We (family with a teenage son) have been to this hotel for the fourth time and we enjoyed this stay as much as the two recent ones (the first one had been over 10 years ago with another director).
The Castello’s location is hardly to beat as it is wonderfully set in a 14-hectare-property directly at the Lake Maggiore. Not only there are vast nicely landscaped parklands but also a gorgeous shoreline. I make a bet that you shall never experience a crowded beach there (unless you insist on a place in the sandy area …). There is a main house and two (newer) additional buildings. This time we had a nice (renovated) junior suite in the main building (two rooms with two small bathrooms – the one with a shower, the other with a tub –, a small balcony and unfortunately with connecting doors so it could be noisy), the last time we had a fantastic junior suite in the Locarno Pavilion that was beautifully furnished with a spacious bathroom and a likewise loggia. The rooms in the new Ascona Pavilion are supposed to be even more luxurious. This Pavilion houses also the superb SPA. There is an adequate fitness room (unfortunately with only one cross trainer that was often taken …), a gymnastics room, a hydropool, a SPA suite and saunas etc., really an added value to this hotel. As far as the gastronomy is concerned there is a gourmet restaurant (17 points Gault-Millau), a half board restaurant (dinner) and an additional full board restaurant (lunch). The latter you should not miss as it offers excellent value for money (30 SFr. for a hors d’oeuvre and salad buffet, meat and fish from the grill, pizza, pasta and a tempting dessert buffet). Once a week there is an aperitif offered by the management and a dinner offering local food (on demand).
All in all, the Castello is really worth visiting, one small disadvantage may be that it is not that close to the village of Ascona (half an hour by foot) and the shuttle offered by the hotel only operates from about 10 am to 6.30 pm, but otherwise the hotel is really a jewel!