I would recommend this hotel to anyone, but I'd make sure they knew that the imbarcadero is across the street. This is where boats load and unload to the beautiful Borromeo Islands, and traffic comes and goes until the wee hours. There's a children's playground right in front, on the lakeshore; and Italian children stay up until ten or eleven, making lots of noise, as children do. The weekly street market, with delightful local color and bargains, happens early right outside your window if you are there on the right day. This hotel's super-central location makes it noisy, but if you have a balcony, as we did, the world-class view more than compensates. Truly, this is one gorgeous view. This hotel is an excellent value, handsome, clean, well located, with a courteous, helpful staff. Would I go again? Yes, but as a light sleeper, I'd take earplugs.

I stayed in this hotel at july/2009. The service was good, but my GPS and my daughter's milk was robbed from inside my baggage. The managers didn't worry about it and didn't replace me. It was the first time that I was robbed into a hotel.

We organise trips to many places, using many very nice hotels, and I had the pleasure of accompanying a group staying at the San Gottardo in September.

My group loved the hotel..The rooms were very nice, clean, and spacious (and spectacular if you can manoeuvre a lakeview room). The location is also excellent.

And the service is exceptional! At reception nothing is too much trouble for Paulo and his team; they will help in any way they can.

And Nina and her colleagues in the restaurant added greatly to the trip with their service, enthusiasm and personality. Running along the road to wave us goodbye was a very nice touch that brought a tear to many an eye.

I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel.

Also, If you require any help/recommendations in organising tours/
visits etc in or around Maggiore contact Luca at Tomassucci Travel in Stresa, 0039 0323 31862 (also on the internet) - he is excellent.

Gerry Johnson
LONDON TOURS

I stayed at this hotel with my wife and two small children for one night and it was quite pleasurable. I had a room with a balcony and it was very nice to sit on the balcony with a bottle of wine and just look out over the lake. The staff were very nice and very helpful. I used the hotel parking (15 euros) in lieu of trying to find a parking place on the street. Any spot on the street was scooped up quickly. The boat dock is directly across the street for trips to the island. The breakfast was good.