Train scheduling from Varenna to Malpensa airport

It would be less stressful to go to Milan the day before. You never know if the train Varenna to Milan will be late.
I was at Malpensa last May. The only thing that was kind of stressful to navigate was the walk from the train station to the terminal if you opt to take the train to the airport.
I flew out at 10:30 am and it was pretty busy. The security baggage screening was like maze like.

It is never wise especially for infrequent or first time travelers to have to make several connections with a relatively short time line. You flight may be 10.25 but it is really 9.45 since the check-in counter will shut down 45 mins prior to departure. I would rather spend an extra hour or even two at the airport to make sure I don't miss the plane.

When we were last in Varenna I noticed a lot of advertisements for car service from there to Maplensa. You could probably find the companies with Google and decide if the price sounds OK.

Since your Rome flight is an international one, the recommended arrival time at the airport is 3 hours ahead of the scheduled departure time.

Generally, most poster on this forum do not recommend spending the last night so far away, especially for an international flight. We always spend the last day or two in the departure city to avoid any misfortune. Milan is an interesting city with many fine hotels, interesting sites to see, and great restaurants.

Buon viaggio,

It is more than an hour to drive from Varenna to MXP. About two hours by taking trains, if all the stars align. You need to be at the airport by 7:25.

Stay in Milano, near the train station, at Hotel Berna or Garda, five minutes' walk to the station.

Leave Varenna late the day before and stay near the airport the night before flying.

Do you really want to get up at 4 AM.... and hope nothing goes haywire?

My sister finishes her trip to Italy next month in Varenna as well, before flying home from Malpensa. Her flight is not til 1pm, yet they have scheduled the last night in Milan, even securing tickets for The Last Supper for their penultimate day.

I'll vote with the others that it will be less risky (and you'll get more sleep) staying near the airport on the night before your flight.

I'll vote with the others that it will be less risky (and you'll get more sleep) staying near the airport or in Milan, near the train station, on the night before your flight.

Thank you all so much. I will look into changing our reservations in Varenna and maybe leave a day earlier. Well, this is my first "hiccup" in planning, hopefully will be my last! I am glad I am not already in Varenna and discovering this the day before we leave!

Next question. We have decided to stay near Malpensa airport our last night since our flight to USA is early. We won't have time to explore Milan, so would just like to stay in a hotel with an airport shuttle service and restaurant for dinner. Any suggestions?

Also, if the hotel is very near airport, can we still take the train from Varenna to Milan then take the Express to the airport and then get to the hotel by shuttle or taxi?

Thanks!

Yes there are several hotels by Malpensa with shuttle service from Terminal 1. Crown Plaza comes to mind.

The Sheraton is located IN the airport at Malpensa.

We stayed here--- https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-malpensa/best-western-hotel-cavalieri-della-corona/propertyCode.98235.html

Nice room, comfy bed, good price

Free shuttle to/from airport.... just be sure to reserve a time for the shuttle to airport when you check in. Place is popular with folks who have early flights