Hotel Spotlight: Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como, Italy
The second half of our week spent in Italy in late September was enjoyed in the country's northern lakes region on the banks of Lake Como. The lake is home to plenty of storied hotels, but one that continues to be a favorite among jet setters is the luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which we chose to make our home for this portion of our Italian travels. Set on the northern shoreline with the charming town of Bellagio directly across the water, the hotel rests at the heart of the lake. Our quick one hour drive from Milan ended on a high note as we cruised along the lake, passing through villages so small that it felt like we were saying farewell within a minute of our hello, a delightful pathway to our eventual destination. As soon as we saw the yellow exterior accented by orange awnings and ivy covered walls we knew where the hotel's name came from - it certainly was grand!
As for the inside? Just as grand! We stepped into a lobby of plush red and gold velvet seating, marble accents and red roses everywhere. The place is just as glamorous as it was in 1910, but now with modern amenities! The friendly staff escorted us to our prestige lake-view room which, like the lobby, was beautifully decorated in a traditional color palette. Original details have been preserved making us feel like we were in our own Italian villa. By far the best part of our room (and what we had traveled to this corner of the world for!) was the view. French doors opened onto a cast-iron balcony offering a glorious scene of the sparkling lake and the rugged Grigne peaks standing tall behind it. We could have sat here all day watching seaplanes fly above and ferries transport visitors to and from the small villages dotting the shoreline.
As we discovered, most people visiting Lake Como have just one thing on their agenda - relaxing! Unlike many of the top tourist destinations in Italy, Lake Como is sleepy (in the best possible way!) and visitors who want to take advantage of this peace and quiet during vacation need not look further than Grand Hotel Tremezzo. The hotel boasts three pools, each unique and worth spending time at. In addition to the fascinating (and heated) floating pool on the lake, guests can also enjoy the Flowers Pool, surrounded by 100-year-old gardens, or the adults-only indoor infinity pool which is connected to the hotel's spa and has a panoramic relaxation lounge overlooking the water. Or, if you prefer the sand under your toes, you're in luck, as the hotel offers the only private "beach" on Lake Como, an oasis hovering above the water, complete with its own champagne bar. Unlike the majority of guests, we were busy sightseeing as we only had a few days in the area, but wish we had more time to enjoy the grounds and amenities, especially since the weather was warmer than we expected for late September.
While we may have not taken advantage of the sunbathing options, we certainly took advantage of the dining options, trying all but one of the four restaurants on-site. Whether you're staying at Grand Hotel Tremezzo or not, I highly recommend a dinner at La Terrazza, arguably the most romantic terrace on Lake Como, offering a seasonal menu and candlelight atmosphere which, combined with the twinkling lights of Bellagio in the distance, is magical. In the morning, the space is transformed into a beautiful breakfast buffet for hotel guests. Even though I'm typically not a breakfast person, the huge spread and stunning setting was hard to resist, so there was no need to head elsewhere.
From the service to the decor to the attention to detail, everything is exceptional at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Even its central location is impossible to beat, offering easy access to the lake's most visited attractions and villages like Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna. A ferry stops right in front of the hotel transporting guests to and from these hotspots for only a few Euros. It is also near to many of the lake's most famous villas - Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianella to name a few - which are open to the public and are a wonderful opportunity to discover the enchanted nature and history of the area. If you're curious about where to go and what to see while visiting Lake Como, check-out my full guide.
Three days later we said goodbye to the hotel and lake, leaving with the lingering scent of old-fashioned luxury and memories we’ll treasure forever. Thank you for a wonderful stay, Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
