Our family are planning to stay in Stresa for 4 days. Any advice on hotels in this city would be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thanks.

We stayed at the Hotel LaPalma two weeks ago and we really enjoyed it. The rooms were beautiful and we had a lake front room with a wonderful view. The people at the front desk spoke English and were very helpful.

Alla, Knowing your price range would be <BR>helpful--lots of choices.

Bob, Our price range up to L300,000 and we got availability confirmation from Hotel Piccolo Lago, Hotel Italie et Suisse, Hotel Moderno Stresa, Hotel Astoria and Hotel Lido. A lots of choice!

I stayed at the Hotel Italie et Suisse. It is located just across the street from the dock where you can take the ferry to the Borromean Islands. The breakfast is good. <BR> <BR>This hotel may cost less than some others. The positives include good location, decent but somewhat plain room, and nicer than normal Italian breakfast. Down side is that it is on a major street. Although my room had a water view, it was just a little noisy. I'm sure rooms facing the back are quiet but then, no view. <BR>ellen

Alla, The Astoria is the best of those <BR>listed, and a good location. The Lido <BR>is good value if you have a car. I do <BR>not suggest the Moderno. The La Palma <BR>is great but somewhat expensive. Have <BR>fun and take the cable car up to see <BR>the vistas from Mt. Mottarone.

I suggested the LaPalma but as one of the others noted, if you stay on the street side with a lake view the noise is very loud at night from traffic. We even had electronic window blinds that came down and it was still noisy.

Alla: <BR>My husband and I stayed at the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees last October in a beautiful room with a small terrace overlooking the lake for just a fraction more than 300.000L - one of the finest hotels that we have ever visited. Certainly comparable to the Waldorf or the Plaza in New York. (Two of our favorites) <BR>Check out the website at http://www.stresa.net/hotel/borromees/. <BR>Have a great trip, and enjoy Stresa and the islands! Be sure to post when you return, how I envy you. <BR>Mary

Hello, Alla! I've back from Stresa 10 days ago. I'm not good at writing English, so hope you can understand what I want to tell you about this beautiful city. <BR> <BR>I've also stayed Hotel La Palma as someone posted, and highly recommend this hotel. It Is located just In front of Lake Maggiore, and It takes 5 or 7 minutes walk from railway station and Boat dock. Very comvenient. Most of the Room has telass and jacuzi! Jacuzi was so comfortable that I used It every night. View from lake side room was fabulous! You can see lake ,Isola Bella and boats at daytime, and many brilliant lights around the lake at night. Visit their web site. Http//:www.stresa.net/hotel/lapalma <BR> <BR> Stresa Is walkable city. Center of the city Is around pz.L Cadorna and pz.Marconi. There are shops,banks (only 2 banks), post offices, Information center, cafes, boats terminal for Borromean Islands. Tourists Information Is on via principe Tomaso 40/42, they open from 8:45-12:30/14:30-18:00 and close Sunday afternoon(summer). Near the Tourists Information, there Is supermarket GS! This supermarket Is very nice. I like It. You can buy foods In reasonable price. I bought bread, vegitables, water, proshuto for making sandwiches and brought It to Islands. You can also buy pastas, Instant risotto, pasta souses for suvenior. They open Monday to Saturday 8:30-12:30/15:30-19:30, Sunday 8:30-12:30 and close Sunday afternoon. My favorites are Knorr's Instant Risotto and Barilla's Instant Tortelloni. <BR>Most famous spots are Borromean Islans, Isola Bella, Isola Madre, Isola Pescatori. There are beautiful gardens and Borromeo palace In Isola Bella and Isola Madre. There are good seafood restaurant In Isola Pescatori. From Stresa, It takes 5 minutes by boat to get Isola Bella, and 30 minutes to get Isola Madre. You can buy one day free pass between Stresa to Pallanza(Lit.15000). Villa Taranto also has large beautiful botanical garden. Cannobio, near Switzerland, Is beautiful. Houses are very cute. There are Zoological park, golf course, tennis coats, cable car to get to the top of mt. Mottarone In Stresa. <BR> <BR>I highly recommend you one day trip to Locarno. I went Locarno by Aliscafo (rapid boat. It takes about 1.5-2 hours to get there. ) .Locarno Is the city In Switzerland. You can see Swiss Alps very closer! Locarno Is very clean and organized city. You will fell "Here Is not Italy". Lake and mountain view from church Madonna del Sasso was fantastic! Tourists Information (Touristico di Locarno) Is near pz.Zorzi (6601 Locarno 1). You can use Italian Lila at many shops and station. To go back to Stresa, I used train, Centvalli railways(FART). That was very very nice!! The train run through the Alps, you can see rivers, small falls, small traditional villedges, cute staitions. It takes about 2 hours to get Stresa (Locarno-Domodossora(change the train)-Stresa). <BR>When I was In Locarno,the last train to get Stresa departed 19:25. And last boat to get Stresa was 17:15. So you should check the time table first when you arrive at Locarno. <BR> <BR>Uups! It's too long. If you have any question,please feel free to ask me. Have a nice trip! <BR> <BR>

Yukio, how charming of you to describe <BR>your adventure. And with such enthusiasm <BR>I was going to Milan but now I am <BR>certainly making a side trip to Stresa. <BR>I hope this family has a wonderful time and you have helped.

Yokio's description is super. Make sure to pack your washcloths if they are important to you. We tend to like the spongey things that come with VitaBath. Whatever!

Glad to see Stresa getting some good words here!! Spent a couple of days at the Astoria, a very nice hotel right on the "strip". Stresa is a beautiful little town and a perfect place to recharge one's batteries after charging thru Rome or Florence. The Astoria has a nice pool, balconies overlooking the lake, and a fair restraunt (buffet style). Stresa is only an hour away from Milan and was one of the highlights of my trip.highlights

Yukio, you may think you don't write so good English, but you sure made me wish I was back at Maggiore. You communicated just fine. I second all of the above, loved every minute of Stressa. <BR> <BR>I still think it is an excellent choice for last night in Italy rather than hotel near Malpensa. Can make Malpensa no problem by car or train from there.

While doing a search, I came across this very helpful thread for my trip planning. <BR> <BR>I wanted to say a special thanks to Yukio for going to such terrific information and for giving a great description of Stresa ... especially in a second language.

Sorry for the typos ... talk about second languages. I meant to say: <BR> <BR>"a special thanks to Yukio for going to such lengths to post terrific information and for giving a great description of Stresa ... especially in a second language." <BR> <BR>Oops. <BR>

TTT for Denise !

Hello, I've got to add my bravo to Yokio for the wonderful description of Lago Maggiore. I've just finished reading another thread about the Italian lakes, and just now stumbled upon this one. At the risk of repeating myself, I've visited Lago Maggiore twice, but stayed at the Swiss end in a tiny town called Gerra-Gambarogno. The albergo was the Panorama, and it was without a doubt, the most comfortable two-star place I've ever experienced. I'd go back every June if I could. But Yokio's writing convinces me to return to the Italian shores to explore. I don't think I can part with the delight of the Albergo Panorama, but I should be able to train or boat to the southern towns -- or if I can summon the courage, rent a car? (well probably not). Anyway, fond wishes to all who are fans of Lago Maggiore. Tell us more, and lots of details please. Thanks Yokio.

ttt

We just returned from a trip to Italy, and spent the last two nights in Stresa. We stayed at the Regina Palace Hotel and loved it. Our room was beautiful, and the bathroom was the most luxurious of our whole trip.

Topping this thread for Deb