Overall the staff was exceptional and the main building is beautiful and modern. I had a hiccup with a staff member upon arrival and I chalk it up to me being tired from travel and for her, it was quite busy when we arrived. But she was kind enough to address the situation later and made sure our stay was lovely, I really appreciated her professionalism. We were there for a wedding and the main building is in a wonderful location right across the lake. The sky bar is beautiful and so is the pool area.

I was not clear that the room we were booking is in a completely separate building from the beautiful main building. It is behind the main building and is not renovated (thankfully the bathrooms are) so things were very musty smelling with mismatched furniture. The room we stayed in was not the one shown on the Booking.com but an even older room. There are many stairs and no lift . This is labeled a classic room but on the hotel’s website, a classic room is in the main building. This is actually in the Villa Francesca and looks a bit like Grey Gardens in my opinion. Just make sure you book in the main building!!! There are only 3 rooms in the annex building and I understand why as it is less desirable.

After the initial disappointment of not getting a lake facing room, the rest was great. Fortunately we were there over a weekend so that the construction at the back of the hotel was not in operation. This may not be the most striking building in Stresa but it is a great, well located lake fronting property. Rooms are very pleasant and if price is not an issue then book a lake view room. Breakfast is very nice and wait staff are happy to bring fresh coffee and omelets to order. Open air parking is available and very convenient across the side street. The roof top bar is a striking feature with its relaxed views across Lake Maggiore. Drinks are priced on the high side but then you probably only live once.

There was nothing not to like.

Great hotel overall, we really liked: - the swimming pools. The one at the lake was refreshing in the heat and both pools offer panoramic views. - the breakfast. Really good and extensive breakfast buffet with loads of options. - comfortable rooms and great (and friendly) housekeeping every day.

Some pointers for us were: - we thought the prices at both the hotel rooftop and (lake) pool were a bit outrageous. €14 for an aperol spritz is excessive for most of Europe and especially Italy. Other cocktails were more expensive… great service at the pool though. - no coffee machine or kettle in the room. Feels a bit standard in a 4 star hotel to have these. - we felt like the walls and ceilings where a bit thin, as we could hear everything. These pointers where of course our own experience and the hotel was really great and I would definitely recommend!

Perfectly situated close to the lake and a short walk into town. The beach club was amazing and I think it’s the only hotel with a pool next to the lake rather than behind the hotel. View from the rooftop bar was sensational. Room was large and spotless and the bed was super comfy. All the staff were really friendly and helpful.

Drinks by the pool were quite expensive. We asked for an iron for the room and although we were given one we were told we could only have it for an hour, which was a bit annoying asking for it everyday. Theres a gap of a few hours between breakfast and when the pool cafe opens so you can’t get coffee/water.

Lake view was amazing and the front of the hotel is also very well kept. The pool overlooking the lake is fabulous and the pool service was fantastic, you can even order via app giving your table number and the order will be brought directly to you. Breakfast had a good choice / selection. Reception service was very efficient and friendly. Nearby hotel parking is a mega-bonus, especially in Lago Maggiore where it's not always easy to find parking possibilities.

Getting drinks at the breakfast service, we always had to ask for drinks at breakfast rather than be offered. For the price you pay this shouldn't happen!

Things we liked about the property: - well appointed modern room, junior suite had amazing view of the lake (really made the stay special!), shower was spacious with good water pressure - housekeeping staff kept the place clean - the hotel had ample dedicated parking close by - Skybar was indeed amazing as everybody says - the electric shutters (in the bedroom and bathroom) made the room really dark which is very helpful for people who are sensitive to light and for kids who take naps during the day

Bed and pillows were hard. My husband and I can’t say we had deep restful sleep. As mentioned in other reviews, the breakfast buffet was not generously replenished. We usually came down around 9-9:30am. My daughter particularly loved their donuts but only managed to have them once in our 4 nights stay.

The Beach Club is an absolute joy - infinity pool overlooking one of the most scenic lakeside views in Europe. Lucky with the hot weather, but we were there as soon as it opened and plenty of available beds/ loungers throughout. The SkyBar is also a fantastic experience, with sensational views over the lake and Stresa, possibly the best cocktails I've ever seen and decent bar food / snacks as well. The receptionist staff were really helpful and even though we arrived super early before check in, we were able to use all of the hotel facilities and not lose a day hanging about. Very impressive!

It would have been nice to have had the bottled water in the room replaced each day, as well as replaced toiletries. At £500/ night for a junior suite, that was a little bit disappointing to see.

We stayed for 4 nights at this hotel. The room had a lake view and a small balcony. It was a good size and good shower. There was a great Sky Bar bar and restaurant with a swimming pool and fabulous view. Unfortunately I had had an accident in Lake Como but the hotel leant me a wheelchair for the duration. The staff were very helpful especially as I had an injury.

The only criticism was no coffee facilities in the room and the coffee at breakfast was not great. There was an all singing and dancing machine that the staff used, so it must have been the beans.

Excellent location in Stress, walking distance to the town center, and right on the boardwalk. The view from the room was exceptional, with a clear sight on the Borromean islands. The hotel itself is new, clean and very comfortable. The spa and rooftop pools are an added bonus, with the same amazing view. All we could have asked for was better weather. The breakfast was plentiful, varied and very tasty. The hotel restaurant was also very good, among the better dining experiences we had in the region.

The system to lower the blinds in the room is very noisy. You can get woken up in the morning by a neighbouring room raising or lowering theirs.

The location is very good - a short walk into the centre and the boat/ferry stop. The views are amazing. Both pools are really nice although busy. So whilst the facilities are amazing, there is no guarantee you’ll get a lounger if you don’t go in the morning. The breakfast is very pleasant and service in there good. The staff at the front desk are nice although very busy and not able to give lots of help. The room is great, aircon works well and the balcony has a great view - we were floor 3. I had the most amazing massage - highly recommend.