REGINA OLGA

I was hoping to give this property the benefit of the doubt, knowing it was an older building but the location in Cernobbio was nice. Unfortunately this hotel fell short of all our expectations. It is extremely outdated, with marks on almost every wall in the room and throughout the hotel. It just feels dirty. The bathroom was tiny, I'm an average sized male and I could barely squeeze into the shower let alone wash myself off. The wifi is unusable. Our room was right by the staircase and all we'd hear was the constant slamming of doors at all hours of the night. The bed was not very comfortable and the breakfast was underwhelming. This hotel is also NOT wheelchair accessible. I don't think I saw a single ramp at all in the entire property, even for luggage. The ONLY upside to this property is the convenient location near the Cernobbio ferry stop which takes you throughout Lake Como, and there are a number of great shops and restaurants nearby. But overall I'd completely avoid this property. Plenty of amazing hotels in Lake Como, this is not one of them.

We stayed in October, really clean and friendly hotel. Had a balcony room overlooking the lake which was brilliant. Service in the bars for coffee and drinks was friendly, and the reception staff were very helpful. We had one dinner in the restaurant - nervous at the start as we were the only people there, and having had the dinner we weren't surprised. The food was very disappointing and we then ate out for our remaining time there.

I went to the Hotel Regina Olga with Riviera Travel, and was charged an extra £179 as I was travelling alone. A day before returning home I discovered that my room (Room 301, which was on the side elevation of the hotel, with a small window with a view - and a sheer drop - down to the road below) was certainly inferior to those occupied by my fellow travellers. Most of the others in my group had lovely big airy, light rooms with either a Lake view or a view over the front of the hotel, sometimes with a balcony! There was no bath in my room, just a shower - just 2' square so bending down in it was virtually impossible. And for this I had been charged extra! I really felt I had been treated like a 2nd-class traveller - most of the rooms on that floor were empty so I could have been given a better room. I complained to Riviera on my return, but they said it was the hotel that imposed the Solo Traveller Surcharge. The trip itself was good, our Tour Guide and the general staff at the hotel were excellent but the evening meal was TERRIBLE! It was obviously produced on a very tight budget and was almost inedible. It was oily, overcooked and sometimes a most peculiar colour. The meat main course was like a pre-formed 'roll' and looked exactly the same regardless of what it was, covered with the same indeterminate gravy/sauce every night and some odd choices of vegetables. So most of the people on my table just had a salad and the fish dish, and on 2 occasions we went out to a local restaurant for REAL food! I have visited Italy on many occasions over 25 years and can honestly say this was the worst food I have ever tasted in Italy. I do not feel inclined to use Riviera again; many people have complained about the poor standard of food at this hotel and its need for refurbishment, but they don't seem to have taken any notice.... such a shame .... I'm usually quite easy to please!