Great location, friendly staff, comfortable room. We arrived very late, during a storm, soaked to the bone... After being whisked across the dark lake, we freshened up in a warm room and were treated to a very late, simple dinner... It was exactly as expected and a welcome change from the monotony of big hotel life... Personal service and plenty of personality. Highly recommended.

(If you're going to Maggiore - why wouldn't you stay on an island?)

Only a ten-minute boat ride from Stresa, Italy, Hotel Verbano on Isla Pescatore in Lake Maggiore is a retreat not to be missed. With award-winning food, a welcoming staff, and attractively decorated rooms, this would be a fine hotel anywhere it was located. Add to the above a magical location with breath-taking scenery, a short boat trip to the historical site of the Stresa Conference, or a ride in the opposite direction to a botanical garden/island, and you have the perfect site in the Italian Lake District. Wanting a brief stopover after flying to Milan and before continuing our trip, my brother, nephew, and I spent two nights here. Once the tourists leave on the last boat, you can pretend that you really are on your own little island paradise with birds, cats, and scenic narrow streets. The terrace of Hotel Verbano for breakfast or dinner provides the perfect setting for impeccable service and delicious food and wine. Getting here is easy: a short drive from the Milan airport (about an hour at most) and car parking either in a public lot or the private parking deck of the Bristol Hotel (check with reception to be sure these are still the arrangements). Stresa is very much a resort town with fine old hotels and unique shops, and Hotel Verbano provides a quiet break from tourism and a reasonably-priced alternative to staying on shore. My two favorite memories: 1) stepping out of my bedroom door onto the large patio, sitting there with my family watching lights come on around the lake, and the only sound the water and the birds, and 2)the quiet early morning as we caught our boat-taxi (because of the time especially arranged by the hotel staff) to take us to the shore for our drive back to Milan and reality. We were leaving very early, and I was happily surprised to find that the staff had provided breakfast for us long before the usual breakfast hour. What a perfect conclusion to our all-too-short stay!

This gem is worth altering your itinerary to include! We spent two nights there in June 2004. As two families traveling together, we booked three rooms. Each room was lovely and clean with a large bathroom and gorgeous views.

The Hotel Verbano sits on a small island in the middle of Lago Maggiore. By day there is a steady stream of visitors touring the villas of the Borremeo islands by ferry and private boats. By evening the island is quiet and serene with just a handful of local residents.

We ate dinner both evenings on the island- the first night at a nice outdoor cafe, the following night at the hotel. The hotel restaurant is highly regarded with a large following arriving every evening for dinner. The island also offers several other lovely restaurants to choose from. People come by private boats for dinner.

This is an ideal location to spend two nights in. (not nessarily two full days) Plan to arrive late afternoon your first day so that you don't miss the last ferry out (don't worry if you're late, the hotel does have its own boat if needed). Enjoy dinner on the island the first night. The following morning buy a multi visit ferry pass that includes entrance to the two beautiful villas on the nearby islands. Later in the afternoon, explore Stresa and take the cable car up the mountain. Return to the island for a beautiful dinner at the Hotel.

This is definitely a different view of Italy with its Alpine vistas. The hotel and island are charming and completely different from your other experiences traveling through Northern Italy. (we were also in Venice, Santa Margarita Ligure and Milan)

As we all agreed it was the surprise of our trip!

Five days of relaxation after a beautiful wedding in Tuscany. A small, 12 room hotel with a lovely resturant on a small island in the lake visited by tourists during the day but after the last boat leaves at 6 pm and you hear the bells of the small church you are transported and may never want to leave.