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As we are a fledgling site, we need your travel tips for holidays in Stresa and Lake Maggiore. We would like this section of the site to be a positive help to future visitors to Stresa and therefore we would love you tell us about your favourite places to stay, visit, eat and drink! Just fill in the form to the right and click send. Please come back and visit our site after your holiday and send us your top tips!
We will review every travel tip received and reserve the right to make a final decision for its inclusion on our site. We will not publish tips containing abusive or offensive content.
All the tips in this section are from third parties and are not necessarily the opinion held by Visit Stresa.
If anyone stays somewhere other than Casa Riale let us know :)
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Name: Richard & Helen From: Manchester, UK Visited Stresa: June 2008 Tip: Hotel Elena in the main square is a great place to stay. If you are after good value, clean and comfortable accommodation then it is perfect. It is right in the main square so close to shops, restaurants, bars and the ferry station.
Name: Dave & Irene From: Aberdeen, UK Visited Stresa: July 2008 Tip: For an excellent up market hotel try Hotel La Palma on the lake front. Superb service in the restaurant, plush and cosy bar / cafe and friendly and professional staff.
Name: Mila & Hasan From: Amsterdam, Holland Visited Stresa: May 2009 Tip: We stayed with the whole family in a wonderful apartment next to the main square: Casa Riale. Nice atmosphere, very friendly owner Gigliola will make you feel at home! Check out their website for info www.casariale.it We can recommend it to everyone.
Name: Leonor From: Switzerland Visited Stresa: September 2009 Tip: I found on your website the tip about accommodation in Casa Riale, and I couldn't agree more with the recommendation. Lovely, charming, excellent location, in other words: unforgettable.
Name: Dee & Mike From: Aberdeen, Scotland Visited Stresa: September 2009 Tip: On reading the recommendation of Mila and Hasan from Amsterdam we went ahead and booked accommodation in Casa Riale for our stay in Stresa. We were delighted with it. The recently refurbished apartment was spotless and more attractive than the photographs on the website. The lovely Gigliola and her husband were five star hosts, transporting us to and from the station and providing a welcome pack of food. The apartment is in the centre of Stresa, with shops and restuarants on the doorstep and a few minutes walk from Lake Maggiore. Good value for money, we are happy to recommend Casa Riale. www.casariale.it
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Name: Alfarin From: Norway Visited Stresa: January 2010 Tip: Terrific experience at Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées. Probably the first hotel set in Stresa, was also chosen by Hemingway himself. Rooms and common area are lavish and full of history. The hotel is right on the lakeside, close to the centre. Facilities are good and staff friendly. Prices are quite high though, I would recommend to book via internet to compare the best offers.
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Name: Barbara & Philip From: South Australia Visited Stresa: April 2010
Tip: We
have just returned from 8 weeks in northern Italy, staying in apartments
and the most wonderful apartment of all was Casa Riale in beautiful
Stresa. We were met with warmth and generosity by Gigliola & Guiseppe.
The apartment has everything : comfort, space, light, it is peaceful,
spotless, perfectly located and beautifully furnshed.If only we could
have stayed longer. As for Stresa- magical, take a day pass and visit
the 3 islands, also allow time to visit Villa Taranto- spring is the
best time. |
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Name: Mike and Joanne From: New Jersey Visited Stresa: May 2010 Tip: We read the previous notes and stayed at Casa Riale for a week. The apartment was great, location was great, but the hospitality of Gigliola and Giuseppe was the best part. They were very helpful with logistical issues (parking, etc)and Giuseppe even showed up with umbrellas on the morning it rained. I strongly recommend Casa Riale.
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Name: Mervi Ihalainen From: Finland Visited Stresa: July 2010
Tip: We
stay at Casa Riale and it was a perfect place to be in Stresa. Quite in
centrum of the village and lake shore and really helpful and lovely
owners. Stresa in itself was beautiful and picturesque place. We can
really recommmend. |
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Name: Raja Jamaluddin From: Shah Alam, Malaysia Visited Stresa: September 2010 Tip: We stayed at Casa Riale which is centrally located. We took two apartments which were very clean and beautifully furnished. The friendly owners Gigliola and Guiseppe even took the trouble to stock the kitchenette with essential groceries before we arrived.
