Villa Toscanini

The view from the hotel over Lake Maggiore was exceptional, and whilst the island had its charms it seemed to be better to visit rather than stay.

You can’t judge the hotel without judging the island. The last public ferry was at 19:10 and after this time the only option was a (more expensive) private taxi boat. But returning at 19:10 presented its own difficulties as most of the bars, restaurants and virtually all the shops were closed at this time (even though it was only early September). On the first night we had a choice of just 3 restaurants, on the second 2. The restaurants were also more ‘high end’ and appeared to be catering for commercially organised groups on ‘island trips’. This was not ‘get away from it all quiet’ but simply ‘dead’. Essentially, once you were on the island you realised you really wanted to be back on the mainland with all the choice and general ‘buzz’ it offered.