Casa Olmi

The hosts were excellent, and the apartment is ideally placed between Lake Como and Lugano, with plenty of nice trails nearby. You’ll need a car to explore the area. We stayed three nights in the two-bedroom apartment, which was spacious, fully equipped, brand new and sparkling clean. What more could you ask for?

The apartment was overpriced and below average, and the online rating seems undeserved. The description was misleading: the hot tub mentioned wasn’t evident, and despite the claim that a car wasn’t needed, I’d say one is. Our bathroom was two flights of stairs below the room, which was inconvenient. On Sunday there were screaming children, barking dogs and a brass band. Getting there was frustrating because the hosts’ directions weren’t accurate. When we finally arrived at Casa Olmi, the female host gave us a half-hearted tour and said she needed to sit down because she was tired. We were left waiting for a key while she huffed.

The building and its decor have a warm, rustic, old-world charm. There’s a kitchen for guests to cook in, and the hosts are welcoming and helpful. It’s a good base for exploring Lake Como from the Intelvi valley. We’d recommend it!

A charming area, clean rooms and parking close by. The owner is easygoing, and the place has a nice balance between a professional hostel and a family-run B&B. Seems well suited to students, young couples and families.