Fonte Dei Fiori

The staff were wonderful, just incredibly kind. A lovely place to stay if you want to enjoy the view and get some rest.

I'm still staying here, which is not usually when I'd take the risk of reviewing a hotel. This feels more like a cry for help. I've never had a room this basic: there's a strange smell, the windows and shutters look like they were past their best decades ago, and the bathroom feels like it was taken from a Ryanair flight to Birmingham. Pretty much one person was handling the staff side, and they were friendly enough, but the rest of the hotel felt derelict. With just a little persuasion, I could have believed I'd wandered onto a horror movie set. I'd even have taken the part of the man killed in act one, just for a change and to avoid going back to my rudimentary room so early. The location is lovely, and the terrace, garden and pool probably make a great summer visit. But if the hotel takes people's money in early November, the experience should match what they're paying for.

The people working here are very friendly, and the service is great. The pool is excellent, with plenty of sun loungers and towels, and the location is great too. The rooms, though, are tiny and very basic: no AC, TV or hairdryer. The bathroom is a cabin rather than a proper bathroom, and showering in it is a struggle.

From here it's a five-minute walk south to swim in the clear waters of Lake Lugano. For dinner, walk around the little hill for about 30 minutes and you'll find restaurants, bars and cafés. The hotel has a big garden with a pool and beach chairs, and the location is lovely. Breakfast was good, with local cheese and lots of bread to choose from. One nuisance: the bell on the Italian side rings at 7:30 in the morning and wakes everyone up. The bathroom is disappointing, made of plastic and not up to the standard of the room, which costs around CHF 180 per night for two people.