Grand Hotel Imperiale

Beautiful lake views

This hotel had lovely rooms with great views. The location was good since it was near the station for many boats (you can easily ride a boat to Como from here). There are nearby restaurants that are casual if you don’t want to eat at the more formal hotel restaurant. I highly recommend this hotel.

enjoyable stay

we found the setting and room to be quite relaxing. the restaurant was very good and pricing reasonable. overall an enjoyable stay and we hope to return.

Breathtaking Location!

I am so glad that I chose this hotel vs. some of the other more "touristy" areas we were considering. If you are looking for pure serenity and relaxation at a good value for Lake Como -this is the place! The views were gorgeous, the service was good and the pool (which sits over the lake) was absolutely amazing! The rooms could use a little updating but other than that, it was a great place! A ferry to the other lake towns literally pulls up right in front of the hotel so it is very convenient. I would definitely recommend staying here!

Traveler's tip on dining

The restaurants at the hotel were good but pricey. However, there are a couple really fabulous rustic Italian restaurants in town that were half the price as the hotel restaurants! Get info from the front desk and be prepared that the restaurants do not speak English (or take credit card) so try and learn a few key phrases before you go. If you are looking for luxury - stay at the hotel but if you are looking for authentic try out some of the local options.

Amazing restaurant, non-responsive desk staff

This stay would have been stellar had the front desk staff wanted our experience to be stellar. The highlight of the stay was dining at the high-end restaurant, Imperialino Restaurant. An incredible meal, amazing setting and extremely high-level service were only disrupted by European Cell Phone Dude at one table and We Are The Only People in the World Conference Attendees at three other tables. Not quite the peaceful dining experience for which we were paying. Because summer was over, the hotel had turned off the air conditioning ... although the nights were still too warm. The front desk staff -- once we pulled them out of their office from some more-important online activity -- suggested we open the window. Brilliant. Except that the courtyard bar was blasting 1980s American pop music. Again, not quite the peaceful resort advertised. The hotel is pretty isolated from any other retail or restaurants. After three weeks of European walkable cities, this was a surprise. Especially when we needed a pharmacy. However, a stroll up the steep steps into the nearby village did yield some great views and little nooks of quaintness. Finally, do not waste time or money using the hotel Internet-in-you-room service. The technology is very Early Pong. The place has nice bones with its quirky modern/historical ambience and lake setting. Too bad it did not measure up to its price tag.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

A few blocks but hundreds of steps away is a small, ancient church worth discovering (the 11th century Romanesque church of Sant’ Agata) as well as some amazing stair climbs, views, and villas. There are many simple but visually-strong images to grab for the amateur photographer. No sign of George Clooney, though, much to the dismay of our American correspondents.

Mixed bad

Hotel is not for everyone. It is in a smaller town called Moltrasio. The ferry boats pull right up to the hotel practically, however, they do not run as frequent as the bigger towns. The town has some secret little areas if you climb the hill that are lovely however, and most people actually miss those. The hotel is fairly clean, and the service is excellent. The restraunts are good, which is important as there are only 3 in the whole town and the ferries stop running prior to dinner. If you want a quiet and relaxing weekend with beautiful lake views (make sure you get a lake view room - cost a tiny bit extra, but well worth it), you will love it. If you prefer nighttime activity, stay in the town of Como. I really liked it, and it deserves it’s 4 star rating and is fairly priced for Lake Como.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Walk up the hill to the old church and search out the old cemetary on the hill above the hotel. It is quite spectacular. The church is not much on the outside, but inside, it is quite beautiful. The cemetary is really cool as it has some of the best lake views in the area.

Grand Stay...Hmmm, ok.

The hotel was overall a good play to stay and I would probably stay there again but it was not the Grand experience I was expecting. The rooms were a bit small but clean and comfortable. The air conditioner broke a few days into my trip but they moved me to another room with one that worked quite rapidly--was a pain to pick up and go but much better than waiting for it to be fixed. The pool was a bonus for this area of the lake so you do attract people with children in this hotel. Overall service was ok--a couple of the people at the front desk were helpful and a couple of them were a bit rude. The hotel food wasn’t the best but was eatable--you can get much better food at restaurants in other towns on the lakes.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

There really aren’t any services in Moltrasio--you need to pick up a few goodies (snacks/water)in one of the other towns and bring it back to the hotel. Additionally, there aren’t many choices for dinner besides the hotel and a couple little places next to the taxi boat ramp so you will need to take the boat to another town for dinner and then taxi back to the hotel afterwards.

quiet get away - spectacular food

The hotel is in a very quiet area (Moltrasio)and there is no other night life but the food is incredible. My wife and I had two unbelievable meals while there.

