Grand Hotel Victoria, Menaggio, Italy

For the longest time, I was enviously looking at other people traveling and visiting beautiful hotels. Then one day, I decided to stop dreaming and started reaching for the dream myself. My dream was to stay in properties that have a special character or atmosphere, that would elevate my trip to a new level by giving me new experiences. Luckily, I also met friends who were crazy enough to accompany me on these trips. After long deliberation, I chose Grand Hotel Victoria for my visit to the gorgeous Lake Como region, since I thought that this hotel reflected the beauty of the area perfectly.

Grand Hotel Victoria

Grand Hotel Victoria is located in the quaint village of Menaggio, just a short walk from the ferry that connects Menaggio to the towns of Varenna and Bellagio, both of which are absolutely worth visiting. The hotel has two parts: a renovated 19th-century palace and an elegant spa hotel connected with a glass walkway. This hotel has a lot to offer, so they proudly promise a unique experience to hold in one's heart forever. On the other hand, the price per night is higher in Lake Como than in many other parts of Italy, so I was eager to test if the experience would be worth it.

I should not have doubted! As soon as I stepped into this hotel, the architectural details and the top-class service charmed me completely. The decorative crown moldings were immaculate, and the whole space was flooded with light, thanks to the high-arched windows. There were many inviting seating arrangements to enjoy the magnificent lake views. Unfortunately, we didn't have much time to linger at the hotel since we planned to tour Lake Como the same afternoon. But the personnel was able to get us a room quickly and brought us refreshments. One member of the staff escorted us to our room, and the luggage arrived moments after. They truly deserve the five-star rating at this hotel!

My Luxury Room

For me, luxury doesn't necessarily mean opulent design. It can be very simplistic. The feeling of luxury comes from the quality of the finishes, the harmony of the colors, the overall cleanliness and scent, and the architecture of the space. Our Luxury room was on the modern side of the hotel, so it didn't have those unique historical features as some other rooms may have. But we found the room to be elegant, especially the bathroom, and the mountain view from the large windows was beautiful. The complimentary Prosecco, cake, and fruits made us feel truly welcome!

Top-class Amenities

The pool area of the Grand Victoria is absolutely stunning! There is a heated swimming pool, which is great since swimming in Lake Como is not advisable. There is also a pool bar and various sunbeds and sun loungers. The whole area is landscaped to perfection. I could rest here for many lazy summer days!

There is another swimming pool and a jacuzzi in the wellness area, which was surprisingly large and included luxurious showers as well as different types of saunas and relaxation areas. The spa manager kindly gave me an introduction to the whole area. Clients may also book treatments from the Erre Spa or exercise in the fitness room with Technogym equipment. But for me, swimming and the sauna were all I needed after a busy day of sightseeing around Lake Como. The whole spa experience was extremely relaxing and beautiful.

Restaurant With a View

On the ground floor, the hotel has a beautiful bar with a humorous bartender. In addition, they have a lake-view restaurant called Ristorante Lago and a gourmet restaurant called 1827. During my visit, I actually didn't find the other restaurant, but we had dinner at the Lago, which promises to offer the true flavors of Italian cooking. Instead of traditional pizza, we opted to try their fish dishes, and all of them were delicious. Breakfast was served in the same place, and the buffet was full of amazing pastries, warm and cold dishes, and delicious cakes. For me, nothing was missing from it! But if the buffet left you wanting, you could also order from their breakfast menu.

In Conclusion

I think the grand palaces or villas with beautiful gardens and lake views represent the best of Lake Como. The Grand Hotel Victoria is a gem in the area and will make your visit absolutely memorable. For me, the hotel was worth the extra expense since it provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience with its unbelievable amenities and lake views. The staff is always looking for any possible way to help you or make you feel better. I have never experienced anything like that before. This stay has proven to me once more that I will never regret following my dreams!