Il Porticciolo

My wife and I arrived late from a long and hauling road trip. The beautiful room was equipped with all that one could dream of after a long day (i.e. bathtub, air conditioning of course, a shining view of the lago Maggiore and a comfortable bed). The breakfast was equipped with ample options for all types of taste (Ciabatta, Croissants, (sourdough) bread, scrambled eggs, delicious bacon, fruits, yogurt….). The location was it’s selling point, but the experience in its totality (pastries, Italian ham, cheeses, the view to wake up to…) won us over.

Do yourself a favour and stay away! We came to stay for two nights. The hotel claims to be a 4-star family hotel with 11 rooms, but we immediately realized that its standard is suitable for a 2-star hotel. It has no lobby, no reception office, just a tiny desk. We arrived at eight in the evening, tired, to an unpleasant reception from the clerk. The room we received had a bad smell, as if it had not been used for a long time. It was a neglected room with the most basic and old furniture. The bath towels were also old. We asked the reception for a stand to put our suitcase on, and the clerk replied that she did not know of anything like that, which is not appropriate for a hotel with such a rating. In addition, in the morning, we saw a row of ants moving around in our room. We asked the owner of the hotel to leave after one night. Of course, he did not agree, and his attitude was disgraceful. He behaved rudely towards us. This is a room that cost us €390 per night, and it's frustrating and infuriating to pay for a deluxe hotel and get a 2-star standard and disgraceful treatment. We really do not recommend staying at this hotel; it is bad in every way.

Zero stars would be the correct rating for this hotel. The owners are arrogant, rude and annoying people. Rooms are standard and don’t worth the price we paid, also from the Michelin star restaurant, I was expecting something better. Balconies are poorly maintained and the stinky smell from the lake is unbreathable. The only positive note in the cleanliness of the rooms certainly managed by an external company.