This was our first stay in the Lake Como region, so I had no idea what to expect. Not long ago, I couldn’t have found Lake Como on a map, so I wasn’t aware that it is not like staying on Lake Tahoe, in that there are many different towns around the Lake, and it is not just one location. My brother suggested I stay in Bellagio, but my plans were last minute, and by the time I ruled out the expensive properties and apartments, we ended up with the Hotel Merloni. It is located a crazy 8 minute bus ride from the town of Menaggio, in the rural village of Grandola Ed Uniti. At first we were worried we’d made a huge mistake, but came to love the quiet, peaceful setting after a day in the busy, touristy towns on the Lake. During our 5 nights, the staff, who was kind, professional and accommodating, came to feel almost like family. We were sad to leave!