Albergo Terminus — Hotel in Como

Other reviewers are right, it’s a beautiful hotel in an excellent location and a calm environment, even with the busy street at the front of the building. Ultimately, however, it is the service that makes a hotel memorable and one of true class. I have experienced this at the Oriental in Bangkok, the Halekulani in Hawaii, the Raffles in Singapore. Granted, these are truly first class hotels but I have also experienced this type of service at much smaller and simpler hotels around the world, most recently at the Kreuz Hotel in Bern, Switzerland. My experience at the Alberto Terminus was this—

I booked online directly with the hotel. A single room was 270€, 279€ with breakfast. I chose just the room so I could decide upon arrival if I wanted to have breakfast there. When I decided to have breakfast the next morning, the price was now 35€!

I arrived at 11am, unfortunately check out time. There was a couple at the small front desk for at least 20 minutes (at that point I left for a coffee) with many people gathered and waiting behind them. Although there were many front desk staff persons , no one took the couple aside so others could be helped.

When I came back, they did not yet have a room prepared (which is to be expected). However, when I can back at 2pm, they still had no room! Really? But wait, after some discussion and a fairly long wait, they DID have a room. I went to rest from my travels, opened the window for fresh air. The room (207) was in the far corner of a utility “courtyard” (really more of a back alley) directly above garbage and recycling dumpsters (“loved” hearing containers of glass bottles thrown into the dumpster, slamming steel doors..). Being in a courtyard, all of these sounds were magnified. (This is what 270€ got me??) I complained and they were kind enough to change the room (to 311, which from online photos, looks to be a “business single room”.) It was smaller but nice enough. And quiet.

The next morning I decided to spend another day. They told me the price would be the same (270€) but they would include breakfast. It was said as though including breakfast was some kind of special “deal”

Later in the day, I was looking online and noticed on the hotel website that a business room for that night was 222€! With breakfast! When I questioned the front desk about this, and after a long wait (again), I was told they had made a mistake and that this would be brought up to the manager the next morning, and that I “should” be refunded 40€ (which is still more expensive than the hotel website, especially given the amount of time “waiting” at this hote!.)

Perhaps it was all bad luck. Or perhaps it really was a mistake, many mistakes. And perhaps it wasn’t. What hotel has front desk staff that does not know the daily rate? Then to offer me just a 40€ refund (with more waiting time to see if I actually get it) is laughable.

The only reason I gave service 2 stars is that the wait staff in the restaurant were very attentive and polite.

I did enjoy this hotel’s beauty, however, the beauty was only skin deep when it came to my personal experience. And frankly, the buck stops with the management. After reading reviews and replies by the management, the replies all seem rather generic. Seems that they have not at all used the...

From the start, the staff are so kind and knowledgeable. We (husband and I) came early and they were able to prepare our room for us (deluxe room with a view over Piazza Cavour and the lake) within about ten minutes. The room is immaculate- nicely renovated, cold (needed in this heat), WiFi working, big bathroom, and a great view (turn to the right and there’s the lake, straight in and to the left is the piazza). Bed is comfy and made for us twice a day! Also, the room has a deep bathtub which is a bonus for bath-lovers like me! I’m very picky with hotels- I read all reviews and look at all the photos- and I am so pleased with this hotel! On the second day I got stung by a bee while exploring, and the staff even went out of their way to help get ice and antiseptic when we walked back in!

Admittedly, I was nervous from some bad reviews, but those ratings seem very off based on our lovely experience. Highly recommend! Location is AWESOME too- so so convenient to everything. We also ate at the restaurant our first night there and it was so so good. The food, cocktails, and ambiance were all stunning, not to mention the staff- SO nice and well trained. They never rush you, they brought a few extra small snacks, they all work together as a great team. I mean…just a great great hotel (and restaurant) experience.

Only small thing is that being an older building, the noise from outside can be heard a little bit (Como is a decently-sized city), but personally it doesn’t bother me as pretty much everywhere in Europe faces this same issue and it’s not to a point where I cannot sleep/relax. I think it is also because right now, a lot of construction seems to be happening around town (just during the day), so it’s probably less of an issue normally. Obviously not something the hotel can control at all. Just a small heads up for those who may be very sensitive to even small city noise, but again it hasn’t bothered me any. I would 100% recommend and come back again myself- in fact I look forward to it because this feels more like a 5-star than 4-star hotel, and that’s by my picky American standards!...

Lake Como has been in my dreams for many many years. Unfortunately this hotel was chosen for us as a pre extension for a river cruise we were doing. I had high expectations and they were mostly not met with this hotel. We arrived to hotel at 8:30am after an overnight flight from the east coast of United States. Every time we have traveled our room has always been ready. However, this was not the case. Long story short our room was not ready until 2:30 even though there were people checking out from the moment we arrived continually. We even tried to upgrade to any available room and would have paid anything but the staff at front desk was just not nice nor helpful. We went back every 1-2hours as we were exhausted but no room. What is equally annoying as nothing was made available to us. I believe breakfast was being served but that was not offered. Waters were not offered. They did take our luggage but we really wanted to freshen up but could not. There was also a “host” there from our river cruise and he was equally as useless. He did not provide any guidance as to where to go, what to see, so after sitting in lobby for an hour and half we went out and got gelato. Finally when room was available I believe we got worst room, 309, as was next to elevator and view was of an alley filled with garbage and recycling. And yes, very noisy as garbage and bottles dumped throughout night. We tried to change but again staff not helpful. The size of room fine, but shower was all glass with two movable panels so you could not rest against a solid surface, Also hair dryer attached to area by sink was so heavy it was impossible to hold high over head to use. Breakfast buffet was lovely in a garden setting……wish we were directed there while waiting for room. Had dinner and food was good but service was very lacking and disjointed. Location wonderful. I think his could be good hotel but believe wait staff and front desk need...