Planning A Visit To The Ligurian Coast and Lake Garda
Many people decide to travel and visit areas in Europe based on historical sites, churches, etc. Our main focus is: what kind of outdoor activity is there to work off all the calories we will eat and drink. Even in our old Marathon running days, the two of us could eat up to and beyond every calorie burned off.
The Ligurian 
Air? That was the easy part. United Airlines (our carrier of choice) from Chicago-DC-Milan Malpensa Airport. United used to have a non-stop to Milan...no more. Lots of airlines fly to Milan. Check them all out for the lowest prices...highest in the summer months. A little less in Spring and Fall (we decided on the end of May).
Train? Italy has a good train system, a little less expensive than some of the other European countries. We like to use trains and public buses. Renting a car is extremely expensive in Europe...their car prices, tolls, parking, etc., is much higher than ours in America.
Travel Insurance? I usually don't bother when we do independent travel in Europe. With the exception of airplane tickets, nothing is pre-paid and we're not worried about returning to the U.S. if a medical emergency occurs. For all other destinations, travel insurance is a must.
Where to Stay? I decided against any of the five villages in the Cinque Terre after reading more about them. They were all very small and it would be difficult traveling around the area if we based ourselves there. I chose a 3*** hotel in Santa Margherita Ligure, a centrally located, nice-sized town with good public transportation up and down the coast. Five days and nights in the same hotel and then go on to Lake Garda for an additional 5 nites, staying in Milan the night before flying home.
How to get to Santa Margherita? Thanks to instructions from the very nice Hotel Fiorina, we took the airport bus from Milan's Airport, to Milan Centrale Train Station and hopped on one of the frequent trains there. Didn't even have to change in Genoa. Hotel Fiorina was about a 15-minute walk from the train station or there were plenty of taxis.
How to get to Lake Garda? That was going to be more difficult. Lake Garda Magazine was helpful but it took a lot more work to solve this problem. (The details on how and where further on in this series of articles.)
Decision-making over...time to pack clothes, passports, ATM card (don't leave without it), get on the plane and go...
