Hotel Col Serena

Dinner was such a lovely experience, and the food was amazing. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the rooms at Hotel Col Serena were pleasant, clean, and very reasonably priced. Most have balconies overlooking this adorable area. I wish we’d found this place sooner. I’d happily recommend staying here, or just stopping in for a bite. It’s definitely somewhere to spend a few days.

We had a short visit and really enjoyed it. The people running the hotel were so nice and welcoming, and the service was great. They adapted quickly when our large group arrived. We didn’t stay overnight, but I’m sure we would’ve enjoyed that too.

The food here was spectacular, some of my best bites of 2022. The hotel is run by a wonderful couple, and their hospitality experience really shows. Etroubles is a handy base for exploring this part of the world. It used to be French, so it has a French feel, though it’s thoroughly Italian. I’d never visited this part of Italy before and was pleasantly surprised. It’s very close to Switzerland. If you drive from Switzerland on the motorway, be aware there’s a €28 charge and an inspection by Italian authorities. I didn’t take the St Bernard pass, but I’ll try it next time. I’ve heard it takes longer, but it’s free. ENJOY!

I booked two nights on my own as a rest stop after hiking for two weeks. The first night in room 31 was awful: it was cramped, had no bedside light, and the bed creaked and was uncomfortable. The toilet was broken, and with the ceiling so low, the smoke alarm flashed all night right above my head. The price didn’t match the poor quality of that room, and I got no sleep. Luckily, the only other room available was a triple, and I was upgraded to it for an extra charge. It was very comfortable. The people running the hotel were nice, and everything else was fine.