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Ahh this is a new post but listed as 2008

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Your hotel is going to be a problem.

It's outside of Milan proper, in the suburbs. Some TripAdvisor reviews suggest there'a a free shuttle from the hotel to the end of the metro line, about 2 km away. But I doubt that will help you get back to the hotel after a night of clubbing. My guess is you're looking at a 35-45 euro taxi trip back to the hotel if it's much after midnight.

For comparable reasons, I'd leave the hotel more than 3 hours before your flight leaves--unless they also have a shuttle direct to the airport. You'll need to take the hotel's shuttle to the end of the Metro (I'm assuming its the red line, since that looks closest. From there, go to Cadorna to either a) catch the Malpensa express from the train station above the metro station, or b) change to the green metro line to take a bus or non-express train from Central e Station. Neither the airport bus nor the Malpensa express will be covered by any kind of transit pass.

Actually, I'd consider a different hotel, closer to the center. Unless your group is strongly attracted to businessmen, who are the hotel's main clients.

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Ahh thanks Clemintis for your reply.

Yeah we have factored in the journey but most of the reasonably priced hotels and the one least expensive near the centre was still half an hour away. So we took a bet on this one as it has a pool and free spa facilities and we got it for £95 for two nights bnb including flights and free spa so thought it was a steal. We don't mind travelling in everyday and will be going to como early Saturday. We will only be going out really late on the Saturday and will have to barter for our cab back, don't mind splitting 40 euros between three of us, or if the club is open to six undecided which one yet we will get the bus train combo back.

Hope they do have the free shuttle still and I like to explore so will be better than just being in the centre. I'm aware the Malpensa express is not free it's 10 euros one way which is a pain, but we will only be doing that journey once from the airport and once going back I hope ;)

Thanks so much for the advice we will ignore the business men as will only have two days so will only be there to crash, swim and eat breakfast ;)

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Think we have to go to central station using the Malpensa express from the airport then bisceglie on the red Line then a bus, if we can go straight to cardono on the green line when we fly home to get the express then that will be easier so thanks for that. Is central station on the map as I've downloaded it but not sure if its the stop that says central as its not a metro stop?? Hope it makes sense when we get there ;)

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Sorry one last question can I get the map express from the airport straight to cordona on the green line instead of central station.. Or am I confused can you get the train from above the metro. As after como we were getting the map express to central station then changing to get to cardona and the biscigelle ??

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#cadorna

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Cadorna is an above-ground regional train station where two lines of the underground metro intersect--the red and the green lines.

Stazione Centrale, often just called "Centrale," is the city's main train station, where you can catch the underground subway green line.

The Malpensa Express is an above-ground train, not part of a subway line. For you, arriving at Cadorna will probably be a more convenient option than arriving at Centrale. There's a good chance your train to Lake Como will also depart from Cadorna.

But getting from the airport to your hotel might be slightly confusing, for a couple reasons. From the airport there are trains to both Cadorna and Centrale. Just check the overhead screens. And many Malpensa Express trains make stops between the airport and Cadorna--so it's not an "express" in the sense that it doesn't make intermediate stops. it's just an "express" in the sense that it's relatively fast.

Let's say you get to Cadorna. You'll now need to go underground--you'll see the stairs down to the metro outside the front of the station--and take the red line to Bisceglie. Note that the red line branches in two, so again, once you're on the subway platform, you'll want to watch the overhead signs to be sure your train is heading to Bisceglie and not Rho-Fiera. From Cadorna, metro trains to both destinations will board from the same platform. If there's a convention or exhibition in town, more trains will go to Rho-Fiera than to Bisceglie.

I'd contact the hotel, make sure they have a shuttle service, and if they do, see if it will pick you up and drop you off from Bisceglie. if not, maybe there's a bus that will get you pretty close so you won't have to take a taxi.

But remember, each of these steps takes time. Time you'll need to take into account when you're returning to the airport. You'll need to wait for the bus or the hotel's shuttle to Besceglie (unless it's on demand), you'll need to wait for the metro train from Bisceglie to Cadorna, you'll need to wait for the Malpensa Express at Cadorna. You'll be very fortunate if this takes 90 minutes or less.