Traveler's tip on dining

Make dinner reservations at the restaurant in the garden overlooking the lake. It will be the best meal for the price that you have ever had.

Lake Como Heaven

Wonderful 2-night stay - fantastic views, beautiful and modern hotel, grounds, pool, good breakfast. Very close to boat dock. Near Como. Helpful staff. Great for families and travelers who want all the amenities.

Grand Hotel Imperiale

Had a wonderful vacation. My only complaint about the hotel was the thinness of the walls - we could hear the neighbors (which included a baby) the whole time. The restaurant at the hotel and in the town are wonderful. And the pool area provided the ideal place for relaxing!

Traveler's tip on local attractions

If you want to venture up the lake I’d recommend the speed boats - unless you want to spend the day sight-seeing from a boat (nice in its own right).

Wonderful hotel

Stayed at this hotel two days in July 2009. I spent some time to find the perfect spot for my gf and I. My requrements was that hotel needed to be close to the lake, have a nice private area with sunbeds and pool. Hotel should have nice surroundings, possibilities for activities like tennis and boat rental. Should have or be close to a great restaurant. Room should have balcony with lake view. My first choice was Villa d’Este, but it was fully booked. However I’m happy it was, otherwise I wouldn’t have doscovered this pearl. What an excellent place!Perfect location, beautiful hotel, great service. Hotel manager is very welcoming and friendly. The restaurant is superb (only went to the one by the lake), and everything is much more intimate and romantic than Villa d’Este. We will definately come back!

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Take the boat to get to the hotel. Be sure to get a table at the hotels restaurant by the lake. Great starting point for exploring villages along the lake

Needs help!

Hotel is in need of a refurbishment and new furnishings! Lounge/lobby area is depressing. Hotel room rates not reflective of all that is missing from this hotel! A/C never worked in 4 days and tried in vain to have it fixed! No adjustment made by hotel. The pool, fortunately, was very enjoyable, dining staff not so much! Location is ideal.

It was beautiful... but make sure to get a water view room.

Lake Como is one the most beautiful and serene place I have ever been to, and this hotel was at the perfect spot. We stayed at their villa ( which was upgraded at check in with additional payment) looking over the pool and the lake, and it was so worthy and fantastic... However, we thought the hotel needed a little updates and upgrades around the public areas. They were a lot of honeymooners and they all were planning on coming back later, and so are we.

Good place to stay in.

The Hotel was Great. It has good ubication and it is very close to Como city center. From the Hotel to the center of como takes only 10 minutes by car. The Hotel has its own parking space. the charge for the parking was a little bite expensive but you can bargain. The room was big, clean and comfortable. The bathroom was also big, clean and modern. The breakfast was good. and in overall the service was excellent. Its worth vising again this hotel. It worth the money you pay.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

To visit Como, Belagio, Lecco and all the vilages around the lake such as Cernobbio and Menagio. Como is a good place for shopping. Nice atmosphere...etc In the vilages around the lake zou can find great restaurants at a good price. Its one of the most beautiful places in Europe and specially in Italy.

Short trip

The hotel was more than expected. We got an upgrade to a suite when we checked in, the room was very clean and had a nice view of the lake and mountains. The service was exceptional.

We reccomend this place

Great location with waterfront pool, and ferry access right at the front of the hotel. We could hop on and get to virtually anywhere on the lake without using a car. There are minimal options for food at the hotel other than their own restaurant so we drove back to Chernobbio and Como for fine dining. Staff were pleasant and helpful with, overall, pretty good English. We will go back again to this same hotel.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

This hotel is just a couple of kilometers south of George Clooney’s villa, though there are many more specatacular ones in the immediate area.

I miss it already

I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to travel in this area. The staff is gracious and accomadating. The boat that will take you to other places is just across the street. The restaurant was wonderful with breathtaking views of the Lake Como, here again you are treated very special. I would never even consider staying any where eles while visiting. I Have nothing but wonderful things to say about this hotel, the staff and the restaurant. The morning breakfast is also a wondeful start to the day. This is Old Italy and a great destination for a long vacation or a special side trip. Don’t miss out on this place. I Miss It Already....

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Enjoy the local part of this area or a wonderful day in Como by Boat, for shopping or sight seeing.

Not impressed

good value and close enough to Como and the lake. sauna and hotel facilities were not what you would expect as a 4 star hotel. Restaurant food was bad - breakfast, dinner and room service.... I would stay there again but not eat there.