Ostello Verbania

The rooms were clean and the view was really nice. There is a pool, but it was closed in August. The food wasn't the best.

I would absolutely recommend it for the value, the friendly staff and the location, with a pool and lake view. Breakfast is included and there's a good selection, plus free on-site parking when spaces are available. The dorm bed was comfortable. The drawbacks were the shortage of power sockets in the room and the small number of toilets.

This place is a former villa on a huge plot, turned into a one-of-a-kind hostel with views over the lake and old town. I paid €20 for a dorm stay on a Thursday in late May, breakfast included, and it was very nice: meat, cheese, yogurt, cereal, pastries and more. The beds and bathrooms are good, the kitchen is spacious and well equipped, and there are plenty of tables in the common room for working or playing. The terrace has amazing views. One thing to know, the hostel is 1km up a very steep hill from the old town, so you'll need a car or taxi.

The facilities were basic, but good enough and clean, and for the area it was great value. There's a lovely lake view, a pool and grassy space with day beds to sit on. I'd recommend the hostel if you're visiting the area. Getting there takes some planning: the nearest train station is an hour's walk away, though Line 1 gets fairly close. Make sure you catch it from the station's parking lot side, not out front. There is also a taxi number by the front of the station. Breakfast was very good for a hostel, with a buffet of yogurt, meats, bread and pastries. No complaints there. The rooms are very basic, though, and packed with so many beds that there's barely any room for bags. People end up piling them on top of each other or right next to other guests' bags. Bedding is standard dorm stuff, nothing fancy, but it does the job. Lockers are provided, but you need to bring your own lock or buy one at reception. They're large enough for a day bag, not luggage. The bathrooms are unisex, with separate toilets by gender. The showers are clean and usable, though not great. You can't set the temperature, but mine was fine for a 3-5 minute shower. There are a few cafes a short walk away. We also went several times to Curcuma Risto bar, a really cheap pizza place. Service was slow, but the inexpensive drinks and food made it stand out.