Travelers who need some serious rejuvenation should follow the example of artistic visionaries like List, Longfellow, and Wordsworth: retreat to the serene shores of the northern lakes, Italy’s pocket of paradise. Summer attracts droves of foreign and Italian visitors, and each gorgeous lake has its own vibe. A young, mostly-German crowd descends upon the more affordable Lake Garda, enjoying aquatic sports by day and bars by night. The mansion-spotted coast of Lake Como fills its abundant hotels year-round with visitors seeking Kodak moments and a resort getaway. A playground for the rich and famous, Lake Como’s shoreline harbors a couple well-run and inexpensive hostels in addition to its famous villas, including George Clooney’s. In the neighboring province of Piedmont, palatial hotels dot Lake Maggiore’s sleepy shores.
For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
The Lake Country