01 The Essentials: Lake Como

ItalyThe EssentialsEurope
Written By Whitney Shindelar

In this episode, dive into all things Lake Como with luxury travel advisor Brittany Pigorini of Unfolded Travels and founder of La Dolce Guida. Gain insider knowledge on what to know before planning Lake Como, including the best times to visit, why logistics and hotel selection are critical, and how to set client expectations around activities, dining, and transportation. From alternatives to crowded Bellagio to uncovering authentic villages and unique experiences, this conversation equips travel advisors with practical tips to match clients with the right Lake Como experience and deliver seamless Italy itineraries.

Key Takeaways

  • The best and worst times to visit Lake Como

  • Why hotel location is critical and could affect transportation

  • Must-do experiences in Lake Como

  • Why to avoid Bellagio, and alternative towns to add to the itinerary

About the guest: 

Brittany Pigorini is the founder of Unfolded Travels and co-founder of La Dolce Guida in Lake Como. After years running luxury events for brands like Facebook, Nike, and Google, she traded burnout for a slower life in Italy. Now based in Como with her family, Brittany helps travellers uncover authentic experiences, from private boat tours to vintage Fiat adventures, showing a side of Lake Como most visitors never see.

Links and Resources:

Whitney Shindelar

Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.

I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.

I look forward to designing your next adventure!

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