Dear Helpline: We are planning a trip to Bellagio and need suggestions on getting to Malpensa Airport. Our flight back to the states leaves at 10 am, so will need to get to the airport 2-3 hrs prior. We don't know if we should consider reducing one night in Bellagio, to travel to Milan the day before the flight to make the trip to the airport easier to insure we make it to the airport. Can you advise and also, the method of transportation via bus, train, etc. I do not know if there are early departures from Bellagio that would get us there by 7-8 am the latest. Thank you in advance.
Laura
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Laura, Given the fact that your flight is at a relatively early hour and you'll need to be there about two-hours prior to departure time for international flights, I'd probably plan on spending the last night in Milan. That would allow you to sleep-in (somewhat) and have a leisurely trip to the airport. There are two other options but they won't work as well: (1.) Travel by Ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and then train to Malpensa. There's a train departing Varenna at 05:36, arriving Malpensa Aeroporto at 08:13 (33-minute change at Milano Centrale). The difficulty with this approach is that I'm not sure the Ferries will be operating at that time of morning, so you might not be able to get to Varenna to catch the train. The more severe problem is that you'd probably need to be awake at about 04:00! (2.) Travel by boat / hydrofoil to Como and use the LeNord Railway to Milan and the airport. Again, I don't believe the boats will be operating that early (and of course the early wake-up time). Happy travels!
Posted by
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
104 posts
By all means, spend the last night in Milan. In 2007 we finished our trip in Varenna. We were leaving early on a Saturday and had read that the travel agency in Varenna could arrange a bus to take people to the airport. We got there and found out that they no longer had a bus. The time that we had to depart was well before the train to Milan began to run. It was too late to arrange a hotel in Milan, so we had to pay for a cab for a ride to the airport. It was a huge expense! Of course, there was the travel thrill. Going through the very back roads of Northern Italy at 4:00 AM, seeing the hookers plying their trade in the most remote area that you can imaginejust staggered us to think how dangerous that must be. Of course, the cab got pulled over by police who were curious as to why a cab would be in that area at that time of morning. Also, Malpensa airport is a nightmare. Not unattractive but quite inefficient. They jammed a full passenger load into this tiny waiting area with only about 12 seats, after we had all checked in at the gate, they decided that everyone had to do so again, so we all had to squirm around each other to get up to the gate again. It was also the first airport where I saw a service to wrap your baggage in plastic that discourages theft by baggage handlers. Never want to go through that place again if I can help it. Still, Lake Como seems to make it all worthwhile.
Posted by
Monroe Township, New Jersey, USA
42 posts
We have cut our last day short in Bellagio because we have a flight from Milan back to New York. Our flight is also at 10:00 A.M. and we are ending our vacation at a hotel at the Milan Airport. I think you are cutting your time way to close at the airport. Even if you can get to the airport by 8 you could still miss your flight. The cost and stress of rescheduling a flight is not worth one more night at beautiful Lake Como. Security lines alone could take forever!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
906 posts
Laura,
Malpensa is NOT in Milan, it is about an hour north of Milan. You can get a room in Galerate for the night and make it easy on yourself. Consider leaving Bellagio and going to Galerate late afternoon the day before you depart. I used the Best Western there, it is called The Jet and you can find it on the BW website.