Grand Hotel Victoria concept & spa, by R Collection Hotels — Hotel in Menaggio

Decided to take my wife to Lake Como for a special 40th birthday trip. Read a bunch of reviews (and as a Hilton Diamond) this felt like a relatively easy selection. Have stayed at a few SLH hotels and overall have been impressed and this one did not disappoint. The price point feels a bit more palatable than Villa D'Este, Tremezzo or Mandarin, etc (we visited all).||First off- communication with the hotel was pretty solid. Concierge could be a bit slow to respond over email (subsequently amazing once on property) but overall they were quite helpful in helping to make a special itinerary- recommending activities, restaurants, etc. The concierge desk in the lobby was staffed by at least 2 concierge's (if not more) every time we walked by (at all hours!) ||Lorena- the front desk manager... Im not one to singularly call out staff in reviews...but she deserves mention by name. She somehow sensed our arrival at the hotel, and along with the valet staff- knew our name, whisked our bags off, and brought us straight into the beautiful lobby with glasses of Prosecco waiting for us. I cant do enough to say how she started our trip off as 5 stars, was enthusiastic every time we saw her, and even called the hotel and she resolved an issue thoroughly within 5 minutes. Truly a great testament to the service of the hotel and she runs an excellent front desk team. Throughout the entire stay, we felt the staff was as good as any 5star+ resort we have stayed at around the world (including some top Asian properties). No matter time of day, staff was abundant, smiling, helpful, and competent. No request went unanswered or unattended to which is really my litmus test. We did rent a car and highly recommend - valet service was complimentary and highly efficient and we used the car almost daily. Word to the wise: don't always trust google maps on small streets...we ended up on a extremely narrow walking only street going uphill with maybe half an inch clearance on either side of the car...if it doesnt look right google probably isn't right. ||We were upgraded a category to a very space park view suite. While our original booking would have likely had a better view on a higher floor, we were very appreciative to have an enormous room for our 5-night stay (comfortable bed, sitting area, massive deck with chairs, 2 bathrooms, etc). Housekeeping during the day and turndown was prompt and reliable. For Americans traveling- recommend bringing your own power converters. ||Onto the rest of the hotel- gorgeous outdoor space and landscaping- love the front lawn right on a quiet-ish one -way straight looking onto the water. We loved Menaggio- even after visiting Bellagio, Varenna and Como- we were very happy to return to the relative quiet and peaceful Menaggio. Building inside feels very modern despite the exterior look. We both liked and disliked this. Would potentially try Grand Hotel Tremezzo on next visit just to get the more authentic cultural feel (though price point is notably higher). ||Breakfast was excellent and plentiful each morning- nothing to add other reviewers haven't already mentioned. Honestly, our one (albeit small) criticism of almost the entire stay was the slowness of coffee service. Each coffee is made in a high end espresso machine... some mornings we attempted to order a carafe or two coffee's a t a time...most mornings things seems to get lost in translation and we had finished breakfast still awaiting at least a 2nd cup of coffee. Minor complaint but it was almost every day. Servers otherwise were very friendly and attentive. Same for all staff- including all the valets, spa staff, etc. ||We only had breakfast at the hotel as we wanted to explore other areas (the Lago dinner menu looked good and heard others say it was delicious- albeit quite overpriced...as expected). There is also a random high-end sushi (tasting menu?) restaurant in the middle of the hotel open Weds-Saturday (didnt see a single diner there...). Restaurants we ate at (would recommend all): Divino13 near hotel, Pizzeria CO.RI 10min drive above Menaggio, Belle Ile and L'Escale in Tremezzo, Bilacus and La Goletta in Bellagio. All were excellent from casual to high-end. ||My other main complaint prior to arrival (which ended up being a non-issue while there) was the not-included access to the Victoria Beach Club. The hotel runs this entire venue and advertises it all over their sites...with no mention of no access for hotel guests. Every other 5 star hotel on Lake Como not only offers access as an amenity--- but they are EXCLUSIVE to those hotel guests. Victoria Beach is open to the general public and while massive, can also be extremely busy. After inquuring many times about complimentary access for hotel guests- we were eventually comp'd one day (which seems to be normal practice one you arrive) but this back and forth was totally unnecessary. Charging hotel guests an extra 200 euro after already paying a premium to stay on property seemed to be a huge miss. Its looking like the hotel is wising up to this though with the amount of complaints and eventual comping of chair reservations. ANYWAY- beach club was fun for a day. Used all the pools, had some decent drinks and was overall nice and relaxing and great to be right on the lake. Would recommend a visit (especially if offered complimentary). ||Two other highlights from the hotel- the outdoor pool is quite nice- though notably no lake view. Was still relaxing to return to for an hour or two in the afternoon after exploring, hiking, etc. The Spa- every reviewer is spot on here. My wife and I are "Spa" people and this definitely rivals some of the top Spa's we have ever been to- especially with the breadth of offerings. Even on our one rainy day with a decent amount of people in the spa, it still never felt overcrowded. Went almost everyday while there- sometimes for 30 mins- sometimes for 2 hours. Also had a couples massage while there which were both excellent. ||Not related to the hotel- but activities we did and would advise anyone visiting to do: take ferry to Bellagio and Varenna- very easy to do and fun to walk around. Take a boat tour- either through hotel or we used AC boat right in front of the hotel as we wanted to go in their 1969 Cadenazzi Lasco (similar to Riva). Was awesome. We also did a self-rental with AC one day for 4 hours and did a ton of exploring- even went to Da Luciano for a "boat lunch pickup" which was cool. Hiked Monte Grona and Rifugio Menaggio- amazing views- tough hike but worth it (and great to hit spa after which I believe is open until 8pm!) ||Overall it was a truly excellent and memorable trip and would absolutely retrn and recommend to anyone...

