I'll be in Bellagio for 2 nights (solo) mid-August and am thinking of the Metropole, lake view with balcony or Florence with lake view. Metropole is 170e per night and Florence is 175e lake view, no balcony (both include breakfast, taxes).

The Florence seems higher rated but the idea of the balcony is appealing. I also believe the Metropole has A/C and Florence does not. I'll be arriving by ferry from Como.

Anyone have thoughts on these places? Thanks!

The Florence is a nicer hotel but the Metropole does have a great location---both are on the water near the dock.

We've stayed in the Florence a couple of times but only in the fall. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it in the cooler months, but August? Probably not.

Have you looked into the Hotel Belvedere in Bellagio? I kickd myself for opting for a nonview room in the Hotel Florence. I thought the Belvedere was too far out of town, but Bellagio's just not that big. And there are great views up there.

Thanks all---I emalied the Florence to double check if the room there has a balcony. I think I will make that the determining factor. Bob, since I will be taking the train to Milan then back to Bologna, I am also staying a night in Varenna at Hotel du Lac, a place I have seen you recommend.

I had the same exact dilemma! I decided that there was just too many wonderful things said about Hotel Florence that I just couldn't ignore. Many people said that Metropole was outdated, but location was fabulous. However, Hotel Florence has a wonderful location as well. Hotel Florence does have air conditioning rooms. You have to ask for those. They have some that have AC and some that don't.

Ah, decisions, decisions. I'll see what they say about the balcony and make that the deciding factor---but if they have a balcony too, I'll go with the Florence. Thanks for the heads up on the air-conditioning.

I thought I'd heard the Florence added A/C, but there's no mention on their website and recent Tripadvisor postings said no A/C. Be sure to get confirmation from the hotel on this. As to the balconies, we've been in rooms on the side facing the G.H. Serbelloni. There were "balconies," but they were more like guard rails on the outside of floor-to-ceiling windows. No space to sit outside.

Good choice with the Hotel du Lac in Varenna. I actually prefer the views from Varenna over those from Bellagio especially in the morning and afternoon from the terrace of the du Lac.

I was recently debating which hotel in Bellagio to stay at as well, I am going in September, and had looked at both the Florence and the Metropole, but neither had a room with a Lake View available so I ended up choosing Hotel Belevedere.

Hi; We had a nice stay at the Hotel Florence. They do have a very large balcony on the second floor. However, it is shared by two rooms. The Florence does have a road that runs in front of the hotel. But it is still very close to the water and all the rooms that have a water view are high enough to have clear view. Richard

Thanks again everyone! I heard back from the Florence that I can have a shared balcony room for 190e a night. At Metropole, it is 170e a night for a lakeview with balcony. My room at Hotel du Lac is a partial view, so, I think I am going to go with the balcony at the Metropole unless I hear any horrible experiences!

People have said that it is outdated but one of my most memorable stas was at the old Caruso Belvedere in Ravello. VERY outdated but probably one of my favorite travel memories. Hopefully this one will work out---I'll post how it does (or doesn't!!)

Kathy

Good choice with the Metropole. We had a very nice stay there in 2007. I would describe our room as simple and clean, but the balcony and view really made it special. Some might feel the hotel is a little outdated but it was not a negative for me. The difference between the Metropole and the Florence in terms of location is that the Metropole is right on the water, so your balcony is literally hanging over the lake. The Florence is set back slightly from the water, so there is a street between you and the lake.

We did have a memorable dinner at the Hotel Florence, on their outdoor terrace right on the lake. So my suggestion is to stay at the Metropole but dine at the Florence!

Hausfrau,

That sounds like a perfect solution!

I also am trying to decide between these two hotels. I have emailed Hotel Florence twice and have they have not responded . Very strange. I do feel that being right on the lake will be very special rather than having a road.Therefore, I am happy that I have a lakefront room at Hotel Metropole held.....
Does anyone have any opinion of the beds at Hotel Metropole?

What would you suggest are the not to be missed highlights of the Lake Como region? We will have six days to explore!

Consider La Pergola.

Hotel Florence and Hotel Metropole are separated by a few buildings, and one of those buildings is the Hotel du Lac. They all share the same view and virtually the same position on the lakeside of Bellagio. Some people say that one may have a better location than another but I don't see any difference. As far as I'm concerned, they all share the same location.

Hotel Florence is a smaller hotel and has tiny balconies attached to their windows facing the lake but I don't think they are large enough to accommodate chairs or stand on comfortably for long periods. Hotel Metropole's balconies can accommodate small chairs and they have many more rooms facing the lake. The Metropole is six windows wide while the Florence is only three windows wide. If you want a balcony to sit on, Hotel Metropole is a much better choice.

Hotel Florence is an interior decoration charmer. This boutique hotel offers artsy flair on the inside. The Metropole is stuck in the 70's and was never decorated with the charm it deserves. But the place is clean and well run with an abundance of outdoor seating space, including a roof-top sun terrace.

I am normally quite picky about my hotels, beds, etc. but I had no problems with the Metropole. The bed was fine, the decorating was fine, and the balcony and view were FABULOUS. We had two little chairs and sitting on that balcony watching the sunset over the lake was an experience to remember. To me it does make a difference whether you are right on the lake or looking out on a road, and I was very pleased with our choice of the Metropole.