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Back to Grand Hotel Menaggio
Dear Kirill,
Italy was wonderful and relaxing, and by the end of it I had convinced myself I would be fluent in Italian after just another few days. Yes, the wine helped.
The hotels we reserved through you were as stated, and very comfortable. Grand Hotel Menaggi o with rooms facing Lake Como is a real treat. The area is simply magnificent. Our absolute favorite spots were:
- Varenna because it is beautiful and has it all: frequent boat service of all ilks (mid-lake shuttle, fast boats, regular boats...), beautiful lake front with a long and charming promenade, great artisanal Gelato place (oh no, I didn't write the name! But it is just past the Ristorante Vecchia Varenna and proclaims home-made gelato, with pretty pillows thrown on the stones and stairs next to it for people to plop onto while enjoying their ice cream), the villa Monastero with gardens to visit within easy walking distance, a church and village center up above, a train station (super easy service to Milan, Como etc - a huge plus), and ruins up a hill for those who like steep hikes.
- Gravedona, up North, for its slightly less tourist-y feel and incredible old church (S. Maria Del Tiglio). The staff at Hotel Lauro (up a bit in the village) is extremely friendly and the food there is pretty decent.
But staying in Menaggio also offered us the convenience of the bus lines that run over the West side of the lake. Going to Lugano for a day trip was a breeze (although Lugano itself was a bit of a surprise: most museums we tried were either closed for no apparent reason or for renovation. Pretty town though, with a very attractive market-like area close to the posh shopping district, and a great park overlooking the lake).
Back to the Grand Hotel Menaggio: it could add shower curtains around the tubs of the "better" rooms and then the stay would be completely up to American standards of comfort (quite an achievement). This bit about showers and shower curtains is a pet peeve of mine with many hotels in Europe (since I'm European myself, I can pick on it!). Add to its comfort the convenience of its location, right by the boat dock (and no, it's really not that noisy or stinky, as I'd read in some reviews: boat service stops for several hours at night and the hotel's windows are not that thin at all) and the old-world grandeur of it all, and it makes for a really wonderful vacation.
Rome was as we remembered in some ways and different in others - we'd been there for a full week 7 years ago and managed to squeeze 2 1/2 days on this last trip. I was shocked at how dirty it is though, and wonder whether they are having a bigger litter problem than they used to. A lot of trash in the street, a lot of people throwing stuff around, especially cigarette butts. Such a beautiful city though, with those amazing layers of history built one upon the other. We started our vacation with a week in NYC before flying off to Italy, and if NY is the City that never sleeps then Rome is the City that does not know night from day. It is in constant and exciting, if tiring, motion. The Antico Palazzo di Roma hotel is very conveniently located a very short walk to or from Roma Termini, and it is quite stunning. Water pressure in the shower was a problem, but not a fatal one (did I mention that I usually have problems with showers??). We spent hours walking all over the City this time (we had spent most of our time taking the subway from one famous site to another at our last visit) and getting lost is almost impossible, so I'd encourage anyone to do that. The food was outstanding everywhere we went.
We also spent 1/2 day in Milan and visited the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e delle Tecnica Leonardo da Vinci. I thought it was a ball - my mom did too. My husband wasn't quite as excited, he thought a lot of the exhibits, which are often hands-on, were damaged or not working as announced, which indeed they were. But I found the atmosphere of the place great fun, instructive and creative.
I know we will go back, there is so much to see still and/or revisit of Italy. I am sure I will be thrilled to find you around still to help me plan everything.
Thanks a million for such a great service.
Laure H.
Dear "In Italy" people,
We have been back from our Italian trip for about a week now, and I wanted to tell you how great your suggestions and arrangements were. The Grand Hotel Menaggio was perfect for us. It had comfort and class, but not the extreme bustle of the Bellagio area. It had everything we needed for a relaxing, and beautiful stay. It was a good location, right beside the ferry stop.
You suggested heading to Verona for a change from the lakes, and the Verona Winery was a little piece of heaven! It was so peaceful, comfortable, and very modernized. Every thought was paid to our comfort. It was perfect. Paulo arranged for transportation to the Verona Opera one night, as we could never had maneuvered those back alleys, and found a place for our car, and he let us out exactly at our entrance gate!
At the beginning, I had made many changes in the itinerary, and you were right on it.
Thanks again for your help and guidance in making our 50th anniversary trip a great succcess.
