What is the best hotel (beautiful room, scenery, etc) that you stayed in Italy?

I only WISH that I had stayed there: <BR> <BR>Villa d'Este, Cernobbio, on Lake Como. <BR> <BR>I have eaten there, and sat out under the stars listening to the soft music, and walked through the gardens... <BR>

Villa d'Este [we had a delicious lunch and walked the beautiful grounds] It's in a class by itself. Did stay at the Grand on Lake Garda at Gardone Riviera. All rooms face the water and the hotel is very pretty.

i AGREE VILLESTE IS THE BEST. STAYED THERE FOR A WEEK. YOU ARE TREATED LIKE A QUEEN. GREAT FOOD, BEAUTIFUL VIEW AND GARDENS. CAN TRAVEL AROUND THE LAKE. FABULOUS!!!

Weee! Think I'll go stay there. I love being treated like a queen!!

I stayed at the Villa D"Este last August and can attest to the beauty of the place.Our room had a large front balcony overlooking the lake (jr. suite) which was sheer heaven. The food, however, was not as fine, while good, as it should be for the prices and notoriety. The buffet breakfast was by far the worst that I had had in Italy, Prague, or Austria on this trip. Very limited, and unimpressive. <BR>What I didn't like at all was the "attitude" of the concierge--they always seemed to be ripping off people, especially Americans. But by the sam e token, if you stay there I guess they feel money is no object for you. One made a dinner reservation for us in nearby Switzerland, and then proceeded to tell us the taxi would be 120 dollars round trip. We told them to book a taxi to take us to Malpensa Airport, was quoted a price of 120 dollars. Imagine our surprise when the taxi turned out to be one of their fleet of drivers who after dropping us at the terminal, told us the cost was $200. What did we do? Paid it because we needed to get on the plane. I don't like this kind of treatment. <BR>As far as rooms go, some Brits we met there said that their room was mediocre because it did not have a balcony or view, so I guess the trick is to get an lake view and splurge. <BR>

Myra, <BR> <BR>Certainly Villa D'Este is fabulous - that floating pool on the Lake is gorgeous. It's quite special. <BR> <BR>I loved Il Pellicano too - about 90 minutes north of Rome in Porto Ercole. It's built into the side of the hills - with a rocky terraces built alont the sea, a wonderful pool, a spa, and great views and food. It's a Relais and Chateaux. <BR> <BR>The Excelsior on the Lido in Venice is also spectacular - with large rooms looking over the sea. <BR> <BR>And I actually loved the Lungarno in Florence - with a terrace over the Arno. Didn't want to leave the room! <BR> <BR>Can't help it - hotels are my thing! <BR> <BR>Dona

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In Tuscany, Casali di Bibbiano. This was well worth the price, staying on a beautiful vineyard in Tuscany, swimming in a pool overlooking the hills, fields of sunflowers and up above the fortezza in Montalcino. And lets not forget the 5 course dinner and wine served every evening on the most beautiful terrace!!! And the rooms were gorgeus also, in a simplistic Tuscan way. Luxury at its finest.<BR><BR>

A second vote for Il Pelicano. It has good food, great service, nice rooms/cottages with lovely amenities, nice grounds a pretty pool, wonderful lake views, swimming in the sea with individual secluded rock ledges to sun on, but best of all giant umbrella pines that whistle softly in the breeze as the pianist plays mellow, modified jazz and you relax after dinner with coffee on the deck. Heaven.

Hotel San Cassiano in Venice with a room on the front.

The best hotel is in Sardegna Cala Di Volpe the best brunch and worth the price.

I have to agree with Nancy. We just came back from Italy and we too stayed at Villa d'este. We hated it. The food was just ok and the rooms were nothing special. It was not relaxing at all. Our favorite hotel was the Cipriani in Venice. We had a lovely 2 bedroom suite overlooking the water and the entire staff was very friendly. It was not snooty at all. I was really looking forward to staying at Villa d'este but was very disappointed.

We were in Italy in April.... the nicest place that we stayed was at a pencione outside of Florence.... The room that we had was not the nicest in the pencione, but they do have some very nice rooms. The views are incredible,, there are rooms on the second and third floors on the Southside of the hotel overlooking the city of Florenmce... and the terrace is awesome. The name of the place is the Pencione Bencista. I know, some people would be turned off by the pencione thing,,, but this place is very nice,, very well kept,, and the view is ..... well,,, beyond comment.<BR>While we were there we stayed in very nice and expenxive hotels,,, The Raphael in Rome,,, The Westin Excelsior in Florence,,,, and this pencione,,,, and as you see,,,, this is the one that I recommend..........<BR>Email me if you would like more info.

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Excelsior in Florence - we had a huge room and a private terrace overlooking Fiesole.<BR><BR>Il Falconiere in Cortona - lovely estate in the countryside just outside of Cortona with an incredible restaurant.