Villa La Romantica

It's not a bad place, but it's pretty out of the way. If you need shops or bars, you'll have to head down to the main street.

The Lake Como setting is magnificent, a little paradise, though the Villa itself sits back on a narrow street behind other buildings rather than right by the water. The parking area is tiny, if there is one at all, and the rooms were nice but not very clean. Meals are served at the counter, and the food quality wasn't the best.

They told me just a few days before my booking that work meant my date had to be changed. My holiday dates were already fixed, so I protested by email and was fortunately offered a room at the Britannia, supposedly because one had just become available. I'd stayed there years ago, but accepted. Given the reviews, I may have been lucky not to stay at the Romantica. Still, the two stars are for solidarity with other unlucky travelers and for the poor organization.

The room was still being cleaned when we arrived at 7 pm, and the staff member we found said they hadn't been told we were coming. The couple who arrived just after us had the same problem. The flyer promised lovely apartments, but the evening started badly: our badge wouldn't open the gate, and the avenue lights were out, so I used my phone to find the steps and held my wife by the arm because I was afraid she'd fall. They cleaned quickly, but there was still something under the bed. The TV couldn't be used because its cables were disconnected and the antenna wire was torn. The bathroom radiator needed to warm up before I could shower, and with Christmas Eve dinner getting close, we went out as we were. I refused to pay and got a partial refund. New Year's Eve was full and I didn't know where else to go, so I ended up staying anyway. Their only offer was a single room in their hotel, where someone else was sleeping. After dinner, the other couple couldn't get into their room. At reception they'd been given a new key after the badge was missing when they were shown the room. Staff had wanted to deactivate the old badge so strangers couldn't enter, but then gave up. At 2:30 am they were stuck in the stairwell. I tried my own badge out of curiosity and it opened their door, so they got in. After that I couldn't sleep, wondering how many people might be able to open my room too. Where was the security? The partial refund and the room let me get by, but I had no real choice on New Year's Eve. Their carelessness ruined that evening and New Year's Day. I want a full refund, and there should be compensation for the distress too. I understand that people make mistakes, but they need to take responsibility. I have a company and do that for my customers when I get something wrong. This isn't just my complaint or the view of a demanding customer. There were many complaints from people staying at Villa Romantica. Six other people I met there agreed, and another group in apartments I don't know complained about the heating after New Year's Eve dinner and said they wouldn't return unless it was fixed. I also have to mention the improper use of a hotel room.