Bellavista Hotel Menaggio?
 

anyone stay at this hotel? any comparison to GH Menaggio? the rate is about half.grazie!

I have stayed at GH Menaggio and eaten at both it and the Bellavista. Haven't seen rooms at Bellavista, just hallways. They are probably a block to a block and a half from each other with the Menaggio being next to the ferry dock and further from the center of town. Bellavista practically in the center of town. Both are directly on the lake, though the Bellavista has a sort of harbor in front of it making the waterfront a bit "messier" Both have pools on the waterside. GHM has been fairly recently renovated. Bellavista has a kind of 60's look especially to the lobby--glass with lots of large split leaf philodendrons unpruned in pots and some overstuffed, leather armchairs. It is also more likely to have European tourists actually sitting in the lobby than the GHM. How to convey this correctly--overall, the Bellavista is just a step down from the GHM in amenities, decor, etc. Hence the difference in price. But it's certainly not half as nice and it's a perfectly acceptable hotel. If truth be told, I'd have to say their food is better and it may well be that it's a little more convivial. Just don't hold me responsible for what their rooms might be like. I've never seen them. Do a search on this site for Bellavista. You might find some opinions from people who have actually slept in the rooms. Lodging on Lake Como is a very popular topic here. Wherever you stay, you'll love it.

Last year when we stayed at the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio which is a short walk from both the GH and the BellaVista we ate two meals in the latter's restaurant. The restaurant is fairly good-sized with a large section under a canopy that is directly on the water. We asked to look at one of the rooms which as I recall were not all that large (at least the one we looked at) and the decor was somewhat rustic (varnished wood, etc.) but certainly pleasant enough. Our much larger room at the Victoria which was one of the BEST rooms in that hotel wasn't as nicely decorated as the one we looked at in the BV.
The location, as JMV has indicated, is fine...a very very short walk to the ferry dock, directly on the lake, and a block or so from the main town "square" where there are several restaurants, gelatto stands, newsstand, and some stores.
The public areas of the GH are much more "grand" in terms of decoration: crystal chandeliers, etc., but I thought the BV was fine.
If you haven't been to this area before you have to remember that Menaggio, while being the largest of the three "mid-lake" towns (Varenna, Bellagio being the others), seems somewhat more typical (with Varenna being even more so) of an Italian town than Bellagio which is very very attractive and looks almost like a movie set somehow (I can see why folks enjoy staying there). The whole area, to me, conveys a sense of laid back relaxation despite the many visitors.

I have stayed at Bellavista. They are next door to each other--one is a very nice 4 star, the other a typical 3 star. It is your budget !

I've also stayed at the Bellavista very recently, and can confirm the information in the previous postings. The hotel is old but charming (the floors in the rooms creak) and the carpet in the room was stained and needed to be changed, but otherwise the stay was perfectly acceptable. The bathrooms had been updated. The views from the top floor rooms facing the lake are the equal of the GHM (Grand Hotel Menaggio) or the GHV (Grand Hotel Victoria) for that matter. The restaurant has a panoramic view of the lake and the food is acceptable. Rates are very affordable, and the elevator works! Public areas are small and modest (1960s look), but otherwise clean. The main sitting room has a number of truly excellent modern oil paintings.

My only recommendations:

1. DO NOT ACCEPT a room facing the street, which is very noisy until late at night (buses, cars, motobikes, etc.)

2. Request a room with AIR CONDITIONING if staying from June through September. Only a few rooms do have a/c (and some face the street), and you really need it during hot weather.

I stayed at the GHV during another stay in Menaggio, but don't find the steep prices there worthwhile, when compared to the better-value Bellavista.

As a follow-on to my earlier response and to GAC's...if I returned to Menaggio to stay I would certainly consider this hotel vs. the Grand Hotel Victoria where the staff was absolutely wonderful but I thought the room was not worth the price and the breakfast mediocre.

I agree both with getting a room that faces the lake (that street outside is, in fact a very busy one) AND one with A/C.

I should also second JonJon's comment that the staff at the GHV was very, very cordial (better than that at the Bellavista). If I ever stayed in Menaggio during the winter, I would stay at GHV, when rooms are discounted by at least 20% (the other hotels in town close by late October). I also thought that the buffet breakfast at the GHV was much better than at the Bellavista, but surely not worth the steep cost (the breakfast at the Bellavista is perfectly acceptable, just more modest).

If the Bellavista only changed the carpets in the rooms and hallways, and put a/c in more of the rooms (maybe they read these postings???)!!!!

Two additional hotels to consider are the Hotel Bellevue and the Hotel Britannia Excelsior, both right on the lakeshore drive in Cadenabbia, a few kilometers south of Menaggio and next door to Villa Carlotta. They have websites. The SPT Como bus (going north to Menaggio and south to Como City) stops in front, and the ferry dock is within easy walking distance. These two properties are very, very old (19th century) and bigger than the Bellavista in Menaggio, but unfortunately are right on the main road (when then were built, there were only horses and carriages). The swimming pools are in the back. Rates are very similar to those of the Bellavista. There is no a/c in the rooms. There is less to do in Cadenabbia at night compared to Menaggio.