Excelsior Splendide

"My husband and I had a wonderful stay at Hotel Excelsior Splendide, and we would absolutely stay here again. We actually arrived in Bellagio one day earlier than our original reservation. We took the train from Milan to Varenna-Esino and then the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio. Once you arrive at the Bellagio ferry terminal, the hotel is literally about a two-minute walk away. You really could not ask for a better location. The hotel was able to accommodate our early arrival in Room 12, a standard double room without a lake view. The hotel is in a historic building dating back to 1907, so keep that in mind when it comes to room sizes and amenities. There is a very small elevator, typical of many older European hotels, that fits about two people with luggage. Our room was simple, very clean, and comfortable. The bathroom was quite small, with maybe a foot of space between the sink and toilet, but everything was clean and functional. The shower is designed for one person and had plenty of nice hot water. The air conditioning worked extremely well. It is a PTAC-style unit, and there is a note on the thermostat letting you know that you need to ask the front desk to turn it on. Once it was on, our room became so comfortably cool that we actually used the blankets from the closet overnight. The following morning, we moved to our balcony room, Room 9, which was only a few doors down. Arianna, one of the housekeeping staff, was incredibly kind and sweet. She knew we were changing rooms and made an effort to have our new room ready for us by around 11:00 a.m., which we really appreciated. Our balcony room had a slightly larger bathroom with more space around the sink and toilet. The shower was about the same size as the standard room, which was perfectly fine for us, and again there was plenty of hot water. The AC in this room was also nice and cold. The highlight was definitely the balcony overlooking Lake Como. It had two chairs and a small table, and being able to sit outside and enjoy that beautiful lake view made upgrading to the balcony room well worth it. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. The hotel also has a restaurant directly across from the property by the lake, where we had a lovely dinner during sunset. It is hard to beat dinner with that view. The location of this hotel is truly unbeatable. You can walk to the ferries, shops, restaurants, and just about everything in Bellagio. There is even a 24-hour laundromat about a three-minute walk away, which was very convenient while traveling. One sunny day, we walked to Lido di Bellagio and spent the day by the lake. At the time of our visit, it was €25 per person for a sun lounger and umbrella, beach towel, and direct access to swim in Lake Como. There is also a restaurant and bar. The loungers face the lake, so it almost feels like spending the day at the beach. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel and enjoyed the swimming pool, which was another really nice feature to have. Since the hotel is just steps from the ferry terminal, the balcony rooms can be a little noisy during the day while the ferries are running. This didn’t bother us, and there was no ferry noise at night. If you’re sensitive to daytime noise or like to take an afternoon nap, I’d recommend bringing earplugs. I also have to mention the wonderful people at reception: Gloria, Alessio, Elisa, and Mehdi. Everyone was extremely helpful and kind. Whenever we had questions about what to do, where to go, or how to get somewhere, they were always happy to help and point us in the right direction. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely stay at Hotel Excelsior Splendide again. Just come with the right expectations. This is a charming, historic hotel in an older building, not a modern luxury resort filled with high-end amenities. If your priority is sleek, contemporary luxury, this probably isn’t the hotel for you. There are luxury options nearby that may be a better fit. But if you want a clean and comfortable hotel with character, friendly staff, a pool, beautiful lake views from the balcony rooms, and an absolutely fantastic location in the center of Bellagio, Hotel Excelsior Splendide is a great choice. For us, the location and hospitality made the stay."

"I am more than surprised that this hotel remains in business. I can only assume that the cost is reasonable, and attracts people at a certain budget . The hotel sits just across the ferry, which can be considered a bonus, however, hotels in close proximity to the main thoroughfare are plenty. What this hotel does offer, unconditionally are the following: 1. A strong mold odor that will hit strong when you exit your room; 2. A musty stench that bellows from the unkempt furniture, furnishings and rugs 3. Hotel staff that tolerates you, is of little help in providing the necessities of a hotel, namely, ice, towels, room air conditioning. You will find yourself in an uncomfortable situation should you dare ask 4. Rooms with exactly two towels. Towels are rationed. So is the air conditioning 5. There are no refrigerators in the rooms 6. The tile in the room is chipped, and the sinks and showers are a mess 7. One key (yes, a key) is provided for each room, despite the number of guests 8. No bellhop. You’re on your own with luggage 9. The elevator accommodates two people at most, and it smells like sweaty pants 10. The restrooms, which should be accessible for guests only, are freely used by the public. 11. The restrooms are akin to portable toilets I cannot comment on the food. I would not eat there if you paid me to. I slept in my clothing on top of the bed. The room impressed me as unsanitary. I asked for ice and was advised by the front desk that they would have to dig into their office stash, and I had to explain that I needed a towel for my hair. I asked for plastic cups, and was directed to go across the street to a public bar, seriously. They charge for pool towels. Seriously? My recommendation would be to skim over this hotel. It is obvious that guests are not welcome and are begrudgingly accommodated when necessary. The hotel should be listed as and charge for a hostel stay. At least they would be honest."

"Where do I begin after a fabulous 4 nights here? I highly recommend this hotel and here's why. It is an excellent location right in the heart/center of town. One of the best features is that it has a full service restaurant right in front that offers coffee, gelato, pizza & salads on the main level & full menu on the lower level by the water (Get the spaghetti carbonara). The reception, maid & wait staff at breakfast were so kind to us and the price of rooms was somewhat reasonable. Do yourself a favor & get a lake-facing room or even splurge for a balcony like we did. It is just a 2 minute walk to both ferry stations & the little tourist train & is surrounded by shops, restaurants & bars. This hotel really gives an old world vibe and the decor fits into the feel of the town. Here's what makes it special/different from other hotels in Bellagio (because we visited some other hotels). It doesn't require walking up steps like some rentals in town, the lobby is large, has multiple sitting areas and is comfortably air-conditioned, it's restaurant across the street offers more cocktails than we found in all of Italy resembling an American cocktail menu which is hard to come by, they have a beautiful quiet pool & loungers, it's on the side of town closest to the lakefront promenade which leads you to the "Lido" beach club & Villa Melzi & it's not far from the public bus stop that is an alternative option to ferries to other towns. Right outside there is live music at night at Bar San Remo. Here are some things I wish we had had: I wish there had been a mini fridge (or what some hotels refer to as a "cooler") in the room to keep water cold & I wish that the elevator were larger. If you don't like tiny elevators or walking up flights of steps, request a room on the lowest level possible because this is by far the smallest elevator I've ever seen in my life. It fits 2 people max. Also, if you're a decaf coffee drinker, bring your own grinds for the in-room kettle & breakfast bc they can't make you decaf until their public cafe across the street opens at 9:00 am. I also wish we had had access to the water machine in the breakfast room all day like in other hotels instead of having to purchase elsewhere. I would stay here again in a heart beat and you should too!"