Villa e Palazzo Aminta

Villa e Palazzo Aminta, a Michelin Key Selected property in Stresa, Italy, consistently garners high praise for its opulent setting, breathtaking lake views, and exceptional service. Guests often describe their stay as a "fairytale" experience, feeling like royalty in this elegant lakeside retreat.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Villa e Palazzo Aminta is overwhelmingly positive, with an overall "Wonderful" to "Exceptional" rating. Booking.com scores average around 9.0 out of 10, while verified Michelin Guide guests rate it highly, achieving a score of 19.0 on a 20-point scale. Guests frequently express a desire to return, solidifying its reputation as a top-tier luxury destination.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several standout features:

• Stunning Lake Views: The hotel boasts "priceless" and "stunning views" of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands from many rooms, restaurants, and common areas.
• Exceptional Service: The staff is frequently highlighted as "flawless," "attentive," "friendly," and going "above and beyond" to make stays wonderful.
• Amazing Breakfast: The breakfast offerings are described as "exceptional," "delicious," and the "best offering I've ever had at a hotel," with a wide variety of well-prepared dishes.
• Luxurious Design & Ambiance: The property is considered "stunning" with an "extravagant, aristocratic elegance" that pre-dates the Italian Republic, featuring original frescoes and Murano glass lamps.
• Wellness Facilities: A luxurious Roman spa (Grotta di Palazzo Aminta) with a Turkish bath, hot tub, and various treatments, alongside an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the lake, are highly appreciated.

Room Quality

The rooms at Villa e Palazzo Aminta are elegantly designed for luxuriating, featuring marble bathrooms, original frescoes, and Murano glass lamps. Many rooms and junior suites come with private balconies or terraces offering breathtaking views of the lake or the hotel's lush gardens. Comfort is paramount, with goose-feather duvets and a pillow menu. While some guests have noted that certain rooms, while well-appointed, might not be "huge," others describe their lake view rooms as a "good size". In-room minibars with water, soft drinks, and beer are complimentary upon request.

Dining Experience

The hotel offers a memorable culinary journey. Breakfast is consistently praised as exceptional, a "delicious fresh breakfast buffet" with a myriad of options that often leave guests feeling they need to "go hungry" to try everything. The hotel features two restaurants: Le Isole, serving gourmet Italian and Piemontese cuisine, and I Mori, specializing in Mediterranean dishes and seafood. Guests have lauded the dinner experiences as "amazing" and "one to remember forever," often highlighting the "fine dining restaurant" and its exquisite offerings like Foie Gras.

Service & Staff

The hospitality at Villa e Palazzo Aminta is a major highlight. Guests consistently describe the staff as "exceptional," "attentive," "friendly," and "helpful". Many reviewers noted that the staff goes "out of their way to assist with any query" and treats all guests "as VIPs". The accessibility and helpfulness of the staff, including reception, restaurant workers, and concierges, receive frequent commendation.

Location & Accessibility

Set directly on the picturesque shores of Lake Maggiore, Villa e Palazzo Aminta offers stunning panoramic views, particularly of the Borromean Islands. While the hotel is a 25-minute walk from Stresa town, a complimentary scheduled shuttle service is provided during the day, facilitating access to the town and its ferries. The Stresa train station is conveniently located approximately 5 minutes away by taxi, and Milano Malpensa Airport is about a 50-minute drive. The hotel also offers a private pier and private beach area for guests.

Value & Pricing

While Villa e Palazzo Aminta is recognized as a luxury property, many guests find it to be "expensive but worth it". The Booking.com "Value for money" score stands at 8.2, indicating a generally positive perception of its worth despite the higher price point. Typical prices for a superior room can start from around $373, with deluxe rooms ranging higher. The "priceless views" and overall "fairytale" experience are often cited as justification for the cost.

Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelming positive feedback, a few minor recurring issues have been mentioned:

• Room Size/Privacy: Some guests found their rooms "not huge" and experienced a "lack of privacy on the balcony" due to insubstantial dividing screens.
• Shuttle Schedule: While a shuttle to Stresa is provided, its "set times" can be inconvenient for those wishing to explore the town outside these hours. Walking to town can be via a "busy winding road without a footpath".
• Pool Crowding: The outdoor pool has been noted as occasionally "crowded with limited shade".
• Specific Service Issues: An isolated incident regarding a nanny service with inadequate English proficiency and professionalism was reported. Some guests mentioned noise from a service lift in garden-view suites.

Sources

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