I have to agree with Basil - the staff at this hotel are definitely in the wrong business. It is a shame as with some tender loving care - and a complete change of staff this hotel could improve considerably. The other problem is the sound of the trains and the constant barking of the dogs who live close by. Unfortunately this hotel had the potential to actually put a dampener on the holiday - BUT we did not let that happen, the whole of the party stuck together and made the best of a bad job. Somebody needs to do something about this hotel. The breakfast is just about passable and again spoilt by the staff "supervising" the coffee machine etc. Apparently we ate too many croissants on day 2 - so they were reduced in number on day 3 - how customer friendly is that!!!!!

If you like pleasant helpful staff, a good dining experience, easy access and a freindly welcome do NOT go anywhere near this nightmare of a hotel.
On the other hand if you are a fan of Basil (Fawlty) this is THE hotel for you

I actually was slightly disappointed after reading previous previews. The room I had was quite bare and did not have any atmosphere apart from the little balcony (overlooking the car park and the railway tracks). However, the room was clean and all the essentials were in there but considering the price (52 Euros) I somehow wished I had picked a cheaper place offering the same standard.

The hotel was a little difficult to find, and our initial welcome was rather luke warm (although it did improve during our stay). Considering the hotel was almost entirely full of english-speaking clients, it was surprising how little English was spoken by reception staff. The hotel is very clean and well-situated between the station and the lake (train noise is not a problem - but Baveno is small and is served by a railway!). It also has a large, free car park. The room was a good size, with a comfortable bed and lovely views of the lake and hills from the balcony. The only problem was the toilet, which was uncomfortably squeezed in between the sink and a large radiator. Breakfast was good, although coffee from the machine was poor by Italian standards. A good place to stay for two or three days, but not for a week or more.