RS Best of Village Italy pre/post suggestions

If you have the leeway of a few days on either side, I'd suggest getting there early and spending a day or two in Venice. It's a great place to recover from jet lag and acclimate to Italy.

As far as airports, Milan Malpensa has many more connections. Venice Marco Polo is smaller and easy to leave by bus to Venice. Since Venice and Milan aren't that far apart by rail, it's not hard to make either work.

Getting from Orta to Malpensa is complicated but I understand that the RS guides help people share shuttles to the airport at moderate cost. I love Orta and would want to spend at least another day there on my own. Without a car, though, your public transportation options are limited, hence the need to plan travel to Milan carefully.

Thanks for the tips. Venice sounds much more fun; I was leaning more toward Milan because we need to fly in and out of the same airport and we'll be finishing in Orta. Thinking of flying into Milan, taking the train to Verona for a day/night, then meeting the group in Padua. At the end of the RS trip I was thinking about leaving Orta for Como for a few days rest/touring,then back to Milan or Venice airport on our own via train. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Go with Milan and spend some time in Piedmonte (SW of Milan ~ 1.5 hours). Think Tuscany with no Tourists. Be prepared, very little English is spoken in this region of Italy, but it is so worth the visit. Just make sure your innkeeper speaks English so he/she can help with dinner reservations. You can take the train to some of the larger towns, but I highly recommend a rental car and & GPS.

Hi Brenda,

When I did this trip, I flew into Milan and took the train to Padua. It was very easy to get to Padua by train. A number of the people on my tour arrived in Padua early and then took day trips from Padua to places like Venice and Verona. Both are short train rides from Padua, so this is another option ... settle in and take day trips.

We just returned from this trip and spent 2 nights in Venice before taking the train to Padua. We had a great time in Venice and it is a very short train ride to Padua. Our wonderful guide arranged everyones transportation from Lake Orta when the trip was over. We shared shuttles to airport or to the city center for those staying on in Milan for a few days. We flew to Paris for 5 days and then returned home from there. It was a wonderful trip. You will enjoy it.

At the end of this trip we're thinking about going on our own for a few days from Lake Orta to Lake Como and staying in Varenna. Anyone have any advice for transportation from Orta to Varenna or any tips for Varenna?

I am going on the May 5th tour and ended up flying to Milan. Are you on the same tour by chance? I reserved the 4th at our hotel in Padua. I am also stay two extra days at the end but have not decided what to do or where to stay. On my first trip to Italy the one thing I missed is the "last Supper" that I really wanted to see so I will be doing that. Also I read a while back of a cooking school that will pick up up in Milan and take you to their winery/kitchen and do lots of cooking and eating then bring you back. I have been looking for the website but can't seem to find it. I for sure what to do that if I can find it.

We are taking this tour at the end of June and I spend lots of time online researching the airfares. Found the cheapest and most convenient for us was an open jaws, flying into Venice at the beginning and flying home from Milan, staying one day extra at the end of tour. Bottom line, it can take lots of checking to find a flight convenient for you. We were willing to fly into and out of either Milan or Venice and found the best times and price for us. We are planning on staying the extra night in Milan, never having been there before.

If you can book open jaws into Venice and back from Milan, you'll have a shorter trip to Verona. Take bus from Venice airport to either Pauda or Mestre and then train to Verona - no need to go into Venice to catch the train. Your Rick Steves guide will know the best transportation options from Orta to Varrena. Ask them during your tour.