DESTINATIONS — FRANCE & ITALY
Villa d’Este, Lake Como
Residence Goethe, Lake Garda
travellers, from newlyweds keen to de-stress at hillside hideaway Lefay Resort & Spa in Gargnano, one of Kuoni’s most popular honeymoon hotels here, to mature clients looking for the convenience of an escorted tour. Lake Garda is Newmarket Holidays’ number- one seller across all destinations, while Riviera Travel and Cosmos Tours & Cruises report retired clients make up a huge proportion of their sales to this region.
l LAKE COMO: CHIC STAYS Sitting near the Swiss border, Lake Como has a different feel from
Garda, with charming resort towns and jaw-dropping villas affording a sense of exclusivity, helped along by having Clooney, Madonna, Donatella Versace and Sir Richard Branson as part-time residents. Sell it to
clients who like to take their time, whether exploring its
ornate gardens – Villa del Balbianello,
Villa Carlotte and Villa
d’Este are favourites of Citalia general manager Joanna Pristernik – or browsing boutique shops. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, with biggest resort Bellagio located at the meeting-point of all three legs and the hub for the lake’s boat service. Bellagio is beautiful but pricey
– historic properties such as the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, a five- star residence offered by Classic Collection and Sardatur Holidays, are standard – so steer budget- conscious clients elsewhere. Tremezzo and Menaggio on
the western shore make up the trinity of Lake Como’s most popular resorts, boasting pretty waterfronts and easy boat connections. Como town at the southwestern tip is a good add-on for those who want to see the birthplace of Pliny the Elder or enjoy a view from the Volta Lighthouse, named after the inventor of the battery.
l LAKE MAGGIORE: EXTRA STYLE POINTS Around 30 miles west of Como lies Lake Maggiore, the second-largest in the region. It’s divided between Italy and Switzerland, yet with the grand Belle Epoque hotels and long promenade lining the shores
of the main resort Stresa, it feels more like an English seaside resort in its Victorian heyday. One of Stresa’s defining
features is its view of the Borromean Islands – Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori – in the centre of the lake and just a 10-minute ferry ride for those who want a closer look at Isola Bella’s historic gardens. This is one of the optional extras on Insight Vacations’ Treasures of Italy tour, taking a private boat to Isola Bella for a guided tour of the privately owned palace and time to explore the gardens (€37). Sister brand Trafalgar also finishes its new Secrets of Italy tour with a farewell dinner at Lake Maggiore.
l LESSER-KNOWN LAKES: DELVE DEEPER Both mainstream operators and Italian specialists are beginning to feature the region’s lower-key landmarks, introducing a
84 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 26 March 2015
FAST FACT
Classic Collection Holidays has
added Palace Hotel in Como and Villa Madrina in Garda for 2015
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