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Name: Sue From: Australia Visited Stresa: May 2011 Tip: Hotel Sempione on the waterfront is very economical and friendly,the breakfasts are generous and there's even free wifi.
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Name: Liz Galloway From: Aberdeen Visited Stresa: August 2011 Tip: After reading about Casa Riale on your website we checked out the information on these rental apartments and booked a 10 day stay in Casa Riale 2. This was a brilliant place to stay in a great location for travelling all over the lake and also into Italy via the Maggiore Express. The apartment itself was much nicer and more spacious than the photos show on the website with a great balcony and extremely well equipped, in addition to being immaculately clean. Guiseppe & Gigliola were very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this lovely place to anyone for an excellent holiday
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Name: Mike From: Fife Visited Stresa: August 2011 Tip: Fully endorse the recommendations of numerous others who have stayed at Casa Riale. Gigliola and Guiseppe are excellent hosts and could not be more friendly and helpful. Accommodation is centrally located, clean, and good value.
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Name: Malcolm & Carol From: Lyndoch, South Australia Visited Stresa: May 2013 Tip: Stayed at the Astoria Hotel - pleasant stay,room overlooking the lake, good breakfast and very clean. Staff very helpful.
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Name: Barbara & Philip From: Australia Visited Stresa: June 2014 Tip: This was our second stay at the beautiful Casa Riale (number 4) apartment of Gigliola & Giuseppe. It was our final stay in a 3 month journey in Bella Italia and we saved the best for last. Gigliola & Giuseppe are the most wonderful, warm and generous hosts you will find anywhere. In our 9 trips to Italia, always in apartments, this apartment and the owners will be our favourite. All my correspondence from Australia was answered immediately and acurately. We were greeted as friends and the apartment, like last time, was immaculte, so very comfortable, spotless and extrememly well equipped. The linen was top quality. There were numerous thoughful items : hand cream, shampoo, food items, some excellent olive oil & so on. We ate at home most meals as it was a pleasure to do so. The lovely blacony, sun filled, was a joy. If only we had longer than just 6 nights. We can recommend this beautiful apartment very highly. As for Stresa - can anywhere be more beautiful? the lake and the islands, Santa Catarina, Villa Taranto the list is endless, the walks, the cable car or simply just watch the sun rise and set over lake Maggiore. Paradise.
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Name: Jenny, Maureen & Tracey From: London & Switzerland Visited Stresa: July 2014 Tip: We travelled from Switzerland having pre-booked the Milan Speranza Hotel which is located right on the lake front. Absolutely superb value with great service. We had a family room for three adults and the room was extremely spacious. Our next visit will be to book a room with a balcony view of the lake, which will happen sooner rather than later. Highly recommended.
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Name: Bill Savage From: Cirencester, UK Visited Stresa: August 2014 Tip: Hotel Flora: We stayed at this hotel in late August and we couldn't have chosen better, A small family run hotel with swimming pool and a superb restaurant. Very friendly staff, very good menus in the restaurant. We would definitely go back again!
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Name: Anthony From: Maryland, USA Visited Stresa: August 2007 Tip: La Cambusa on Via Cavour behind the church on Via Sempione has the largest wine selection in the region. And Rosaria Bolla and her family are happy to provide advice and conversation about all things, in several languages. A very welcoming and friendly experience.
Name: Jenny From: London, UK Visited Stresa: September 2007 Tip: We had a great meal at Il Pesciolino Rosso by the traffic lights near the railway station. My husband had a fantastic pizza (it was bigger than the plate!) and I had pasta with courgettes and prawns that was absolutely delicious. Highly reccommended!!
