Hotel Garni Rio

For a short stop, such as a night breaking up a long journey, I’d give this hotel five stars. Giacomo’s service was excellent. He was friendly and polite every time we interacted, and on his own initiative gave us a map and pointed out places to go, the kind of old-school hotel service you rarely get now. At breakfast, he asked if we wanted eggs, and I noticed he checked in on all the guests. The location is great, less than a five-minute walk from the train station. For a longer stay, I’d hesitate to recommend it. The building looks old, and the rooms feel dated. The floors are uneven and seem quite thin. The bathrooms have old-style soap instead of liquid hand soap. Wi-Fi worked fine, but the breakfast buffet was very average.

The location is good, though not great. From the room, you mostly see the train station or side streets. The hotel said parking was free, but its lot was full, so I had to use public parking instead. It wasn’t a big problem. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and the hotel was very clean with a good breakfast selection. The air conditioning in our first room didn’t work, so we were upgraded for free to a larger room with a terrace and working air conditioning. Thanks, Giacomo!

Getting to the train is easy from this hotel, and the receptionist was kind and helpful 😊

Air conditioning is a real plus, and the team are so friendly and helpful. I usually choose this place when I stop over in Locarno, since it’s good value. Just be aware that one room has a bathroom with only a cubicle-style partition instead of a proper wall. You’d need to be comfortable with your roommate’s toilet habits in that room.