Set on the waterfront of gorgeous Lago Maggiore, the Hotel San Gottardo has beautiful vistas and large rooms. Of course, being cheap, I got a side facing room with the opportunity to gaze at a nearby wall, rather than the autumnal mist floating gently over the placid lake. It didn't matter as I was away all day on a trail race (the excellent UTLM which flags off in Verbania). The promenade outside is picturesque, the ferries across the lake are close at hand, and the Friday market is a stone's throw away.

The wifi worked, the the lift worked, the staff were friendly, breakfast was just as I expected, and the hotel parking was nearby and secure. Public parking in Verbania is a nightmare - white spaces are free and very rare, blue ones are paid short stay only, and the yellow ones are residents only and threaten 24 hour tow away for violations. So, the hotel's rustic carpark is free and is a God send.

The set menu in the hotel restaurant is delicious and good value for dinner, FYI. The waiter was professional and helpful, the roast beef carpaccio starter was delizioso and a carafe of the local wine eased by trail-worn joints.

we visited this hotel for a wedding.
The rooms are reasonably priced but relatively old inside, with a sea view. The breakfast is poorly organised and not very rich, but you can park your car for free 10 minutes away.

The Pallanza part of Verbania had a distinct early summer flair when we visited at the end of May. Fortunately the Giro d'Italia had left town earlier in the day and clean-up operations on the roads were almost terminated 3h later.
We had a large comfortable room on the 4th floor with a splendid view over the Lago Maggiore.
Breakfast was very nice but my recommendation to the cuisine ends there. I had rarely been served with a less appetizing dried out barely warm fish dish than at the evening menu of the Hotel. When covid restrictions will allow indoor restaurants to be open HEAD OUT.