Hotel Miralago

That view of Lago Albano, looking toward Rome from just behind the vista point, is beautiful. But you really need a car to stay here. The hotel is dated and needs serious renovation: there’s a lot of limescale in the bathrooms, and the bedding is old. At the same time, the kitschy decor has an eclectic charm. The room was otherwise clean, the shower was warm, and we could see the lake from the bedroom. There’s a TV, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. In the morning, the hotel bar fills up with local people stopping for coffee on their way to work. If you can get a deal, it may be worth it, but with the hotel in its current condition, I wouldn’t pay more than €90 for a double. It needs work.

I had a bad stay. Four of us were put in one small room, and it wasn’t comfortable. The food wasn’t very tasty, and most of the staff weren’t kind. The waiters were the one good part, very friendly and clearly knew what hospitality means. The hotel is very old and needs renovation. I like vintage style, but some things here were awful and didn’t work properly.

There’s no air conditioning, but I never needed it. Mornings were cool, and opening the windows brought in a lovely breeze because it’s so close to the lake. The view was beautiful. Wi-Fi costs extra: €3 for 2 gigs or €6 for unlimited access during your stay.

The bar staff were so friendly and kind, and the service was great. I loved the coffee, and the food and drinks were amazing.