Where should a Thai family go in Europe for Songkran 2027?
Songkran 2027 falls in full Italian spring. Five Lake Como hotels compared for a Thai family, and when to start planning.
Lake Como is our answer. Songkran 2027 falls on Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April, and April is full spring in Italy. On Como, a family can stay in one place, travel by boat between villages, and come home rested rather than tired. The hotels below are where we would start, each for a different kind of family.
Why April, and why Como
The Voice, 360 Private Travel's destination guide, describes April as "the arrival of full spring in Italy, bringing warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and longer days". In the north, around Milan, temperatures range from 7°C to 18°C, and occasional rain is common, so pack a light layer as well as linen.
The Voice also singles out the Italian Lakes, Como among them, for their alpine scenery and lakeside villages. For a Bangkok family the appeal is simple: the pace is slow, the setting is green and cool, and nobody needs to change hotels every two nights.
Five Lake Como hotels, and who each one suits
Villa d'Este, Cernobbio: for a multi-generation family
Villa d'Este sits in 25 acres of landscaped park on the lake. Rooms are spread across two historic mansions, one from the 16th century and the other built for a queen of England, and each room is decorated differently. The pool floats on the lake, there is fine Italian cooking at Veranda and a more relaxed menu at the Grill, and four private villas inside the estate give grandparents, parents and children their own space under one roof.
Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como (Blevio): for families who want space and a spa
Mandarin Oriental's first resort in Europe has 75 rooms set in a lakefront botanical garden, with nine villas linked by landscaped paths. The infinity pool floats over the water, and The Spa blends East Asian philosophy with a Western approach. L'ARIA serves Italian cooking with a twist, and the CO.MO Bar & Bistrot is the relaxed, informal choice, with lake views from both.
Il Sereno, Torno: for a quieter, design-led stay
Il Sereno opened in 2016 and has only 40 suites, so it feels private. There are lake views from almost everywhere, from the secluded gardens to the 18-metre infinity pool. The hotel has its own dock and a hand-built water limousine for exploring the lake, and the kitchen draws on Valtellina, Lake Como and the Milanese plateau. It suits couples travelling without children, or families with older teenagers.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Tremezzina: for a classic view of Bellagio
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is an Art Nouveau palace set in flowering parkland that looks across the water to Bellagio. The same family has run it for more than a century. Choose it if the view from the terrace matters most.
Passalacqua, Lake Como: for a family that wants a private villa feel
Passalacqua has just 24 rooms. There is a rose garden and an antique orchard, a swimming pool and a lakeside tennis court, an open-air gym in the olive grove, outdoor spa treatments, sunrise yoga and films under the stars. It feels more like a private house on the lake than a hotel.
All five are preferred partners through 360 Private Travel, so our clients receive preferred-partner benefits at each, where available.
At a glance
- Space for three generations, with private villas: Villa d'Este
- A spa, villas and a relaxed bistro: Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como
- Privacy, design and only 40 suites: Il Sereno
- The classic view across to Bellagio: Grand Hotel Tremezzo
- The feel of a private house, with tennis and an orchard: Passalacqua
A day on the lake in April
Mornings are for the gardens, at their best in spring. Late morning, take a boat across the water; at Il Sereno it is the hotel's own water limousine from its dock. Lunch can be slow and long, at a terrace table over the lake. Afternoons suit the pool for children and the spa for parents. Evenings are cool enough for a light jacket, and dinner is the moment the whole family sits together.
How to plan Songkran on Lake Como
- Dates: Songkran 2027 runs from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April. With leave on the Monday and Friday, a family can take nine days from the weekend before to the weekend after.
- Getting there: most families fly into Milan and continue to the lake by car. We arrange the transfer so it is waiting when you land.
- One base or two: for a week, one hotel is usually right. For longer, pair the lake with a few days in Milan or Venice.
- Visas: Thai passport holders need a Schengen visa for Italy. Check the current requirements with the embassy or visa centre, and leave time for the appointment. We build the timeline with you so nothing is rushed.
- Rooms: Songkran is a holiday week for many families. Starting the conversation now gives you the widest choice of villas and suites.
Questions families ask us
Is April too cold for Lake Como? No. The Voice gives 7°C to 18°C for northern Italy in April, with occasional rain. Days are mild; evenings call for a layer.
Is Lake Como good for children? Yes, if you choose the hotel well. Pools, gardens and boats keep children busy, and two of the hotels above have private villas inside the grounds.
Do we need more than a week? A week on the lake is enough to rest. Add Milan or Venice if you have longer.
Speak with us
Tell us who is travelling, how you like to spend a day and what matters most, and we will suggest the right hotel and check availability.
Vanatara Journeys is partnered with 360 Private Travel, a Virtuoso member agency endorsed by Forbes Travel Guide.
SPEAK WITH US · https://www.vanatarajourneys.com/enquiry.html
Image courtesy of Il Sereno (@ilsereno).