Barbara and George D.
Dear Kristin,
Thank you again for helping us a book another wonderful trip to Italia this August!
The car we arranged through you folks was perfect and easily picked up and dropped off...The hotels recomended, especially the Grand Hotel Menaggio, again was spectacular.... we absolutely love that place and definitely will return! Please pass on our praise!
Venezia?? Castello B&B?? AMAZING! Nicola and his folks were again outstanding and I'm extremely glad we stayed here! Please pass on our hello!
Again, I cannot thank you enough for your help and definitely will consult and plan through you our next family trip starting in Napoli..ending in Venezia! It'll be a family trip...visiting my grandparent's towns of Rotundi/Avellino, Minturno..heading NE to Gualdo Tadino, then ending in Venezia :)
Again, thank you!
Frank V.
Dear Julie,
The Grand Hotel was very nice. Our only complaint: no overhead shower and no shower curtain or glass barrier. In this situation it's hard to shampoo your head with one hand; and it's impossible to keep the floor dry. A small cavil considering the lovely accommodations, service, food, and the VIEW.
Reed P.
Dear Kirill,
What a wonderful trip! It flew by, which I guess is usually the case. But it is a trip that I will never forget. Thank you all so much for your help and for all the wonderful information that you have available on your website. It really is invaluable!
Our last stop was at the Hotel Mennagio on Lake Como. What a wonderful place. I would highly recommend it. We took a boat over to a town called Bellagio and found a great restaurant called Ristorante Bilacus. The food was fabulous! Their lemon cake is not to be missed, nor is their ravioli!
All in all we had a wonderful time! There are about 4,000 pages on your website and I'll bet that we read most of them! We were prepared and that information we got from you was key. I can't imagine driving in Italy without all the information we got from your web pages. I had printed up pages of road signs and information about rentals and gas and the Italian drivers!
All I can say is – Thank you.
Donna H.
Hello,
Our experience of the Grand Hotel Menaggio and Lake Como was at best less than average. Most of the hotel reception staff were rude, and it would seem that whatever it is they do on their computers all day is far more important than the customer stood in front of them. We were made to wait without so much as an acknowledgement for 5-10 mins when checking in - it must be a real challenge for them to avoid eye contact for that long! When they could be bothered to attend to us we felt more like an inconvenience than a paying guest. Their attitude was much the same for the rest of our stay whenever we needed assistance with anything from recommended restaurants to paying for their internet service. The room itself was large and the view spectacular across the lake, however the decor was awful, the TV from the 1980's, the carpet was badly stained in places, the jacuzzi bath did not work, and there was no proper shower only a hand held unit attached to the end of the bath. There was little or no information in the room regarding the hotel or any of the local tourist spots. However, one of the most annoying factors is that the ferry stops right outside the hotel so from early morning to late at night there is a loud speaker announcing the destinations along with the ships horn and engines to contend with so forget about a lie in or an early evening nap. The breakfast served in the hotel was sufficient, but the set evening meal was very disappointing. Each course was thrown at you as soon as your plate was clean so our five course set menu dinner took all of 45 minutes, and to be fair I have had Pub grub presented better on a plate.
The only plus points for the hotel are its location (apart from being too close to the ferry port), the swimming pool, and the parking.
In terms of our overall experience of Lake Como we found it also to be disappointing. The place itself is beautiful, the views spectacular, and the weather just right - BUT - the locals seem to take the tourists for granted with their rude attitude, poor service, and average food. Our experience of Venice, Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast was very different and represented the true Italy i.e. great food, great service, great people. We would recommend any one of them but I'm afraid in our opinion if you must go to Lake Como it is a best a day trip purely for the scenery.
Thanks,
Chris W.
Jessica....
Thanks for your interest in our recent trip to Italy. Although my wife and I had been to Europe before, it was the first time for our daughter and the first for all of us to Italy. The folks at In Italy Online were most helpful with arranging for an exceptional vehicle that took us through Austria, Germany, Switzerland and on to Italy. As well you were all most helpful in arranging for accommodation for our all too short stay in Italy.
The vehicle was a luxury station wagon that came with a GPS navigation system that was just amazing. I had an idea of where I was going in Austria and Germany and I can understand German, but once we got to Switzerland and Italy this thing was a godsend. I will never again travel in Europe without one and fully recommend this to any traveller to a place they had not yet been to. Further the people at Europecar were very efficient and courteous. I have no regrets.
