Casa Giardinetto

The lake is less than a 10-minute walk away, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the center of Stresa through the park. The hotel is in the center of a pretty little village, and Barbara was a very kind host. After we checked out and had car problems, she even called to arrange an appointment at the garage. We had a wonderful stay in a spacious room with an excellent bathroom.

Parking is the only drawback, though it’s difficult along much of the lake. Drop your bags at the room, then park in the small streets behind the church opposite the post office. It’s a 5-minute walk back, but be aware the slope is 40%. The room is a 10-minute walk from the docks where the boats to the Borromean Islands depart.

The bathroom had a nauseating smell throughout our stay, and its cleanliness was questionable. We chose this place because of the good reviews, but were very disappointed by the welcome, cleanliness, and the manager’s behavior. We followed the check-in and check-out time slots, which were only two hours, yet never met our host during our three-night stay. The key was left stuck on the room door, with a message saying she’d come back. This isn’t really a hotel or guesthouse, just a room accessed through a building courtyard, with no reception, welcome, staff, or welcome message. We tried contacting her several times without an answer. On Sunday, we expected the manager to show up for checkout. We texted and messaged through Booking to say we wanted to leave, and heard her phone ring in the courtyard when we sent them. She must live in the building, but said she wasn’t there because she was working, and that she had our credit card imprint anyway. She didn’t even ask how the stay had gone. It seemed like money was all she cared about, and she treated us like pigeons without apologizing. We informed Booking, which got in touch with the manager, but she didn’t want to offer a commercial gesture. It was an expensive stay for the services provided.

The price was excessive. A farmhouse would have offered more for less.