 20m. Either of those stations in Como town is an easy enough walk to the harbor (see Google Maps). See ferry schedules for the lake boats at http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/ita/c_orari.asp. You would want the faster boat if traveling the longer distance.

Search train from Malpensa Aeroporto to Como S. Giovanni here:
http://www.trenitalia.com
Then search boats from Como to Tremezzo here:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/ita/c_illago.html
You can also take a bus from Como to Tremezzo
http://www.asfautolinee.it/wr-resource/upload/ORARI%20PDF/ORARI_ESTIVO/C10.pdf

Coming from Malpensa you don't need to go to Milano Centrale or Cadorna. In many cases you would be changing trains in Saronno or Milano Porta Garibaldi

Varenna is on the other side of the lake and it would be longer.

Varenna is on the other side of the lake

Instead of all the way down an arm of the lake to the bottom....

True, but it only takes 40 minutes by normal boat versus over double that by normal boat from Como. The normal boat from Varenna is about 8 minutes slower than the expensive infrequent hydrofoil from Como. And the view of the lake from the hydrofoil isn't nearly as pleasant as that from the slow boat. IMHO.

I think if you want to get a ferry in Como city from Malpensa, the quickest and cheapest way is to go on a different rail route to Como Nord Lago station, then you are are walking distance of the Navigazione Lago di Como. Take the Malpensa Express toward Cadorna station and change at Saronna to the train to Como Nord Lago. Cost is only 10.90 EUR and takes 1 hour and 24 minutes with hourly connections.

I am sure that there is a lot of good advice here...but you seem to have a HOTEL reservation..why not contact the hotel via email and ask them the best way to travel from Milan airport to their hotel?