As well your recommendation of the Grand Hotel Menaggio was a bull's-eye. This place was very first class. We were well treated and the rooms were excellent, as was the view of Lake Como. The meals at the hotel were all good, but the evening dinners were exceptional. We tried other places in town with success, but the service and food at the hotel was beyond compare. If we do not return to this hotel it is only because we will try one of your other recommended hotels in another part of Italy. The proximity to the lake (it is right on the lake) and as well to the town square and promenade made for such an enjoyable experience for our family. The hotel itself was quiet, but nightlife is not far away should one want it. I had read some complaints of a disco nearby, but if the sounds of the night bother anyone they need only close the windows at night. The air-conditioning is very efficient.
Ferry service to the rest of the lake is next door and Milan is a short train ride away. A nightly walk along the lakeside promenade is a must. We parked our car when we arrived and did not use it again until we left.
Jessica, please let the folks at In Italy Online (and the hotel management) know that you have made another very happy customer.
Hope to talk to you again soon!
Ernie S.
Dear Kristin,
My husband and I have traveled extensively throughout Europe for the past several years. I write that only to emphasize that we have stayed at a wide range of accommodations in those travels.
I do all of the travel booking for our family, so I am always nervous about how it will turn out. I can only say that each of these two places exceeded our expectations. They were very different experiences, but each one very special.
Hotel Grand Menaggio accommodations included a beautiful balcony lake view and a jetted bath tub, which we really appreciated upon our arrival from our long travels from the U.S. and later after walking to the various villas, etc. The Lake Como area is very relaxing and very romantic. The Menaggio location in the mid-lake region is perfect to see the villages of Bellagio and Verenna, and the boat service takes you there very conveniently from this hotel. The only drawback for some people might be that things shut down pretty early at night except for the Tanamana bar next to the hotel.
I will whole-heartedly recommend you and these hotels to anyone who asks.
Diane P.
Dear Jessica
Thank you for your note. We loved the hotel and the town itself. The hotel was lovely. The staff worked very hard and were always happy to help. Our room was great. It was a family room but there was a mezzanine floor so the beds were not all together on one floor and there was some privacy available. The one negative point was that guests put towels on the sunbeds early in a morning to reserve them and there were too few sunbeds. We therefore struggled to find anywhere to sit even though many of the beds were empty. I know other guests also found this frustrating. A simple sign from the hotel would be enough to curb this problem I believe.
In the town I would recommend the restaurants, Vecchia Menaggio (excellent pizzas at reasonable prices) and the Rock and Roll. Both were very good. Opposite the Rock and Roll is a very good deli where you can buy slices of pizza and tubs of salad to take out. The people in the deli are lovely.
We definitely intend to return. We had such a lovely time.
Best wishes
Elisabeth D.
Dear Julie,
Italy as always was wonderful. This was our first trip to the Lakes and the Ferrys could not be more convenient and the Hotel was ideally located. My husband enjoyed the local golf and the reasonable price.
Susan H
Dear Kirill,
We had a great stay at your hotel. We spent alot of time at Bellagio, and loved the convenience of your hotel to the ferry. Your restaurant and the service was great. Thanks for the enjoyable stay.
Dave M.
David,
Yes we enjoyed Italy and the scenery was fantastic. Their local festival was taking place that week and the fireworks were amazing, also the Hotel Menaggio had a special buffet dinner for the occasion and that was spectacular.
Hotel Menaggio staff were very helpful, especially at Reception. The hotel was very relaxing with cosy lounge areas and had a very well positioned pool overlooking the lake.
Just one comment regarding the room. Hotel Menaggio advertised a triple superior room overlooking the lake. The room was certainly overlooking the lake but it was not a triple room it was a twin room and they had added a foldaway bed which was more suited to a child than an adult. Also in hindsight a room overlooking the lake is not necessary because you do not spend time in your room and the outside dining area, pool area, lounging areas all overlook the lake and this is where you spend your time.
Another comment on your directions by train/boat from Malpensa Airport - these directions were very incomplete. You mentioned the boat dock being around the corner from the train station in Como. It is in fact at least 1 km from train station which is quite awkward trying to carry luggage. In all it took us 4 hours from the Airport to Menaggio using this route. For future reference it is cheaper to rent a car and more convenient.
