emcash

I am looking to book a room at the Villa D'este for next year for a special birthday. I was wondering if someone with personal experience staying there might be able to comment on this. The lake view junior suite size ranges from 484-645 sf. The deluxe superior room is 538 sf. So, not a lot of difference in size. In fact, one might get a smaller room booking the junior suite. Both view the lake. Both appear to be open room plans. What is the difference between these rooms that makes the junior suite 400 more euros pn? TIA!

His_Dudeness

Would love to be in your shoes so to speak to stay there! Only have driven by the place but as a practical matter, if you're spending that much money, why not just give them a phone call? I'm sure they would be more than happy to explain the difference.

Enjoy your stay!

NYCFoodSnob

An unfortunate dose of reality: All of these descriptors are marketing tools. I don't mean to suggest that the hotels are lying, but they are engaged in the act of trying to entice you to pay more, like everyone else in the travel industry. However, when you pay more at the Villa d'Este, I would bet you get more. But what that "more" is, who can say?

Typically, the Junior Suites offer more than one room, and there's a charming living area separate from the bed area. But every room at Villa d'Este is different, so there's really no way to tell what room they're giving you (how much space and the layout) when you book at a certain price point. Unless you know a room number, it's all chance.

The rooms at Villa d'Este are among the largest and most beautiful rooms I've ever experienced in a hotel, no matter what price category. My issue with this hotel is not the size of the rooms, but rather the room's decoration. They pride themselves on every room having a unique interior, and they accomplish that, but certain rooms are not my preferred color palette or fabric choice, and I could never stay in those rooms no matter what they cost. Needless to say, I'm very particular, and I go the extra mile to get what I'm looking for.

My favorite suite is in the Queen's Pavilion, because it's perfect for a Queen. It's huge and beautifully decorated. I could easily live there without changing a thing. The view of the boat docks, the pool area, and the lake behind is fantastic. It's very quiet corner on this lovely property.

IMO, the view of the lake from this hotel, while lovely, is not the star, so it doesn't really matter which you choose among the lake-view rooms. The angle of the Queen's Pavilion and the location of my room and its decoration offers a unique perspective, so that's why I love it so much. The rooms facing the gardens are very lush as well. The star here really is the entire hotel and its incredible service team.

Good luck.

nochblad

You did not say which month you are planning to be there. One of the problems with the various rooms in the main building overlooking the lake is that, in the summer, there is an orchestra and dancing below the rooms until quite late which may disturb light sleepers.

My wedding reception was at Villa d'Este and since we danced until late it was not a problem! However, the church bells in Cernobbio start ringing early so your sleep can be squeezed at either end.

emcash

Thank you for your responses! We will be going end of August. Is there a way to avoid the church bells????? I can deal with music at night bc i fall asleep rather easy, and can ask for a quiet room, but early morning church bells? every morning??

nochblad

emcash - early mass every morning!

As NYCFoodSnob says the Queen's Pavilion is quieter and more distant from the centre of Cernobbio.

Pepper_von_snoot

Don't socialites stay at Villa d'Este?

Wouldn't you rather stay at a cheaper motel-type place that has room keys attached to big pieces of wood and metal shower stalls, a place where other guests (Don and Sally from Santa Fe) invite you back to their room for drinks in paper cups with ice pellets from a dispenser found in a dark stairwell? (Watch Sally's skirt rise as she has another sip of that Jack Daniels.)

You could always go to Villa d'Este for lunch and pretend you are staying there if you run into old school chums.

Just a suggestion.

Thin

NYCFoodSnob

"Don't socialites stay at Villa d'Este?"

If socialite is a euphemism for lady of the evening, some are lucky enough to be someone's guest. It can be fun to discreetly watch the wide range of characters who come and go in a week. I feel the same way about the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.

Unfortunately, Villa d'Este is not a fabulous place to make new friends (excluding the wait staff - some are very dear). Whenever you rub elbows with certain members of the super wealthy (and those who are really good at faking it), you always have to be prepared for sudden shock and awe, especially when the people at the dinner table next to you are drunk and their decibel level has risen beyond appropriate.

I love Villa d'Este for the beauty, the service, and their extraordinary attention to detail, not for some of its customers. They're in a very specific price-point service business, and when you charge a premium price, you have to accept more demanding and obnoxious customers. It's just the way this game rolls.

To be perfectly honest, I've made more adventuresome friends at Eremo Gaudio, because I relate more to those travelers who see God in that precious yet overwhelming view. Eremo may be a unique doghouse when compared to Villa d'Este, but in many ways, Eremo's visual spectacle is a bucket list adventure, not to be missed.

Pepper_von_snoot

>If socialite is a euphemism for lady of the evening<

If I meant hooker, I would have written hooker. I am plain spoken.

Another thing that would put a certain type of traveller off about the Villa d'Este is that the dining room probably doesn't have a salad bar. I know many who would be upset if they couldn't get their fix of sunflower seeds, bacon bits, and Ranch dressing whilst on holiday.

I have witnessed hundreds squeal likes squirrels when confronted with a big bowl of croutons and chaffing dishes heaped with jello surprise at Old Country Buffet.

We travellers love salad bars, darn it!

I would choose a hotel with a salad bar smack dab in the middle of the dining room!

Thin

Peter_S_Aus

Thin, glad to see you back here.

We (or at least I) have missed you and your insightful contributions.

Cheers

Peter

ekc

I have only stayed at VdE once, but we had a junior suite and it was absolutely worth it. French doors closed off the bedroom from the "living room" area (and bathroom and walk-in closet) which was nice if one of us was napping or sleeping in and room service could be eaten in the living room.

I am a very light sleeper (even with earplugs) and I have to say that I do not even remember hearing the church bells each morning.