Villa Crespi

This is a definite 5 star experience! The moorish designed villa is divine set amongst beautiful gardens with views overlooking the water. We stayed for 3 nights in a suite with the 4 poster bed and a beautiful bathroom with gorgeous toiletries and good quality bed/bath linens. It was a very comfortable, beautiful room with orchids in the room and handmade jellies in a little glass box left in your room together with a bottle of Prosecco - it's these nice little personal luxuries that are included (that you pay for too!) that make the stay so enjoyable. Had drinks in the bar downstairs a few times, breakfast outside on the terrace one day and inside another (due to inclement weather). The breakfast provided is of very high quality with beautiful fruit selection, pastries etc. Coffee is barista made, omelettes made to order by chef. Everything is of the highest quality. One waiter was a bit hopeless but I forgave him as he was so obliging and apologetic!! One night we ate in the Michelin starred restaurant - set menu, staff very professional and precise, beautiful linens and table scapes serving a divine menu and exquisite wines. Yes we spent a fortune but it was worth it. The whole experience is otherworldly, like being on a very glamorous movie set - imagine Cary Grant and Grace Kelly and you'll get the picture (pardon the pun). So it was lovely swanning around feeling like lady of the manor - even if it was only for a few days! p.s. Location was good - we walked into the village of Orta (which is lovely - there is a linen shop with beautiful tablecloths etc - a must visit if you like that sort of thing (my husband nearly fell off his chair when he saw how much I spent there!) If you go in there the owner will show you a photo of Richard Gere buying linen there! Who knows if this is true but it did look like him or someone like him and it made us chuckle.. Anyway, I bought a beautiful white linen table cloth with hand blocked blue fish and napkins to go with it - very good quality. Restaurants in the village square are good too but you need to book. We also stayed in Stresa and we preferred Orta.

It's a magical place. a friend from torino recommended it so we booked without really exploring online. the hotel is amazing - you drive up and we ask what is this mosque doing in the middle of italy. it was built in 1880s. our room was very nice - huge. old world decorations. very elegant. our room faced the road so a bit noisy. we didn't have a bathtub. the staff is AMAZING. the breakfast is great. we did the 3 star meal - never have done that before. checked it off our list. the little village on the lake was awesome. we spent most days there.

The personnel at the villa Crespi has been incredibly nice. We also had a wonderful culinary and wine pairing experience at the hotel restaurant. It has been an absolute pleasure to spend these two days with the hotel team and within this unique villa. We want to thank deeply everyone from the people who helped us make the reservation at the hotel and those who welcomed us and made this stay so enjoyable. Lastly we have been most impressed by the quality of the service during our lunch as well as the knowledge of the wines and the dishes provided by the hotel personnel. We absolutely recommend all world travelers to discover the Villa Crespi to enjoy wonderful food as well as the hospitality of Mrs and Mr Cannavacciuolo and their team.

It's a wonderful step back in time. The intimacy of the hotel gushes in the design and detail of the property. Our room overlooked the lake. It was beautiful and comfortable. The food was magnificent, and the breakfast simply the best we've ever had. There's not much to do in San Guilio, but it's a charming medieval village, just a few hundred yards down a steep hill. A couple of days there is enough, but worth the stay.

Has to be right up the top of historical elegance and charm. Stayed for 3 nights and went for a larger room with great views of the lake and surroundings. From checkin to leaving the staff were right on point and very capable - almost one step a head at every moment. Breakfast outside on the vast patio was beautiful each morning as was the cocktail bar area each evening- all upscale and appointed. The 3 Michelin star restaurant was a total treat - super efficient and amazing food (we were pretty full by the end). They have a sister property right on the waters edge (very modern) so was nice to go there and enjoy swimming in the lake (and lunch by the lake). Totally loved our stay and highly recommend.