Nestled on the picturesque shores of Lake Como, the Grand Hotel Victoria is a stunning five-star Hotel that offers an exceptional blend of timeless elegance and modern luxury. Surrounded by a picturesque mountain range, the hotel is a late 19th-century neoclassical property that celebrates Italian arts and a glorious Italian culture. |Just a scenic couple of hours drive from Milan, this magnificent hotel is the perfect destination for those seeking relaxation, fine dining, and world-class hospitality. It was also my chosen venue to propose to my partner, as we have always loved Italy and spent many romantic getaways exploring this wonderful country.||I had to plan secretly and then had to wait a few months as the hotel recently underwent an extensive renovation. Rooms and suites are now adorned with stunning contemporary furnishings, with large windows that make everywhere full of natural light with stunning views of the surrounding scenery. A select number of the suites feature lovely French doors that open out onto a private balcony quite literally overlooking Lake Como.||The rooms are spacious and immaculate, with large beds wrapped in crisp white linen, creating a serene and luxurious feeling. After a relaxing night’s sleep, in probably one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on, you begin your day with a sumptuous breakfast served on the sun-kissed terrace, in good weather, where the alfresco dining offers yet more panoramic lake views.||We spent the first day sightseeing, eating gelato, that’s Italian for ice cream in case you didn’t know, listening to local musicians and taking in the eclectic atmosphere that makes the beautiful little town of Maggiore so special. |That evening we were booked into the award-winning restaurant, where I can honestly say, every dish was a culinary masterpiece. The restaurant showcases the very best of Italian as well as international cuisine. After the meal, which was simply incredible, we adjourned to the hotel garden to relax and enjoy our drinks. It was here I had planned, with the help of the amazing staff, to go down on one knee and ask my partner to marry me. The scene was set, the piano player in the background started to play the Lionel Richie song, ‘Stuck on You’ and as if by magic the restaurant manager appeared with a silver tray. On the tray were two fortune cookies, which I had secretly had made a few months ago. The manager handed us the tray and offered us a cookie each. In the time it took my partner to break the cookie and pull out the piece of paper with the fortune written on it, I had gone down on one knee and had the ring ready. She read the fortune, which said ‘Will you marry me’ and she literally froze. I had the cookies made in China with both containing the same words just in case I broke or lost one of them. Earlier in the day, with the help of the staff, we had pre-arranged everything. After what seemed like an eternity and a prompt from me to let her know my leg was going numb, she smiled and said ‘yes’. At this point the entire staff of the hotel, who had massed behind her, burst into claps and shouts of congratulations. It was a wonderful moment for all of us, especially me and my future wife, but the main reason for telling you this is how much the hotel staff went the extra mile to make this happen seamlessly. It's just part of what they do so well, on a day-to-day basis!||The following day we visited the hotel’s spa and wellness centre, one of the largest spas on Lake Como, it is truly impressive, offering an array of treatments, a state-of-the-art fitness area and a place to rejuvenate both body and mind. A lovely day relaxing and then a local pizza for dinner in the evening, rounded of the perfect few days at this amazing place.||From the impeccable five-star service to the breathtaking location, the incredible attention to detail and the wonderful friendliness of every member of staff, the Grand Hotel Victoria truly represents exactly how a modern hotel should operate. |Whether you’re sipping cocktails at the elegant bar or exploring the charming villages around the lake, your stay will be nothing short of unforgettable, ours will remain in our...