Regards,
Eileen L.
We would like to add the following comments
for the Grand Hotel Menaggio in Lake Como.
Just returned from spending ten days at the above
hotel, the location, food and service were excellent, however, the bar
located next to the hotel kept
us awake most nights with loud music and vehicle activity - one night until
5am. This is very sad in this sort of environment.
Colin B.
Dear Julie,
Grand Hotel Menaggio was very good. Rooms were comfortable and the staff very responsive, in particular, Aramis, a bellman. A real character but very helpful and friendly. The hotel is right next to one of the boat docks so it was very easy to leave the hotel and get on one of the boats going to the other towns on Lake Como. I'd recommend taking a full day pass on the boat and visit all of the little towns. Varenna, Bellaggio & Lenno (in that order) were very quaint and interesting to walk around. A very good restaurant we found was "Al Velou". It's near Tremesso, can't remember actual name of town but everyone in the area knows it and can give directions. It's up on the hill with great view of the lake and the food was very good. We drove to Lagano, Switzerland one day. Not that impressed, but if interested in buying a watch then go. If we went back to Como I'd stay at Grand Hotel Menaggio again. Hope this helps.
Rich H.
Julie,
The Grand Hotel Menaggio was wonderful, they were so hospitable and helpful. The area was magnificent, the Alps are just breathtaking. We drove all around the lake. We totally enjoyed ourselves.
One particular restaurant that we truly loved was in Bellagio, Ristorante Bilacus, Salita Serbelloni we went back for another lunch.
Thank you so very much for your assistance with our trip. I have recommended your services to others at my company and relatives. We are planning to go back to Sicily in April of 2005.
Again, thank you.
Barbara P.
Dear Julie:
Let me first to start that the hotel Grand Hotel Menaggio is a very good one and have a fantastic view to the lake, no doubt is a relaxing place with a marvelous sight of the lake. Just a sad comment about the restaurant (the one is considered one of the best in Menaggio) but the attention is not appropriate due to the lack of personnel, something that you don't expect in that kind of hotel. Probably you can comment something to the hotel management. The visit to Italy always is fantastic and exciting, specially Florence (Firenze to italians) however the prices are too high, something that any person who have in mind to travel to Italy should keep in mind.
Thanks for your note and your attention.
Regards,
Manuel V.
Jessica,
Thank you for your interest, my wife and I had a marvellous time in Italy (as always). Generally the Hotel was good, the room and facilities were very good, the age group of the guest was just a little older than expected, but that made no difference one way or the other. The food in the Hotel was unfortunately very poor, to the extent that I complained, but to no avail as no interest was shown.
In the village of Dongo, just a few kilometres north of Menaggio, we found a boat hire company which was very good at good rates. The Hotel's boat hire recommendation was across the lake and much more expensive.
Regards
Andy S H.
Hotel was very nice and perfectly located next to the boat ferry. We actually got very little sleep at night as there was a bar with loud music located next to the hotel. Roads between Menaggio and Switzerland, Lugano were very narrow and trecherous and would suggest anyone travelling there get a very small car and and allow enough time. Also, we took a day trip to Lucerne, Switzerland - I would suggest anyone going there that they should get off the autostrada and take some of the back roads through the mountains.
Glenn G.
Hi Jessica,
Our visit to the Grand Hotgel Menaggio was very nice. The room with the balcony overlooking the lake is well worth the price. The service was very good. We hired a boat through the hotel for a tour of the middle portion of the lake. We stopped and saw 2 private villas, Belaggio, Varena and a refreshment stop at an outdoor cafe on the only island on the lake. The ferry and water shuttles are very convenient and timely.
Larry E.
Julie,
The trip was fabulous. The Grand Hotel Menaggio was a wonderful treat. The view of the lake from our room was breathtaking.
One thing that we did enjoy was renting a boat for the afternoon. It was nice to have access to different parts of the lake. The hotel set us up with a boat company. It was all very easy.
We will definitely be visiting Lake Como again. Our next trip will be with a larger group of people and we will look at villa rentals. I will keep your company in mind when we make those plans.
Jennifer B.
Hi Julie,
I just returned a few hours ago. Menaggio was great. The GHM is truly fabulous. I recommend staying there to anyone. The location is terrific for sightseeing, and the hotel staff's efforts were impeccable.
Regards,
Ray
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