***400th Review!!!*** Hooray! It has been just about two years of Yelping for me. Early on, I didn't think I'd even make it to my 40th Yelp review, but here I am now, with 400 hundred reviews and so many wonderful friends and loyal followers too! Thank YOU!
I can't think of a better place for a 400th review than where we spent our honeymoon, just a few years ago. Although "the Villa", as it's often referred to, is secluded and offers plenty of privacy, don't be surprised if you have some celebrity encounters. George Clooney has a home nearby and is often seen dining at the main restaurant. He was there last summer with former President Obama and his family, along with U2's Bono. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend tied the knot at the Villa. International economic and political conferences are also held here, so plenty of world leaders roam the same grounds too. On our visit, there was a scattering of Americans, with a predominance of Russian oligarchs and their counterparts from China.
When we first entered through the gates of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, I was literally awestruck! It's 25-acres tastefully comprised of historic fountains, statues, and lush landscaped gardens. You could easily spend an hour just taking leisurely walks around exploring the perfectly manicured grounds every day, which is what we did.
The interior is truly palatial. The grand staircase and the public areas are the definitions of "WOW". The Renaissance-style furbished rooms are enormous. Ours was the largest 1-bedroom hotel room I've ever stayed in. It came with a huge walk-in closet and a massive bathroom with a shower and soaking tub. If you're only into modern/contemporary spaces, you might find this a bit dated or antiquated. I prefer to think of it as a place with pristinely preserved European history and flair. It was built in 1565, started functioning as a hotel in 1873, and has a long proud history.
We immensely enjoyed the buffet breakfast that was included every morning during our week-long stay. It easily trumps any buffet breakfast I've had anywhere in the world. It was bountiful and lavishly presented with high-quality foods and came with beyond stellar service to boot. We had some special requests which were accommodated, without question. They're there to please you, and you feel it! We'd literally return just to experience their buffet breakfasts again. Seriously! The breakfast is held in their elegant main restaurant, Veranda (jacket and tie required at dinner). It's nice to have a civilized breakfast sometimes in a place where people actually dress up for breakfast, and not look as if they've just rolled right out of bed.
If you want a change-up from dining on the premises, take a short walk into town. There's even a local deli that serves up amazing and very authentic Italian food. But don't miss out on having pre-dinner drinks outdoors by the floating pool that literally floats on Lake Como! It's a great place to take in the stunning lakeside views and meet some super interesting people.
The service at the Villa is PHENOMENAL! Hubby is really into service, and he loved this place so much that every year he talks about returning. I have other places on the Bucket List to check-off before returning so soon, but I clearly see why he loves it so much. During the entire week, every single employee was courteous, friendly and frequently referred to us by our names. We rarely encounter this caliber of service, particularly in the U.S.
The beautiful Lake Region of Northern Italy is without question, a destination spot, and if you're in Lake Como, the Villa d' Este, an ultra-luxe world-famous hotel is THE place to stay! It's located in Cernobbio, a small quiet lake town in Lake Como. We took boat trips every day to quaint historic neighboring lake towns and meandered through idyllic Italian streets and alleyways. One of our highlights was the town of Bellagio, where Hubby had a spaghetti dish that he still raves about today. As for lodging though, no place in this region comes remotely close to the Villa d' Este!
Of course, you can expect to "invest" serious $$$$$, but it was our honeymoon, and we wanted to start our new life off right. A stay here is definitely worth a splurge, at least once in your lifetime. You only live once, right?!? The Villa remains my #1 favorite hotel stays in my lifetime, thus far, and Lake Como is my #1 favorite place in the world to visit. Another check off the Bucket List...Thank you to the Best Husband! I couldn't have asked for a better man or a better honeymoon!! read more