June 2
Milan, Italy
Hotel Villa Malpensa
Wild Writing Woman Jacqueline Harmon Butler highly recommended this hotel only 800 metres from the Intercontinental Airport of Milano Malpensa Terminal 1. Villa Malpensa is a beautiful old villa, formerly the sumptuous residence of Count Caproni. It is placed in a huge private garden in the characteristic medieval village of Vizzola Ticino, in the Ticino natural park. 110 €

June 3, 4
Mandello del Lario (Lake Como)
Bed and Breakfast dell´acqua bianca di Annamaria Scanagatta
This is truly a wonderful house with wonderful hosts, Annamaria and Maximo Scanagatta. It's near Mount Grigna (2410m), where hikers from near and far come to trek along the rivers and tin the mountains. In fact, this place is about 50 feet from the trailheads to 5 hiking possibilities. (My favorite is route 15B along a river with many waterfalls and swimming holes.) One of the rooms and the common room have a magnificient view of Lake Como and some small villages with church steeples. There are two rooms, each has a double bed and a pull down sofa bed (good for 4 people per room) and each has a private bath/shower and toilet. There is parking and a covered place for motorcycles. It's a five minute drive down to Mandello or a 1/2 hour walk via a trail - but you have to walk back up again. But why not...if you're motorcycling you'll be needing the exercise. It's 10 km to Lecco, 15 km to Varenna, and 35 km to Como and the road is, of course, one of the most famous for motorcycling in the world. The location is well-connected with Milano (60km), Bergamo (35km), Valtellina (50km) and Switzerland (45km). Annamaria speaks English and Maximo speaks English and French. Breakfast is hearty, the ambiance is homey, and there are discounts for motorcyclists, too!
30 € / night

June 5, 6
Venice, Italy
Hotel Antico Panada (on Piazza St. Marco)
Another recommendation from Jacqueline Harmon Butler. The Hotel Panada is in the heart of the "Sestiere" (District) of San Marco with rooms decorated in an 18th century Venetian style. It overlooks the Calle degli Specchieri, which leads directly, without crossing any bridges, to the Basilica of San Marco and one of the most beautiful piazzas in the world, Piazza San Marco, with its majestic bell tower, the Ducal Palace and the Clock Tower. I found the hotel quaint and friendly but my room was just a tiny bit larger than the double bed in it. Next time I will probably stay in a different area somewhere cheaper. I liked the outlying districts of Venice much better than the central area - but that's just me... Jacqueline also provided some valuable advice for getting to the hotel and into Venice that I included in Logistics. For motorcyclists, the best bet is Parking St Marco, which is covered and guarded.
120€

June 7
Lido delle Nazioni
Grande Hotel Nazioni
So much for camping on the beach...It rained all day and so I rode for a few hours and turned left at the first hotel sign I saw on a beach (lido), and consulted with the grocery store clerks (tourist information was closed) who recommended this place. Stayed on the sixth floor and enjoyed the thunder and lightening on the sea at night, and then in the morning, bright sunshine, yay! Big building built in 1967 of concrete and marble; simple, large, good rooms all facing the sea, great view and balcony for 50€.

June 8
Pescara, Italy
Hotel Alba
A fabulous find in a big city. I rode in at dark in the rain and just chose the first hotel I saw in town. A double (they had no singles) for 70 euros with a bedroom, living room, balcony, bathroom. All huge rooms € appointed with antiques, even chandeliers in both rooms. Very comfortable, which is nice because I'm rained in until the morning of the 10th, according to the weather report.

June 9, 10
Alberobello, Italy
I stayed overnight in a trullo, rented by TrulliHoliday in the town of Alberobello in Puglia's Itria Valley. Trulli houses are round, with peaked roofs and the buildings have become a UNESCO Heritage Center. They have properties priced from 80€ to over 200€.

June 11
Slept on the ferry from Brindisi to Patras.

June 12-19
Greece: the Wild Writing Women Retreat in Kostas, Pellopense, Greece.

June 20
Ferry: Patras to Sarada, Albania (45 minutes)
Albania: hotel in Sarada
20€

June 21
Albania: hotel in Sarada
18€

June 22
Albania: Vlore
25€, beachside hotel

June 23
Albania: Durres hotel
20€

June 24
Montenegro: beach resort hotel
30€

June 25
Croatia: Dubvronik sobe with kitchen, partial view of city
26€

June 26,27
Hvar guesthouse, full board, view of sea, kayak, etc.
30€

June 28
Hvar guesthouse, full board, view of sea, kayak, etc.
30€

Tues June 28
Drage sobe/room with kitchen, view of sea
100 Kuna = $20

Wed, June 29
Rab Island hotel
40 €

Thurs, June 30
Pag Island, sobe/guesthouse
120 Kuna = $21

Friday, July 1
Mira (Venice), Italy
Hotel Villa Alberti
75 €

Had I known:
Villa Serenisma (camping and bungalows w/bath, really little trailers)
7.50 to 55 Euros from camping to bungalows
B&B or Hotel on Alberoni Beach (no recommendations)

Venice Lido Beach accommodation info
Venice Lido Beach rentals (umbrellas, huts, etc.) info

Sat, Sun, Mon, July 2, 3, 4
Mandello del Lario (Lake Como)
Bed and Breakfast dell´acqua bianca di Annamaria Scanagatta
90 € total

Tues, July 5
Milan airport hotel (6 July 6am flight departure)
100 €