If you’ve ever caught Nespresso’s ad set in a luxurious lakeside villa starring Jack Black and George Clooney, you’ll know that legendary Lake Como attracts Hollywood’s heavyweights — at least that’s what big corporations would like you to think. And it’s partly true. But is this lake, one of Italy’s finest, just for the big spenders?

Locals know better. Since long before Mr. Clooney attracted any tourists, Lake Como, with its picture-perfect location and climate, has been a hub of settlements and small communities, with visitors coming from all over the country. Artists, writers and philosophers have sought inspiration here for generations. Today, many holiday homes still belong to locals who either have their original dwelling higher up the mountain, or in the bigger cities.

Related: 11 Simple ways to save on a trip to Italy

Tips for visiting Lake Como

Even if you only have a few days to sight-see, try to move away from the shopping towns to reach breathtaking views uphill: rustic stone chapels standing strong against bellowing winds, sheep grazing in pastures, children scrambling or biking up mule trails to reach school. It’s unforgettable and can be surprisingly affordable.

Here are 10 ways to do more for less while visiting Lake Como:

A rustic trail near the town of Pigra on Lake Como. Photo: Dennis Matheson

1. Walk or hike

Going by foot is the oldest way of traveling, and still the cheapest. Take the rugged footpaths which start at lake level before winding up at craggy mountains. They may not be found on any map, and there’s your adventure. Switch up your level of intensity by choosing how high or low you walk.

Tip: Follow this link to get information on local hikes.

2. Rent a bike

Move around effortlessly and hit multiple beaches by pedaling your way along the trails lining the lake. In recent years, more towns have constructed paths fronting its shores for easier access to the water.

Tip: Get cycle routes and bike rentals in Bellagio with this helpful website. Giancarlo’s Bike Rental in Sorico (north) rents out from around €15 for a day. You can get a guide as well, to learn some history — and Italian — as you cross the protected Pian di Spagna Nature Reserve. Call +39 338 471 7186

3. Buy spirits from local supermarkets

The Valtellina region is world-renowned for its fantastic vineyards and local wine cellars. You don’t have to sit in a swanky restaurant to indulge. At a third of the price of what that could cost, you can enjoy premier wines sold on local supermarket shelves.

Tip: Iperal is the big supermarket with a mall in Colico (east) in case you feel the urge to shop. Lidl, a German chain, has also quality items at lower prices. Bottled wines from every region start as low as €2.99.

4. Order house wine with your meal

Anyone who turns a stuffy nose up at the offer of vino della casa in Italy clearly doesn’t know how exceptional the local wine can be. Many places have basement cellars and produce their own aromatic reds (it won’t come with any label, but no matter) from the plump Nebbiolo grape.

5. Eat in an Agriturismo

No-frills, farm-to-table goodness is hard to beat for taste and price. Italy’s agriturisimo restaurants are famous for generous portions of food that are locally sourced, often from on-site farms, that you can visit before dinner. Get ready for some serious comfort food cooked with extra cream. You might end up rolling home, but at least your wallet’s still intact.

Tip: We like surprising visiting friends with such porzioni abbondanti as El Mercante serves in Colico.

6. Kayak, SUP and canoe rentals

To get a close-up view of the lake, rent a kayak from the many water sports schools that now offer decent priced options for aquatic playtime.

Tip: Rates can be as low as €10 (Standup Paddle Boards) and €7 (kayak) for an hour.

7. Get locally-sourced tips

Google doesn’t always know where the good stuff is. Local festivals, art workshops, town marathons and private wine-tastings may not even be advertised on the usual travel sites. To find out about events that are open to the public, check out the local tourism office website (before your trip) and visit the office in person upon arrival. Plus, look for events in the local newspaper, and stay on the lookout for posters and flyers when visiting.

Tip: Check out the websites about visiting Gravedona and Lario News. You can also pick up a copy of the newspaper La Provincia.

8. Ride the public bus

Although it comes at sporadic times and you need to purchase your ticket in advance at the local tobacco store (where they sell everything from lottery tickets to grappa), the public bus is still a great way to hop from village to village. Prices start at less than €2 and an unused ticket is valid all year long.

Related: Crossing the Italian Alps by train

9. Fast Boat Ferry

Another option for village hopping: You can cross Lake Como in just two minutes by taking the ferry from Domaso to Colico, or vice versa. Or use it to sail 45 km south in less than an hour, where you can then continue on your on-foot excursion if it’s bedazzled Bellagio you seek.

Tip: Find the ferry schedules here.

10. Come during winter

Layers of light filtered through a lazy haze make the Lake Como region magical in the winter months. Winter is low season, meaning you’ll get prized accommodations for much less, and the absence of crowds make it seem as if you have this gem all to yourself.

Related: Lake Como in Winter: Budget tips for an Italian Alps holiday

The post Northern Italy: 10 ways to save when visiting Lake Como appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

For centuries, this pristine lake and its surrounding mountain peaks have been a prime holiday spot for Italians. Residents of Milan only need to drive an hour to reach Lake Como’s shores. Summer is high season and the water is packed. But in winter, when crisp temperatures drop, so do the prices.

