Has anyone stayed at Hotel Olivedo in Varenna Italy? Need a nice place in Varenna for 3 adults in September 2011. Hotel DuLac does not have availability at that time.

I'd keep trying the du Lac, not using the fill-in-the-blank request page but by telephone, FAX or email. (If you received an auto reply very recently, it's possible the hotel is closed for the season and their computer is set to reply "no availability.")

Tell them how much you've heard about the hotel and how much you'd like to stay there. If you have any flexibility on dates, mention it.

Of course, if you're looking for a triple room, I don't think the du Lac has one. If that was your request, it would explain the reply.

The Olivedo has a very central location and a so-so restaurant, but I'd be surprised if its reviews are as good as the du Lac's reviews.

Different atmosphere than the Hotel du Lac, but you may wish to consider the Villa Cipressi, preferably in one of the deluxe rooms or suites with a view: http://www.hotelvillacipressi.it/english/index.html The rooms vary in style and quality, but the complex is steeped in history: the breakfast patio and gardens are amazing -- worth the stay imho even if your particular room is rather plain. We stayed in one of the older buildings, which I found more charming than the more recently renovated wing. Not fancy, but serene.

Gosh, just saw the mention of September 2011 -- completely agree with Jean, it seems unlikely that the Hotel du Lac is actually booked that far in advance, unless it is a special event. More likely that their online availability calendar does not extend to a year in advance. Good luck!

We have now sent 2 emails Hotel DuLac in Varenna. Once I requested a triple room and next a double and a single. It seems that they have someone answering emails because we got 2 separate replies each one stating that they are fully booked for Sept.8th but have openings for 6th and 7th. Each email had the prices of our requested rooms .So we are still wondering about Hotel Olivedo which has openings for Sept 6th,7th and 8th.
Do you think we'd be happy at Olivedo or anyone have a better
suggestion. Maybe stay in Bellagio instead??

The Olivedo location is right at the boat dock and is bound to be noisy and crowded with people. The villa Cipressi is nice or stay in Bellagio--look at La Limonera.

Have you tried Albergo Milano?

We stayed at the Hotel Olivedo several years ago but would not stay there again. Noise from the ferry activity did quiet down by eleven pm or so. The beds were awful--like camp cots. Breakfast was meager, owner weird and grumpy (she became angry with us because we couldn't find the laundry and ATM), and the place needs plenty of updates--tired and worn looking. OTOH, Hotel du Lac looked great. There have been some positive comments about Eremio Gaudio so you may want to look at that hotel.

There have been quite a few threads in years past about both the Hotel Olivedo and it's restaurant, and specifically about the owner - I believe her name is Laura. My experience was limited to one dinner there in 2003. Even though we were dining early by Italian standards, about 8:30 PM, it must have been past her bedtime. She seated us with a look of complete disdain on her face (none of the 5 of us has body odor!), we were given no menus - only 3 or 4 rattled-off entree selections - and a "like it or leave" attitude. We should have left, but it was pouring rain outside and we were hungry, so we made the mistake of staying. The room was probably 1/2 full, but we were rushed nonetheless - completely the opposite of just about every other restaurant experience in Italy. The owner, and every other employee, was discourteous, abrupt, and ungracious in every way, bordering on surly. The food was expensive and very mediocre.

We stayed at Hotel du Lac - very nice and clean rooms, friendly owner, great breakfast. I hope you can get in there, but if you can't, I'd urge you to avoid Hotel Olivedo - there are plenty of other places.

Intersting. I had a completely different experience at Hotel Olivedo. Mind you that was back in 2001. We stayed two nights there. We arrived rather late the first night, but Laura opened up the dining room, literally, and gave us two big bowls of wonderful steaming hot minestrone with lots of crusty bread and a jug of wine. It was heavenly on that rather cold evening. In the morning when we opened our big shuttered windows, the view just knocked our soxs off. Yes, Laura is a bit odd, but she was very kind to us. She called a taxi for us and another couple the morning we left and even gave us hugs and kisses. The food was good and it certainly was handly being right by the ferry landing. Noise was never an issue.

Maybe it's changed over the years.

Thanks everyone. We have decided to try Villa Capressi. Deluxe double room with lake view with an extra bed. It looks very nice and the gardens are beautiful. We will only be at the Lakes area once so we want it to be good with a lake view. Olivedo would have been too busy a location for us. Now hopefully they are not fully booked.

Stayed in Olivedo for a few days in September 2010. We did not find the ferry noise a problem but there are limitiations - here is what a I posted to another forum:

What is good about Olivedo hotel:
1. Location: 10 minutes (hilly) walk from train station which has good, cheap service to Lecco, Monza and Milan ( about an hour’s journey).
2. Location: thirty metres from car ferry and boats to Bellagio and Menagio – frequent service and reasonably priced.
3. Bedrooms are ok if you are on first floor with view of lake.

What is not so good about Olivedo hotel:
1. Room in attic with windows only in the roof and at floor level, up four flights of steep stairs (no lift).
2. Pub at rear which closes at 2.00am and revellers continue to party noisily under your window sometimes. (Didn’t find ferry noise a problem as some reported)
3. B’fast and dinner poor, lunch not too bad – but plenty of good restaurants within walking distance.
4. Not a proper hotel as there is no proper bar, lounge etc. – it is just a large guesthouse.
5. Must pay cash, no credit cards accepted
6. Laura could be a little more helpful but the place was full of Americans so she must be doing something right!

Summary: If you just want a reasonable bedroom, beside Lake Como with a view of the lake and within easy walking distance of train, ferry and restaurants, then stay in Hotel Olivedo. If you want anything more from a hotel, look elsewhere.