My flight leaves from Malpensa T1 at 10:05 a.m. Am thinking of staying the night before in the hotel in Como where my guided trip ends. Looks like the train from the Como Bhorgi station to Malpensa (1 train switch) would take about 1 hour 20 minutes and I can get an early enough one to get me there around 8:00 a.m.
Or should I just train in the evening before and get an airport hotel room with a shuttle?
I would chose to stay at an airport hotel and use the shuttle. For me, there are too many variables to stay in Como the night before, but it depends on how relaxed you want to be.
I'd feel more comfortable closer to the airport. If you absolutely want to stay on a lake, you can consider Arona, on lake Maggiore.
From Arona you can take the Alibus at 6:50 and be at the airport at 7:25.
http://www.safduemila.com/alibus-2017-malpensa.lagomaggiore-1.html
Or you can take a train from Arona to Gallarate (27-29 minutes), then a taxi from Gallarate train station to the T1 (10 minutes)
Train timetable below (there are 2 or 3 trains every hour):
www.trenitalia.com
Otherwise, there are plenty of hotels at the airport, but not on a lake.
Since Como town is not a great tourist spot I would stay at airport and relax a little.
If you don't want to pack and unpack at a bunch of hotels just take an earlier train from Como. 1 or 1.5 hour train travel is not unusual to get to ANY airport, it is the norm. If it were a 6 a.m. flight I would stay near the airport. To be at the airport two hours before the 10 a.m. flight just take a 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. train to the airport from Como, and you will have time. I never heard anyone say that they " wanted to stay near an airport"! LOL Have fun!
I'd take the 5:51 and be at Malpensa at 7:10.
Is this flight going back to the States? if so, there are extra hoops to jump through. 3 hours is comfortable.
Why don't you get a room at a lakeshore hotel and leave from Como Nord Lago? In Riva al Lago is right next door. It is only a 1-star, but gets good reviews and prices are right. You are only crashing for the night. Train leaves at 5:46.
