Very nice historical hotel with a great history and a very special atmosphere. Our room was very small, but we only stayed for three nights. The location is unique and the view from the room was fantastic. A little bit difficult to find the hotel and not suitable for disabled people.
Absolutely fantastic
Rooms are beautiful and clean
Service is excellent
Dinner equivalent or better than high end restaurants in big cities
The hotel is up in the mountains outside the city of Varese
So many wonderful places to walk and sit and enjoy the beautiful countryside
The hotel is high up the mountains of a Varese. It is a bit outdated and you can see this in the building and furniture. The parking is challenging, even with aan normal passenger car.
The room was clean bit a bit dusty.
The hospitality and service is quite good.
Hotel is located top of the mountain and it’s interesting to drive there. Parking lot is around 100 meters away from the hote but as we made reservations the instructions how to drive there came as well…so it was not difficult for us to find it. Yes, there are really tiny cobblestone roads but we knew where we booked the hotel-old medieval village and therefore it was all fine. Hotel itself is small- 8 rooms but the views from the room was amazing. Bed was comfortable and room was big enough. There is no air conditioning in the room but we left windows open for the night and it was fine. Walls between the rooms are thin but we had quiet neighbors 😊. Hotel staff is really nice and helpful. Only thing which would need improvement is breakfast. Some basic things you will find on the buffet table like really small amount of scrambled eggs , bacon, cheese, ham and fruit. Coffee and bread is served to the table. Also you need to ask class or water or juice if you want. We didn’t eat dinner there because there are many other good places around we’re to eat and enjoy the views. Overall it was a good place and experience!
Beautiful hotel. BUT...sadly we were directed up 1,800 feet to a TINY narrow street, cobbled; and arrived at the hotel without realising that as we got to the location, we then had to REVERSE all the way down the very steep, narrow cobbled road, not much wider than the car, to an area where we spent forever trying to turn around to find the car park, but I am 73 and my wife is 71. UTTERLY unsuitable unless you are a fit and active youngster. Great shame but we had to explain to the three young ladies that were receptionists, completely impossible to use the hotel unless you are a mountain goat. Slopes, footpaths and the road, of one in about four...VERY STEEP INDEED nearly saw me off. Then they tried to find us an alternative hotel, very kind, but when we followed the sat nav and got very close we started to wind our way up narorow cobbled streets, one in four slopes and once again utterly unsuitable. When will people realise that these locations are FINE...so long as you KNOW!!!!! Many people would have loved it. I know I loved it, just couldn't use it. Very sad. So great if you are fit and healthy and a hiker but for me....no chance. sorry. Really sad, the place looked brilliant as well.
Dear,
thank you for your point of view, I'm very happy that finally you recognize that the place look brilliant and our staff is very kind.
Santa Maria del Monte, were we are, is a middle age village on the top of a mountain of 800 meters and ok, there are narrow street and ups and down road as in every mountain village, but we are not on the Everest.
You don't need to be a professional hiker to arrive here, but for sure, we are not in a downtown mall with parking, escalators, elevators, mirror, shops.
We are in an historic place, with silence, calm, nature, nice and easy trekking path and beautiful panorama.
And i would not change that with a mall.
So if you are looking for comfortable places, if you are looking for standard places, don't look at Santa Maria del Monte.
That one star on Tripadvisor is for your inability to appreciate what is good in a bad day. Not for our service.
Kind regards
Riccardo
