What an idiot I am . Sorry Bronco -you said Como ! Oh well, if anyone's going to Lake Garda read the above!
Nowhere is more beautiful than bellagio but it is not the cheapest place on an already quite pricey area.Its somewhat isolated at the end of a long promontary that sticks into the heart of Lake Como, though there are good hydrofoil connections to other towns (see a map) .
IAlthough not quite the beuty spot that bellagio is Menaggio on the west coast is a lovely little town with a bit of a buzz -and is easy accesible to Lugano and other areas of Swiss Ticino province.
You may hear about Cadenabbia Tremezzo and Lenno - popular "resorts" south of Menaggio on the west coast- they are very pretty , but quite small;not the greatest craic.
Como is a busy town- acity really. i don't like it.
In the extreme south-east corner I quite like Lecco -a proper town with atmosphere.Not as beautiful a location as the others above but a bit cheaper and more genuine Italian than the plushy resorts of Bellagio,Menaggio etc.