Hotel Regina Olga - Cernobbio, Italy 

Its major appeal is that it is on the lake. The neighboring Villa d'Este is a five star hotel and the difference between the two is not ONE but a whole galaxy of stars. Here the staff is unfriendly and borderline rude. Most don't speak English even those at the reception. And they give incomplete or incorrect information and even that reluctantly. When I asked for transportation to the Como train station, they told me to take a taxi which cost 10 euros while the bus with a stop two minutes away from the hotel takes you to the same place in minutes for 1.30 euro. When I inquired about transportation from the airport in Milan to the hotel, they advised me to take a taxi for 110 euros, but I found out on my own that there is a train leaving several times an hour from inside the Milan terminal and cost only 8.10 euros to Como from where it is only a short 10 euro taxi ride to the hotel. The rooms are gloomy and sparsely furnished but whatever furniture there is, is dark and ugly. The beds have little wheels so the beds slide at the slightest touch, probably making it easy for the cleaning staff to change the linen, but of no help to those wanting to sleep in them.

The Regina Olga does not compare well with other hotels in the Lakes and certainly does not deserve four stars. Its main asset is its location by the lake and handy for the ferry landing stage; but the rooms feel cramped with old, ugly, oversized furniture. There was nowhere to put our suitcases, for example (mine spent the two nights we were there under the sink); the safe in my room didn't work but I couldn't get anyone to come and fix it despite repeated requests. The food is actually quite good but it's inexcusable to have only tinned fruit at the breakfast buffet when Italy in June is a cornucopia of strawberries, cherries etc. I was very glad only to be staying two nights and to move on to something more contemporary, but characterful, in Stresa.