Wanderlust in the Works: Lake Como Pre-Planning
- wanderingazuki
- May 24
- 6 min read
Table of Content
🌺 Introduction 🫘
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. – Benjamin Franklin
There’s something about the promise of Lake Como—elegant villas, glistening waters, and long, lazy afternoons—that makes it easy to romanticise the idea of going. But before all that magic? Comes the chaos. This post isn’t about the sun-drenched shores or scenic ferry rides (that’s coming next!). It’s about what came before: the mess, the hiccups, the behind-the-scenes scramble to get there. Because as much as I love the wanderlust-filled moments, the journey always starts with real-life logistics—and a little resilience.
✈️ Ryanair and Resilience 💪
It’s never smooth sailing when I fly with a budget airline… and yet, I always end up doing it. Every time I tell myself, “Next time, I’ll just book British Airways,” but then I see the price difference for a short-haul flight and talk myself out of it. This trip was no exception.
But what I didn’t expect—and had never experienced before—was three flight cancellations due to “commercial reasons.” Apparently, it means the flight wasn’t full enough to operate. I get the logic from their end, but from a passenger’s perspective, it was just stressful. Each time it happened, we had to go back and recheck everything: If we change the return flight, will our accommodation dates still work? Do we need to add an extra night? Shift our whole itinerary? Nothing had been fully confirmed yet, but this kind of uncertainty made it hard to settle into the excitement of planning.
The free rebooking option helped, of course, but after the second cancellation, I found myself wondering: Are we actually going to make it to Lake Como? Will we get home smoothly? Or will there be yet another schedule change waiting in our inbox tomorrow?
I’m really thankful my friend kept a level head through it all. There’s always one person who spirals and one who steadies the ship—and I was definitely the worried one this time. She kept saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll rebook, we’ll adjust—it’ll work out.” And she was right.
🛏️ Selecting the Right Stay 🏨
We started by looking through different blogs and travel forums to figure out the best base in Lake Como. After some back and forth, we narrowed it down to Bellagio and Varenna.
We eventually chose Bellagio, partly because of its prime position at the fork of Lake Como, which we hoped would offer better views, and partly because it was well-connected by ferry to Varenna, Lecco, and Como. It’s also known for having more shops, restaurants, and a livelier atmosphere—great for evening strolls and meals out.
Once we’d locked in Bellagio, the hotel hunt began. I usually start with Booking.com to get a sense of distance from the main attractions—I like staying somewhere central and walkable so I don’t have to rely on public transport too much. From there, I dive into the reviews, both on Booking and other sites, to see what people really think.
Tip💫: I often switch between Google Maps and Booking.com, searching for hotels around a particular area. I’ll go through each one manually, then cross-reference with reviews across different platforms. It’s a long process—but it helps me feel confident I’m picking the right place.
Cleanliness is a big factor for me, followed by price. I know some people view hotels as “just a place to sleep,” but for me, it’s part of the whole holiday experience—so I don’t mind paying a little extra for a place that feels welcoming and comfortable.
That said, the hotels near the ferry pier were eye-wateringly expensive. The one we eventually picked offered breakfast and was about a 30-minute walk from the port. Given the trade-off between location and price, it felt like a fair balance in the end.
📊 Shared Spreadsheets & Trip Planning 🗒️
To keep all our research in one place, we used a shared Excel spreadsheet to plan the trip. It helped us stay organised and make decisions together more easily, especially when we were comparing options across different categories.
Each major area—like flights, transportation, restaurants, hotels, and even things to do—had its own tab. We’d drop in links, notes, rough costs, and our own thoughts on each option. It was a practical way to track what we’d already considered and what still needed looking into.
Tip💫: If you’re planning a trip with someone else, a shared spreadsheet (whether on Excel, Google Sheets, or Notion) is a lifesaver. It avoids repeat conversations and helps you visualise trade-offs across budget, logistics, and preferences.
It did take a bit of effort to maintain, but it made the decision-making process a lot smoother—and way less overwhelming.
🚍 The Pre-Dawn Commute Conundrum 🥱
As the flight date got closer, I finally turned my attention to how I was actually getting to the airport. That’s when the second wave of panic hit. Our flight was so early that I realised I’d have to leave before the DLR even started running—pretty sure it doesn’t run until around 6am, which would be way too late. Somehow I had completely blanked on that when booking the coach to Stansted from Stratford. Cue mild chaos.
Luckily, the early morning buses were still running—just less frequently. I started frantically checking schedules two days before departure, trying to make sure I could get to Stratford in time for the Stansted Express coach. That was probably the most stressful part. I always say I like Stansted because of the direct coach option, and I do… but getting to Stratford in the early hours is its own little mission.
This whole thing was a reminder that while early flights can seem convenient—you land early and make the most of your day—they come with hidden costs. Not financially, but logistically. I always forget how much planning it takes just to get to the airport at that hour.
Note to future me 📝: factor in the transport before booking that 6am flight.
🎬 Strange Travel Traditions 🤯
And because I apparently like to mentally torture myself, around the same time Netflix released a documentary on the missing Malaysian Airlines flight—and I watched it. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it’s my way of mentally preparing for the worst. Oddly enough, I did something similar before my most recent trip too (which you’ll read about in another post). It might be becoming a strange pre-travel ritual—watching plane disaster documentaries before flying. What a comforting tradition, right?
🎫 Seat Selection Rituals💺
Even the check-in process has its own little tradition. My friend loves a window seat; I prefer the aisle. So, we always try to check in hoping no one picks the middle seat between us. It’s our subtle gamble for extra space, and sometimes it works. It’s these small routines that start to make every trip feel a little familiar—even in the middle of pre-holiday chaos.
🌕 Day’s reflection 🫶
Looking back, the start of this trip was far from smooth—but that’s part of the story too. Planning travel always brings a mix of excitement and unexpected hurdles, and while I’d love every trip to start effortlessly, maybe these wobbly beginnings are what make the destination feel even sweeter.
Would I do things differently next time? Absolutely. (Starting with checking transport times before booking a 6am flight.) But I also know now that a few cancellations, some 4am Google Maps scrolling, and even a mild existential spiral don’t have to ruin the experience. They’re just reminders that adventure doesn’t wait for perfect conditions—it shows up, even in the chaos.
It’s moments like these that make cruise holidays feel more and more appealing. No airport drama. No figuring out night buses or panicking over train timetables. Just showing up, unpacking once, and letting the journey unfold.
In the end, everything worked out—but it was a rocky start to say the least.
🧳Your Turn to Wander In 🧋
Do you have any quirky pre-travel rituals or habits (like watching plane documentaries… or avoiding them entirely)?
Do you enjoy the planning stage of a trip, or do you find it overwhelming?
What’s your go-to method for choosing accommodation when travelling?
Have you ever had a trip nearly derailed by flight cancellations or last-minute changes?
How do you usually start planning a trip—are you a spreadsheet lover or more of a spontaneous wanderer?
Are you Team Early Flight to Make the Most of the Day or Team Sleep-In-And-Take-It-Easy?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories and experiences!
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