Affordable ski holidays

There are numerous ski towns and resorts in this mountainous area connecting Italy to Switzerland. Costs for a full-day entrance with a ski pass vary from €25-37 per adult. When compared to prices on the slopes in the US that can easily top out at over $100, the Italian Alps offer a pretty affordable skiing option.

Beginners can hire an instructor for the day, and full gear is easily rented in shops near the lifts.

Madesimo will have you flying high with low rates for the ski slopes. Photo: Matteo R

The top three ski resorts in the area are:

Madesimo
Cost: €27 for a half-day pass

The most accessible from Lake Como, it only takes an hour to reach. At 138km from Milan, this idyllic ski resort in Sondrio province is filled with hotels and ski schools. Enjoy 50 kilometers of ski runs, a friendly, laid back atmosphere, and English-speaking instructors.
Click here for more ticket info. 

Bormio
Cost: €20 for a 4-hour pass

About a two-hour drive from Lake Como, you’ll find this pretty town with its historical center and access to the lifts. The restaurants in town are good quality and not too pricey for local standards. It’s more rustic compared to other alpine resorts, and you’ll love walking around its historical town.
Click here for more ticket info.

Livigno
Cost: €32 for a half-day pass

Get great value for your euros here. It’s a tax-free zone where the winter season starts earlier than most places (November till May). Sometimes called “Italy’s Little Tibet” because of the beautiful mountains and nature reserve, you can also hike 20 km of Nordic walking paths. Get a natural high at an altitude of 1,815 m; the highest lift reaches over 5,000 ft.
Click here for more ticket info.

Other Active Adventures near Lake Como

For the active traveler, this part of Italy is a world of endless choices and chances to try new things.

Besides skiing, what else can you do in winter?

• Go ice-skating in Chiavenna (45min drive from Lake Como)
• Rent and ride horses in Colico (a town on the eastern side of the lake with direct train connection from Milano Centrale) or Bormio (also a ski resort)
• Learn to drive a husky-drawn sled in Arnoga, Alta Valtellina (Winter courses start in November and end in April)
• Go boulder-climbing or hiking in gorgeous Val Masino (free, but for safety, rent a crashpad for €8 a day)

Best-Value Thermal Baths

For a relaxing holiday, dip in the famous healing waters that flow down directly from alpine springs. Many resorts have thermal baths and pools for swimming. In Italy, many outdoor springs are free… but what about during winter?

While high-end hotels include private spas and pampered seclusion, the budget traveler should hit the Bormio Terme for a thermal bath experience. Outdoors, you get a gorgeous view of snow-capped Alps while soaking in bubbly hot Jacuzzis. Indoors, a sauna and steam room are connected to the family-friendly pools.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, the water park stays open until 9:30 p.m. with a happy hour buffet included at the on- site bar and bistro. A discounted price is offered for night swimming from 7:00 pm.

Low season price per adult: €17 day pass or evening pass €12 (from 5 pm). Children under 6 years old are free.

Where to stay

To find a budget-friendly place to rest up at the end of a long day, check out the small, family-run one- and two-star hotels in Como, Bellagio, Menaggio, and Lecco.

The post Lake Como in Winter: Budget tips for an Italian Alps holiday appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Why, you ask? Allow us to demonstrate photographically what happened on a recent journey when we overlooked this critical step. Come, Cheapos, let’s take a ride…

Step 1: Fill ‘er up

Unleaded? Diesel? Who cares! Just fill ‘er up. In our case, we filled up a diesel-only car with unleaded gas.

Step 2: Hit the beach

Drive (a short distance) to a picturesque location and park the car. For us, it was Lake Como, Italy, where we spent the day swimming and frolicking, nary a care in the world.

Step 3: Try to start car and panic

When the car doesn’t start and you realize that you didn’t use diesel, go ahead and briefly freak out, perhaps for three or four minutes. Then, if you don’t speak Italian, do your best mime routine to the locals and hitch a ride on the back of their ninja motorcycle.

Step 4: Back to the beach

After repeating your mime act at the gas station – much to the delight of both yourself and the assembled audience – hop in a car with the head mechanic and drive back to your stranded car. (Preferably, your car ride should follow directly behind a circus trolley that is inexplicably carrying the head mechanic’s children.)

Step 5: Get towed

Watch with embarrassed relief as your car is hoisted onto the back of a flatbed truck to take you to the gas station.

Step 6: Say goodbye to paradise

Snap a photo and wave goodbye to Lake Como from inside the car (there’s not enough room in the truck’s cabin, natch) as you make your way to the gas station.

Step 7: De-gas and re-gas

Hang around the gas station and watch all the “bad gas” get sucked out of your car’s tank. Try not to concentrate on how much the gas originally cost. Pose confidently for a photo.

Step 8: Learn your lesson

Swear you’ll never do this again. Yet allow yourself to appreciate the experience you just had.

The post What happens when you put unleaded gas in a diesel rental car? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.