Lake Como

Last year around Easter time myself and my boyfriend wanted to go somewhere that was a bit different, rather than doing a standard package holiday so I asked around and was recommended Lake Como by an Italian enthusiast. We flew into Milan Malapensa, rented a car, and stayed in a hotel called Locanda Saint Anna which is in Aregegno, one of the small villages overlooking the lake. Lake Como is less well-known than Lake Garda, but absolutely beautiful and because the hotels are all in the mountains, generally I think pretty much wherever you stayed you would have a breath-taking view of the lake. The centre of Como is quite pretty, with quite a lot ...  Read the complete review

This is my favourite place in the world. For reference, I am writing about Cadenabbia, which is in the left hand prong of the lake! I have been there a couple of times, and absolutely adore it there!! I stayed at the Hotel Britannia Excelsior, which is a family run hotel (or was then!), and it was a gorgeous hotel! When I went it was in the process of been refurbished, so some parts of the room were a little old fashioned, but, it was comfortable, clean and tidy, and the maid came in everyday and kept the place spotless. The hotel was full board meaning all food and all drinks were included. But thats the hotel and not the place!!! ...  Read the complete review

Lakes surrounded me as a child. Every summer, my family and I would go to a Lake somewhere nearby and rent a houseboat for a week. These bodies of water aren't often crystal clear. I've been to some that are. Some that when you are in the middle of the lake you can still see almost to the bottom, it's that clean. Regardless if a Lake is murky or clear, they all hold a special beauty to them. In a lot of ways, I love Lakes more than Oceans. Sure, Oceans have waves, and facinating sea creatures, and beautiful beaches but......they are almost too.....vast. You go out on the ocean for a mile or two and pretty soon, you won't see anything BUT water. In my mind, ...  Read the complete review

I was actually quite surprised when we pulled into the train station at Como. I don't really know what I was expecting, but the station was on a hill so as you came out you got a view of the town. The sun hit me and the taxi driver came over and took my bags and made me feel very important. Accommodation was a bit of an issue because it was so expensive. We managed to find a double room for about £40 a night, but you couldn't swing a cat in it and the bed was so low you might as well have slept on the floor. I won't tell you what it's called for fear of getting sued. The other thing that although had it's good points was also another major ...  Read the complete review

Como, a city, unsurprisingly on the edges of Lake Como, is a small 'genteel' city, a wealthy town, too large to be 'just' a resort, but not large enough to reach the heights of 'sparkling metropolis'. It is a pleasant city in which to spend time, the kind that one would possibly describe as 'civilised', where you can imagine the richer, middle-aged Milanese businessmen might spend a weekend, or a couple of weeks in the summer! I hope that doesn't sound too damning because I certainly don't mean it to! Of course, the Lake is the key draw, there are boat trips you can take from the shore, and it is one of the larger of the ...  Read the complete review