The hotel with the best interior decor and largest rooms during our two week Collette tour of…read more"Mountain lakes and Alpine vistas" in late July 2019.
This is a favorite hotel for use by touring companies because of it's location right on Lago Maggiore, second largest lake in Italy, bordering on Switzerland, and size with several hundred rooms.
9' x 17' or 153 square feet unit with decorative wall paper, and wood paneled furniture, spacious bathroom with double sink, bath tub, granite countertops, free wifi, and most importantly of all, fully AC, a necessity in 90 degree heat throughout our stay. Outdoor balcony, with spectacular unobstructed views of sunrise on Lago Maggiore, surrounded by mountains rising out of the deep blue waters.
10 minute walk from our room to the indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, and an Olympic size outdoor pool, complete with lap lines, shared with another hotel. Vast grass areas with plentiful lounge chairs for sunbathing. Lighted walkway around the hotel right on the shores of Lago Maggiore, not to be walked on at night, unless you want a leg full of mosquito bites!
Almost next door to the ferry building for visiting Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola Pescateri, islands in the Lake.
Pharmacy across the street, 6 minute walk to Supermercato Carrefeur and 10 minute uphill walk to supermarket Savoini. TripAdvisor lists 23 restaurants within 0.3 miles. 4 minute walk to Banco BPM with ATM to get euros, using my Chase Bank ATM card. Washer/Dryer self service coin store right on the quarter mile long Baveno promenade, where I did my running each morning.
Originally we were to spend two days in Milan, before taking a flight back home. However temperatures were near 100 degrees in Milan, requiring a change of plans, unless we wanted to be fried on our walking tours.
Prior to our last day of our tour, I made a reservation through TripAdvisor with www.ebookers.ch for two additional nights stay at this hotel. Since the web site was in German, didn't know that my room was for a mountain view room. Hotel upgraded me without charge to an ocean view room, so that we could stay in the same room.
There are two yelp Grand Hotel Dinos, one a $$$$, and another a $$$. Since we didn't have the top floor penthouse, put it in the $$$ category.
Hotel provided ride in chauffeured full size 2019 Mercedes Benz sedan to airport in Milan, 22 miles away, for 120 euros cash ($144), or 132 euros credit card. Price to pay for staying beyond the tour dates, which would have provided free transportation by motor coach to the airport!