Villa Principe Leopoldo

The lake setting and terrace views are stunning. We were grateful for the room upgrade for our special occasion, and had a really spacious place for five days. I especially liked the terrace sun loungers and walk-in wardrobe. Staff were generally very friendly. Breakfast had a good range of food, but the service was disorganized and inattentive. We had to find someone to order, and often the food arrived very late or not at all. They also started clearing up at 10:35 every day despite breakfast ending at 11, so it felt like we were being hurried out before we’d properly started. For a hotel at this price, there were too many missed chances to make things feel thoughtful, efficient, or good value. The spa costs a lot extra, something booking.com and other websites don’t make clear, which surprised us given the room price. The gym is in their other hotel across the road, hard to find, and much of its equipment was old or out of order. Very little on site was free or reasonably priced. Maybe cheaper terrace drinks for guests would even have encouraged us to spend more there. They advertise a town shuttle, but it only runs two or three times a day and was full about half the time. I couldn’t reserve ahead, so we spent quite a bit on ubers.

The gourmet restaurant is excellent, and the private spa is nice, though the charge is so high that I wish they’d rethink the setup and let all guests enjoy it. Breakfast was mediocre, four-star at best. The terrace has an unrivaled view, definitely worth stopping for a picture in spring or summer. It’s such a unique location and a really relaxing place to stay.

The grounds are lovely, and the views have no pier in the way. This is a traditional European-style four-star hotel, grand and ornate, though clearly showing its age. Breakfast was a basic buffet with a small selection. Comfortable and elegant, but it doesn’t feel like five stars.

Gulin’s calm manner, attention to detail, and real care for guest satisfaction made my stay at Principe Leopoldo Hotel memorable and pleasant. I’m grateful for the professionalism and courtesy he showed. His service reflected the hotel’s high standards.