Name: Richard & Helen From: Manchester, UK Visited Stresa: June 2008 Tip: We arrived in Stresa at lunchtime and just near our hotel on the way to the ferry station we found La Botte. It is a really cosy, rustic little place and we had a lovely bowl of pasta. There's monkey nuts in a bowl on the table to nibble whilst you choose from the menu which was a nice touch.
Name: Dave & Irene From: Aberdeen, UK Visited Stresa: July 2008 Tip: For a more rustic eating experience and away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurants in the square try Osteria del Amici - turn right at the perfume shop on the square up a side street.
Name: Graham & Helen From: London, UK Visited Stresa: August 2008 Tip: Cafe Torino in the main square is a good place to eat as it offers excellent food and service at very reasonable prices.
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Name: Ian and Moira From: Glasgow Visited Stresa: Jul/Aug 2010 Tip: Had a great trip to Stresa visited Cafe Torino in the main town square the staff, service and food is great
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Name: Gail From: Cook Islands Visited Stresa: September 2010
Tip: Il Pesciolino Rosso at the lights by the train station is a
must - great food and service. The staff work really hard and will
welcome you back the second time(you will go more than once).
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Name: Malcolm & Carol From: Lyndoch, South Australia Visited Stresa: May 2013 Tip: We had a great evening meal at GRANODURO cnr of via Duchessa di Genova and via Giosue Carducci (traffic lights near railway station). Very pleasant staff and excellent menu. Enjoyed our stay in Stresa.
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Name: Rosemary From: Dublin, Ireland Visited Stresa: May 2014 Tip: For a real de-stress in Stresa, a visit to hotel La Palma is a must, the sky bar is wonderful with enchanting views especially in the evening!
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Things to See & Do
Name: Richard & Helen From: Manchester, UK Visited Stresa: June 2008 Tip: Our top tip is the roving tickets for the ferries. Basically you can get one ticket that lets you hop around the islands and the resorts near Stresa and they are really good value for money.
Name: Dave & Irene From: Aberdeen, UK Visited Stresa: July 2008
Tip: We did the Lago Maggiore Express which takes a whole day - trip
to Domodossola from Stresa is fairly ordinary then change to the
Panoramic train which leaves from a downstairs platform ( watch for the
platform signs for the Domodossola to Locarno train.) The Panoramic
train is quite good ( They take a 1.50 euro supplement on some trips)
trundling round the mountain sides to Locarno where some shops and
restaurants will accept and even give change in Euros, others may
accept Euro notes only, otherwise just get 50 Swiss francs from the
hole in the wall which should be enough for a lunch for two and an ice
cream ! The ferry trip back to Stresa takes around 3 hours although on a
nice day could be quite relaxing. For an extra 6 euros each you get an
extra days ferry rover ticket on the lake. |
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Name: Mike From: Fife Visited Stresa: August 2011 Tip: Day trip to Locarno on Lake Maggiore Express, leaving by train 9.10am through scenery of breathtaking beauty and returning by boat to Stresa, arriving 7.20pm is strongly recommended.
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Name: Dave & Irene From: Aberdeen, UK Visited Stresa: July 2008 Tip: Watch out for free music in some of the bars - not always well advertised - Jazz in La Verbanella on the lake front on certain nights and free classical recitals in the plush Regina Palace.
Name: Graham & Helen From: London, UK Visited Stresa: August 2008 Tip: In Via De Vit there is an internet cafe, currently called Newdata. Very useful for online flight check in.
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Name: Chris From: Skipton Visited Stresa: September 2009
Tip:
There is an excellent bus service between Arona and Pallanza.
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Name: Raja Jamaluddin From: Shah Alam, Malaysia Visited Stresa: September 2010 Tip: We also made use of Tomassucci Travel Agency in Stresa for Lago Maggiore Express tour and bought Trenitalia tickets for our travels in Italy from them and we were pleased with their services. Those who like a quiet holiday should include Stresa in their travel itinerary to Italy.
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