Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees

Grand Hotel With a Grand Website- Visited late September 2023 We found this grand, historic (1863) hotel while researching a trip to Lake Maggiore. If you are researching hotels in the Lake Maggiore area from the USA, this review will help. First and foremost, this hotel has the finest website of any the grand hotels we have ever seen, anywhere in Europe, with flawless English translation and conversion. So, you can see the calendar, run the dates, see the prices, understand the offers, see the rooms, see the grounds, determine the hotel’s location, see the dining options, arrange for transfers from the airport, get flowers in the room, arrange spa treatments, find the names and e-mail addresses for all of the concierges and the spa, and do everything else. The website also accurately portrays everything, what you see is what you get, and there are no hidden charges or fees when you check out – a flawless booking procedure. The website is a huge help. Specifically for us, after using the hotel to pick us up at the airport in Milan in a Mercedes sedan, we did the three-day spa package, which gave us a full day of spa treatments (that we did not have to pick out), as well as half-board meals for each day, which was either their set lunch or dinner, or a total of a $132 food credit, to apply as you liked each day. After booking, we decided to add a fourth night to our three day package to see more of the area, so we just e-mailed the concierge, who also booked a dinner reservation for us at Ristorante Charleston, and made other arrangements for us. This was important, as you need to make reservations or e-mail ahead for most attractions and restaurants in Italy these days. We were often greeted by name wherever we walked up to a venue which had our reservation. The concierges were quite good and responded to all emails swiftly and clearly. We do not speak Italian but the staff was not stuffy, nice to Americans, and very helpful in all cases, and we tipped accordingly. The guests were British, American, Australian and Italian, and during the day there were local business meetings in the larger parlors and ball rooms. The spa, and the hotel, were both fully remodeled during COVID (2021), and they have both the grand majestic historic hotel feel, with a cutting edge European style spa. It also has a swim-out spa pool, and an outdoor, warm weather pool with a bar, both of which overlook the lake. Our room overlooked the lake and its water-side promenade, and the hotel even has private boat pier and landing if you hire a boat to tour the Borremes Islands. There is also a beautiful classical fountain in the garden behind the hotel which chimes and lights up on the hour. The included breakfast, with rotating pastries, eggs, and even a leg of prosciutto, abundant coffee service, was excellent each morning. The room was very clean, large, with a comfortable bed, and a both daily and with a nightly (turn down service) which was never overlooked. The hotel is walking distance to two nearby lake ferry landings, and Stresa.Stresa is a lovely town with numerous gelaterias, wine shops, stores, and restaurants, and well worth an afternoon or two at least. We also did a day excursion to Lake Orta, and a full day private boat tour of the Borremes Islands, with private tour guide Michaela Luccini and husband Davide Ferri who we found on Trip Advisor/Viator (both were amazing). While it was definitely a bit of a special splurge for us, as is any grand hotel in Europe which we have stayed in, we would repeat every single thing we did there.

We have just returned from an exceptional stay at this hotel. we had two rooms ours was amazing with views across the lake. We had a turn down service which was lovely. My Son and Daughter in law had the Garden room which was smaller which they were very happy with the only disappointment there was not coffee or tea making facilities. Also there is no iron in the room, apparently this is to do with safety. The breakfast room in magnificent , breakfast there was lots of choices on the cold food, but hot food was sparse. The staff are excellent very pleasant and attentive. Exceptional furnishing.