Please contact the hotel and if for whatever reason, they no longer offer a shuttle to the metro, seriously reconsider your accommodations. There's a reason you got such a good deal and that reason is the hotel's inconvenient location for sight-seeing.

Let me know if you have more questions--I live 2 blocks from the Bisceglie metro stop. It's not as confusing as it sounds.

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Also, at Malpensa airport: expect a long confusing walk from the arrivals area to the train platforms. But most people manage. Remember, you'll be looking for above-ground trains. There is no subway connection to Malpensa.

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Thanks so much for the detailed reply Clemintis!!

That makes much more sense now.. It's so confusing even with the legenda key in the corner, but guess its no different to the London Underground I guess. And you have saved me from travelling to centrale when we can just get the map express to Cardona which we will do on the way back from como.

I can't ring about the shuttle as I'm not sure what time exactly we will check in after como, but there is a 327 bus that can drop us near the hotel. You know best how far it is as you live nearby, but I think we will be ok just haha!! We will be buying at 48 hour pass so should be ok hopefully and will just pay for a carnet book on our last day between us we can use this on the metro and buses right? I know we can't on the Malpensa express.

We will be leaving 2 and a half hours max if not three to make sure we get to the airport in time for our flight as we're relying on public transport.

Just to clarify you said we need to get to cardona to get to como, I checked the Malpensa express site and it seems we can go directly from terminal1 to Sarrono then the lenord train to como do lago( excuse me if I spelt it wrong). Or is this incorrect and we have to go to cardona first. We were going to dump our hand luggage in the lockers at the airport then pick it up on our way back to check into the hotel only if we had to come back that way. As it seems from Sarrono we cannot go directly to central or cardonol is that right??

Sorry just have so little time to explore if I get my connections wrong then I will waste more time travelling :( looking forward to being confused at arrivals haha

Thanks in advance for your time !!

Marie

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Sorry on 2 counts:
1) I assumed you were going directly to your hotel first.
2) I know almost nothing about trains to Lake Como (which is a very big lake, so you should probably find out exactly which town that train will take you to--possibly the city named Como). If the website says you can connect from the airport, fine.

But you might also want a backup plan if it's a typically rainy, chilly March day. Which makes me want to ask: aren't there pretty lakes closer to home?

Furthermore, I can't guarantee that a "normal" 2-day pass will be valid for buses to/from the suburbs. I know there are stops on the far northern end of the metro--in the suburbs--where a "normal" metro ticket isn't enough. You might want to make your first stop the Tourist Info area in the airport, to ask if a normal ticket will be valid to get you to your hotel.

Let's see if I understand your first day correctly. You'll leave home, do whatever it takes to get to your home airport, fly into Malpensa, check your bags, take a train to Saronno, where you'll change trains for (probably) Como, wander around a bit weather permitting, go back to the train station in Saronno, change trains for the airport, grab your bags, head back to the airport train station, take the Cadorna Express to Cadorna, take the metro to Besceglie, take the bus to the hotel. Wow. I sincerely hope it will be worth the considerable effort.

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Just deleted what I wrote

Yes we were going from the airport but will now travel on Sunday to como directly from cadorno. The suggestion to do a bag drop was not mine and would have only been considered if we had to travel via the airport.

There are lakes here but I live in the city and much prefer yours :) are we looking at really bad weather for march??

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I can't guess the exact weather for your stay. But it's often pretty rainy and not exactly warm in early March.
Your best bet is probably to start checking the weather forecasts for Milan on the BBC website a week before departure. And keep checking.

And, as mentioned, consider a backup plan just in case.

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Ahh I thought it may have been mild as in previous years the weather didnt look too bad! Knew it wouldn't be hot at least ;) but rain wasn't mentioned so will pack a brolly.

Ahh thanks we have a few back up plans and will still venture into the markets and maybe como amid the rain. Thanks so much for your help