Lakes & Dolomites Itinerary questions

Go to booking.com to see if there is anything available for your dates on Lake Como. It is very late to be looking for lodging there. You do not need a car there, use ferries. If you do keep a car there, Hotel Belvedere up above Bellagio has parking.
Lake Garda works very well with the Dolomites. You could use a car there and in the Dolomites.
Is Bolzano where you will be in/ near the Dolomites? It is the gateway to them. A beautiful area where it is a big advantage to have a car.

I was able to get two nights at the hilton near como, we are reward members and i was able to get the nights on points.

Yes we were thinking of staying in Bolzano for the Dolomites. Sounds like having a car in both places would be advantageous.

Thanks for the feedback!

Bolzano has a really pretty historical center as well as the excellent museum housing the Iceman. It is not, however, up in the Dolomites. If you plan to spend 2 or more days actually in the mountains, you will probably save time by staying in one of the mountain villages like Ortisei.

Also note that, as a valley city, Bolzano can be really hot these days--at least in the summer--a fact not yet acknowledged by many of the local hoteliers. Do not assume your hotel room will be air-conditioned.

Any recommendations for places to stay in Lake Como?

My mom and I enjoyed our stay in one of the apartments of Albergo Milano in Varenna.

You mentioned that you’ll be staying near Como.

Do consider staying in the mid-lake area where you can easily visit many of the lakeside villages via frequent ferries.

While in Varenna, we took a day trip to the city of Como, where we visited the beautiful cathedral and enjoyed a delicious pizza at Locanda Barbarossa for lunch, but were happy to return to beautiful Varenna.

Keep in mind that Lake Como is all about the amazing scenery, which is much better from the mid-lake area than from the city of Como.

Enjoy your trip!

hey hey christine
we stayed in bardolino at hotel nettuno, right on the lake, with a pool and A/C. went a few years back for their fabulous annual wine festival (festa dell uva) late sept/early oct.
we really loved that place, take the ferry to different villages around the lake, you can drive north on the small road along the towns, stop for photo ops. stop in city center at the many restaurants and shops, walk the promenade along the lake. its a gorgeous area with the pretty mountains. hope you find a place to stay. many europeans (british, austrians, germans we met sitting at tables just talking freely. it's lesser known than lake como, famous for movies, george and amal clooney, crowds, that all want to go there. wherever you decide and if you have a car, is there parking available (free or with a charge) driving to malescine, mount baldo with the gondola/cable car, satuario madonna della corona, church that was built into the sheer cliff hillside, to riva del garda then to trento, mountain driving. if you are from USA or Canada get your IDP (coincides with drivers license), a necessity from AAA/CAA. read up on the laws, rules, ZTL's and signs about driving in italy.
you will have a great and fun time and totally enjoy italy, don't get stressed, it will work out.
aloha