4 star hotel masquerading as 5 star, not worth the extortionate prices to stay here.

The room: We were woken up every day to a loud scraping sound outside. The pipes in the bathroom were loud and you could hear when someone else was using their shower or taps.

The service: The room staff were poorly coordinated, we had the maid and mini bar stockist knock on our door individually in the span for an hour to both come into our room while we were getting ready for the day. In a 5 star hotel, the staff coordinate and communicate with each other as to not inconvenience the guests. On multiple occasions our water wasn’t replaced in the room when the mini bar and everything else was done. The reception and breakfast staff were friendly and helpful, the reason for the negative service is mainly due to the experience around the room.

The atmosphere: Both the bar and restaurant felt a little unwelcoming, this is due to the decor and not so much about the staff. The lights in the bar are way too bright, this should be a relaxed environment. On the flip side, the restaurant was far too dark and it seemed like they were closed, maybe some lamps or candles on the tables would help this.

Decor: This was a big let down, as I wanted to stay somewhere that had the beautiful vintage Italian charm but with 21st century amenities, however it seems the building is pretty much removed of the original charm it once had. The lobby might be the nicest part of the hotel, and with that, they have pretty much just white washed everything and put large grey tiles on the floor. The rest of the building just feels boring and “modern” - which is disappointing when there’s so much potential.

Food: Breakfast was good and the breakfast staff were very helpful. As for the restaurant, we have no issues with paying high prices for food, however, the food must at least be flavoursome. The food at the restaurant is incredibly lacklustre and paying the extortionate prices feels like robbery. Save your money, eat somewhere else for dinner and you’ll have a better meal. The bar (as mentioned earlier) has the least relaxing atmosphere coupled with €30 cocktails. This is another thing I recommend to steer clear of, save your money, go somewhere else and have a better experience.

Spa: This was actually quite good and thank goodness it was complimentary to use the facilities. We didn’t have any spa treatments but there a few different saunas, pools, jacuzzis and cold rooms to try.

Conclusion: •Rooms are okay but there’s no charm - you’re better off paying half the price and staying at a modern build •Service is closer to 3 stars, definitely not 5 •Decor and atmosphere are modern stale •Don’t bother eating at the restaurant or going to the bar •Breakfast was what you expect for 5 stars, a good quality buffet with a la carte eggs •The spa is the only redeeming thing for this hotel, however it’s no where near enough to have me pay this price or recommend this...