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Some recent questions have been about particular places to stay, and I offer them here now, perhaps they will be of interest or help to you.
Q: Just came across your site while looking for info about the Stresa-Mottarone cable car. We are taking our first trip to Lake Maggiore in the summer with our 3 children and are looking for good ideas for things to do. Your site is great, really good ideas and very helpful - thanks! Now have a long list of things we want to do!
We are staying just outside Verbania at the Isolino camping village and I was wondering how easy it is to get into Stresa from there? We are arriving by train and have not yet decided whether we need to hire a car to get about.
A: Isolino is well located, but it's not really precisely in any of the towns. It's inbetween several lovely ones, Verbania, Baveno, Mergozzo, and of course, Stresa. Isolino is about 2 km from the train station. The bus stop, Verbania Fondotoce, is closer, but still 1 mile from Isolino. You can use the bus to get to many of the towns in the area, including Stresa, maybe you saw that link... You can also take the ferries between certain towns, and I hope you do that also. There is parking at Isolino. A car would certainly offer you more flexibility, and allow you to do more. Parking in the other towns during summer months may be difficult, but not impossible.
This reader's question gives the opportunity to bring Isolino Camping Village to your attention. Isolino is a large, family-oriented holiday village on its own private stretch of lake beachfront in Verbania. It offers residences of all sizes, from tent sites to caravans to small apartments. There are full amenities including restaurants and shops, and a very full range of activities. For families with children (this reader's are 6, 9, and 11) Isolino could be a truly ideal choice.
Aerial view of Isolino Camping Village in Verbania.*****
Q: The Hotel Belvedere gets high recommendations online with amazing views and helpful staff. But I am afraid we will be constrained by being on an island and it may cost us a lot to keep getting to shore. One of the former guests indicated that there is a "3-day ferry pass." Is this available? Is it convenient….does the ferry run all day and into the evening?
A: Regarding staying at Hotel Belvedere on Isola dei Pescatori, I think it is a very personal decision whether to stay on the island or the mainland. But to help you decide I will tell you these things. The island is very very small. There are two hotels and several restaurants. There is not much else to do. Therefore, if you are a traveler who will enjoy this solitude in the evenings this will be very special. But if you don't like to feel so isolated, perhaps this isn't the best choice.
As for the ferries, as Hotel Belvedere cautions on their own site, the ferries do not run in the evenings, past 6:30 actually, and so all comings and goings to the island would have to be arranged with private water taxis. And unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, there is not a three-day ferry pass available. There is a one-day pass available for unlimited travel between the three islands and Stresa, for 12 euro. You can refer to the ferry schedule here.
Albergo Ristorante Belvedere is a very lovely spot on tiny Isola dei Pescatori. The restaurant seats about 200, but the hotel only has a few rooms. Even if you're not staying on the island it could be a wonderful lunch spot, as they specialize in local fish and cuisine.Whether this is the right place for you to stay however, is a personal choice, you can visit Belvedere here to help you decide.
The beautiful outdoor dining veranda at Albergo Ristorante Belvedere.
A: Regarding staying at Hotel Belvedere on Isola dei Pescatori, I think it is a very personal decision whether to stay on the island or the mainland. But to help you decide I will tell you these things. The island is very very small. There are two hotels and several restaurants. There is not much else to do. Therefore, if you are a traveler who will enjoy this solitude in the evenings this will be very special. But if you don't like to feel so isolated, perhaps this isn't the best choice.
As for the ferries, as Hotel Belvedere cautions on their own site, the ferries do not run in the evenings, past 6:30 actually, and so all comings and goings to the island would have to be arranged with private water taxis. And unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, there is not a three-day ferry pass available. There is a one-day pass available for unlimited travel between the three islands and Stresa, for 12 euro. You can refer to the ferry schedule here.
Albergo Ristorante Belvedere is a very lovely spot on tiny Isola dei Pescatori. The restaurant seats about 200, but the hotel only has a few rooms. Even if you're not staying on the island it could be a wonderful lunch spot, as they specialize in local fish and cuisine.Whether this is the right place for you to stay however, is a personal choice, you can visit Belvedere here to help you decide.
The beautiful outdoor dining veranda at Albergo Ristorante Belvedere.Aerial view courtesy of Isolino Web site.
Hotel Belvedere photo courtesy of Hotel Belvedere Web site.
Hotel Belvedere photo courtesy of Hotel Belvedere Web site.
Category Article letters from readers, places to stay
