Regina Palace Hotel

The hotel's central location worked very well for us. We could walk to Stresa, take boats directly to several sights, and get to Milan by train in an hour. The outdoor pool and indoor facilities were also very well done, and breakfast offered plenty of choice. The food was good, though I was surprised the scrambled eggs were made from powder rather than fresh eggs. Our main disappointment was the room. We paid over €200 a night for an economy room, and got a small, outdated space with scratched walls, barely any shower water, cobwebs on the ceiling, and no view of the courtyard. The description said some economy rooms have a velux window, so I knew that was possible. After a couple of days, I asked reception whether we could move to an economy room with a garden view, as described on the hotel's website. They said no such room existed and that economy always meant a velux window. That wording clearly says only some rooms, so either the description is misleading or they didn't want to move us. I found that very disappointing, and at this price I wouldn't recommend it. The parking garage was adequate, but given the room rates and the very expensive cars guests have, I was surprised it wasn't supervised. I'd call the hotel satisfactory at best. A good location alone doesn't justify these rates.

We picked Regina Palace for a friend's birthday and my wife's half marathon, hoping for a special weekend. It turned into a letdown, and we won't be returning. Before we arrived, we specifically asked to pay €800 to upgrade to a suite because we were told it had a large bath, which mattered for my wife's recovery after the race. At check-in, we found only a basic shower. The staff member who arranged it by phone had completely misled us. When we raised this with management, they mentioned that the room had been renovated two years ago, as if that explained it. They showed no willingness to help, take responsibility, or fix the problem. The poor service continued everywhere, from the bar to reception. Staff seemed uninterested, untrained, or simply bothered. For a hotel claiming luxury standards, the service was pathetic. For the price and the occasion, the stay was a complete disappointment. I wouldn't recommend Regina Palace to anyone looking for honest communication, basic hospitality, or a reliable room description.

The room looked beautiful, with an amazing view over Lake Maggiore. We also enjoyed the large, pleasant pool, relaxing music around it, and a very tasty cappuccino. But this was one of our most disappointing hotel stays, especially for such a special occasion. We spent three nights in a suite to get engaged and celebrate afterward, and left feeling bitter. Even basic things we paid for were missing. On paper it may be a four-star hotel, but it didn't feel like one. We've stayed in places with lower ratings that showed much more respect, care, and service. The room cleaning was far below expectations: there was packaging on the floor, dust and lint, dirty mirrors, and even mold in the bathroom. The pillows were uncomfortable, and some staff were rude. I don't know if they treated us that way because of our appearance, because we were young, or simply because they are rude. We were charged €5/day to use the minibar fridge for our own two bottles. Even after we signed for the full stay, staff still asked if we wanted a minibar refill, which showed almost no communication between them. Parking cost €20/day, with no discount for hotel guests. Restaurant service was practically nonexistent. Our table in the middle of the room was ignored while the waiter focused on nearby tables, although only four tables were occupied. Two glasses of wine were forgotten, and the tiramisu was just one soaked biscuit. The food was good, but I expected more from an a la carte restaurant. Breakfast had very little variety, with tomatoes as pretty much the only vegetables. It ended at 10:00, and staff cleared everything away immediately even though people were still eating. You couldn't even get water. I feel sorry the hotel and its staff don't seem inclined to treat everyone equally and with respect. We won't stay here again, and I can't recommend it.

Being in a suite facing the lake was lovely, and the area is very nice. Breakfast had plenty of choices and was good, though the quality wasn't especially high. The spa was just okay, with one hammam and one sauna that seemed poorly designed and couldn't hold the right temperature. Still, we had a good stay.