Belvedere

With my best friend, we wanted to visit the Borromee Islands and booked a 2-night stay at Belvedere. I had several exchanges with Cristina who is very prompt to reply. We arrived last Thursday (Oct; 12). The hotel is close to the ferry. Anyway, the island is very small. We had booked the one and only one suite. What a treat! The suite 301 is on the last floor. Beautiful decoration in shades of blue and 2 amazing terraces, including one facing the lake. The bathroom is just incredible; A huge bathtub from which you can see the lake and an Italian shower (big shower). Mini bar was complimentary. The quality of the towels was great and the vanities from l'Occitane. The room was bright, tidy and so quiet. The only sound was the silence.... The staff is very nice. Cristina had organized our transfer from Milan Malpensa and the driver was top notch. Breakfast on the terrace was divine. We had our first dinner at Belvedere (see specific review about our dinner). I definitely plan to come back to Belvedere next year early April!

After deciding to put Lake Maggiore on our (two couples) Italy travel destination list, we then worked to find the most ideal location on the lake to stay. At first, our thought was to stay on the mainland in Stresa and avoid being more isolated on one of the Borromean Islands. However, we chose instead to stay on the island of Pescatori at the Hotel Belvedere. Turned out to be an ideal choice. The ferry transportation getting from place to place around Stresa and the nearby islands is so simple, we wondered why we had even been concerned. The Belvedere was an absolute pleasure-spacious rooms with the best bathrooms, super-comfy bedding and pillows (we are in our 70s so we're pretty picky) and awesome views over Lake Maggiore. Their restaurant is 5* and their service staff could not have been any nicer. The breakfasts were perfect (buffet style and good choice of cooked food) and the dinners were fantastic. We were in room 102 with french doors to a deck and large windows on the lakeside wall. Could not have found a better place!

It’s rather exciting arriving at Hotel Belvedere, and feeling the sensation of staying on a small island miles from home. Most of the staff were welcoming and friendly, and our room (JuniorSuite) was absolutely fabulous. Breakfasts were delicious, although the birds on the breakfast terrace were detrimental to the ambience. They kept standing on the tables, and eating directly from peoples’ plates. We were constantly gently waving them away, but some guests were actively encouraging them by feeding them on the table. We chose the half board option, which was a very good decision. We had a three course dinner each evening. The starters and desserts were lovely, but we struggled with the main courses. My husband had the pork dish on the first evening, and it was lovely, but when we both ordered the same dish on the second evening, we both found it to be inedible and the sauce was rather unpleasant. Such a shame, as everything else was lovely. Overall; a lovely stay.

The place is gorgeous and the room was perfect, clean with everything you would need (minus a fridge). But the welcoming was not as satisfying, and when we arrived, the lady at the reception said they would keep our IDs until at least the next morning… I never heard anything like that before, you should never be out there without an ID, especially out of your country! We didn’t like that at all. Then we went to have dinner in Stresa and we were told they could organize a boat for us to get back on the island. The boat for two was 24€, it’s 3x the normal cost of regular boats on the day: theft. But the funny part was that the boat didn’t come to get us in stresa, we had to walk 20 minutes to Carciano, otherwise we would have to pay a supplement of… 30€!!!! So we walked and half way they called us to say they would pick us up in stresa without the extra cost, but we were already walking so we did not accept. The next day we had dinner at their restaurant. It was pure disappointment and way too expensive. The antipasti of fishes tasted like can food, all vinegary and the presentation was not good. The pasta was ok, but the meat (baby pork meat) was dry and stiff as it had been cooked the previous day, sauce had no taste, and potatoes had the taste of reheat food. We paid 160€ for two but we were really disappointed. Then we wanted to pay in advance the night before leaving, so we could just leave fast and early the next day, they did not accept. The next morning they had a problem with their printer… And to wrap it up just fine, the taxi they booked for us from Stresa to the station did not show up! So all in all we would not recommend this place other than for a drink at night (yes the bar is closed during the day… with this view, too bad!).

Stayed here for four nights in April. Madam and myself had been on a quest to live for pleasure alone now that the children have flown the nest, pre pando we’d been gadding about all over the place. Following two years without travel due to the poxy virus, an inertia had set in and we set out on our reintroduction to the outside world with some trepidation. Flights went ok, transfer was smooth and we pitched up on Isola Pescatori dragging our cases the short walk to a warm welcome at this establishment, which was akin to taking off tight shoes. All the stresses of the last couple of years melted away as we took in the view towards Isola Mardre from the private terrace through double doors at the end of the bed. The dining room is stunning with views across the lake towards Palanzza and a great place to take breakfast, lunch or dinner. The staff are tremendous and couldn’t be more helpful. We bumbled about the lake on the ferry throughout our four days and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We have visited the area a few times but have previously stayed on the lake shore with a car to hand on each occasion. Staying on the island relying on boats transport was a different experience and very enjoyable. The evenings, when all the crowds went away, were particularly memorable. It’s a super hotel, run by great people in a stunning location, we shall return!

A great experience-- asked for a balcony room and the staff delivered, have never had such a large terrace! Room 101 was comfortable but that terrace is something else! It's as large as the dining room underneath, contains 2 lounge chairs and a table for 4. It was such a pleasant place to watch the light change over the lake. Very quiet at night with good restaurants nearby, and only a few steps from the Ferry Dock. Highly recommend staying on this pedestrian-only island.

We stayed 2 nights at the Belvedere on a rainy weekend ! Despite terrible weather we had a wonderful time. The hotel was cosy, food and wine delightful ! and the room very comfortable ( spacious, cosy and with kettle and teas). I can only imagine how amazing it would have been in great weather! I highly recommend!!! It is special!

This was my 4th trip to Isolate deli Pescatore during the last 10 years and it is just remarkable in all ways. Very, very quiet after about 6 PM with many fine restaurants to choose from.

The hotel itself has rooms with a splendid view over the lake. The accommodation itself, however, is faded glory. Clean and well maintained, for sure. However, during our stay there were heavy construction works going on right in front of the hotel until 1 o clock at night, a very very noisy detail not mentioned during our reservation. impossible to sleep this way. Also, you expect real glass - not plastic cups- in your room. That's hundreds of plastic cups thrown away every day. Imagine the ecological disaster. breakfast was below parr as well. Friendly staff, nevertheless.