We returned to Hotel Aurora in June 2011 and found the hotel, family and staff exactly as it was five years ago. We purely returned to the hotel because of the wonderful family atmosphere created by the Gregorio Family and the fantastic food served in the restaurant which sits directly on the edge of the lake. The chef is from Sicily and returns each year for the holiday season. It is amazing to see how the Italian people who live on Lake Como, drive their boats across from one side of the lake to the restaurant, moor their boats and then staff at restaurant collect them and once dinner is finished they are driven back to their own boats. The two daughter in laws, Margharita and Patricia are both beautiful people - one in charge of reception and one in charge of the restaurant and what an an absolutely wonderful asset they are to the hotel. Should you need any information, just ask Margharita - she speaks fluent English and is such a delight always. Hopefully, we will return again in the future.

We stayed in a two room appartment in the hills overlooking Lake Como in a small village called Nesso that is owned by the Hotel Aurora. We stayed there in the Fall of 2010. It's in an old mill that the owners totally renovated with modern accomodations. The stream that used to turn the millstone still runs next to the building and a balcony overhangs it. Beautiful! The living room window's grandiose view gives over Lake Como. It's a bit of a steep climb to get there and we North Americans are not used to driving in such narrow streets, but it's worth it. The owners were very friendly and helpful.

Our journey was taking us from the Cinque Terre area to the Lake Como area through Milan. During this time our train broke down and we had to switch trains in the middle of nowhere, arriving to Como about three hours later than expected. To add to this, the next ferry to Lezzeno didn't leave for another two hours, so we sat with all our luggage in a horrible mood. Once getting to Hotel Aurora, we gave them our voucher, which stated a deluxe room in the new building, however they told us our room was a standard in their original building. We should them the emails we received, and I will admit we were a bit harsh because of our day of travel. Even though this was all our agents fault and not Hotel Aurora, they were AMAZING. They were able to give us a Premium Room in the new building the last two days, HUGE terrace over the lake plus private balcony, all while being so helpful and great. To be honest, most hotels would push you aside or be rude right back, but the owner and girl at the front desk were nothig short of amazing, polite, and helpful. If I were to pick the highlight of our honeymoon, it would be how great this hotel, and their people, were to us. Now on to what we thought...

If you are staying here, ask for the new building. It's about $30 or $40 more a night, but it's well worth it because it's right on the water, 100% lake view, and it's very private. The rooms are large, roomy, great beds, big bathrooms, and again, amazing views. Out of any vacation we have ever went on (and I am a huge traveler), these are the best rooms I've been in with views that make your mouth water.

The location is amazing. Why stay in Bellagio when you can stay 10 minutes south? The bus is about 50 yards away and only costs a few bucks to get to Bellagio, and the ferry is just a few blocks in the opposite directon. Plus this town is so quiet and so peaceful that it cannot be compared to another town on there (although Varrenna seemed to be a great town also, but more on the expensive side). One bad thing, and it's not a huge deal, is that the drivers on the road the hotel is on are ridiculous and will never stop or slow down. Just be careful.

Now about the food (my mouth is watering). Their breakfast is in the old building (no view in that dining hall), but it has such a great assortment of food that you won't go hungry. The dining area is really, really nice and classy. For dinner their restaurant (right on the water across the street from the old building) is EXCELLENT. In the three night we stayed here, we ate there every single night. Their lake perch is the best I've ever had...there has never been another time in my life where I went to the same restaurant three straight days and ordered the same exact thing. Their pasta apparently was amazing too per my wife. Lastly, they have a bar in the original building that is so cozy and nice. At night we wanted a glass of wine, and the bar was closed (but always open to walk through to get to the computer). The owner told me it was $xx for a glass, where I simply left the money behind the bar and poured a glass. It was amazing how trusting she was, and we obviously respected that and only took what we paid for.

In our honeymoon, we went to Lucca, Siena, Monterosso, Riomaggiore, and Venice, and I would say that Lake Como was our #1 destination, and Hotel Aurora was by far the best hotel we stayed at.

If you have any questions regarding the area, please message me, and I'll get back to you asap, as we got very familiar with the area.

We went there for one night ..we found very friendly welcoming and atmosphere! We reserved a room with lake view and it was absolutely amazing!! Wonderful place far from the city even though actually the hotel is facing the street..which is absolutely tiny... The restaurant was directly on the water and the food good . The prices were not cheap at all for a young couple as us..but still I keep a very good feeling of the place.