After not being able to travel abroad for 2+ years due to Covid, I wanted to make my first trip back to Europe extra special. I had been to Lake Como many times before, but I had only stayed in Airbnb’s, and it had always been my dream to stay at Grand Hotel Tremezzo one day. 

If you have ever been to Lake Como, you have certainly seen this staggeringly beautiful hotel as you have cruised along the lake. The Grand Hotel Tremezzo is an iconic art nouveau masterpiece sitting on the western shores of Lake Como in the little town of Tremezzo.

With views spanning the sparkling waters towards Bellagio and the Grigne mountains, guests are treated to superior accommodation, three pools, a lakeside private beach, clay tennis courts and lavish private park, and all served by the warmest of Italian hospitality.

How I Booked

Since this stay was quite the splurge, and since Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a boutique hotel and not affiliated with any hotel loyalty programs, I booked on Hotels.com to take advantage of their 10th night free rewards program.

We stayed in a Park Prestige Room – the hotel’s cheapest type of accommodation – and we still paid nearly $1,200 a night in late May. Knowing that any flight delays or cancellations would cost me a pretty penny if our flight into Milan didn’t arrive on time, I paid for this stay with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which has fantastic trip protection insurance coverage. 

I also could have booked this stay with my American Express Platinum card via the Fine Hotels and Resorts Collection and I would have earned 5X points on this stay. 

For those that are unfamiliar with Amex’s FHR program, it offers quite a few benefits at many luxury hotels worldwide, such as:

• Room upgrade, pending availability
• Daily breakfast for two
• Guaranteed 4PM late checkout
• Noon check-in, when available 
• Free Wifi
• “Experience credit,” such as a spa or food and beverage voucher

I chose to stick with Hotels.com for my booking for a handful of reasons.

Firstly, Amex FHR collection properties must be prepaid for, in order to qualify for the 5X earn and to receive the above hotel benefits. In addition, free Wifi and breakfast was already included in the rate for my Hotels.com booking, and early check in and late checkout for this particular stay wouldn’t have worked with my travel schedule.

Also, I knew the hotel was sold out ahead of time, since I got the last available room bookable on the many sites that I searched, so I knew a room upgrade wouldn’t have been in the cards for me this trip.

All in all, not having to prepay and still earning 3X on my CSR combined with the Hotels.com rewards program rebate was a more appealing booking option for me in the end. 

The Room

The Park Prestige Room was divinely appointed and the attention to detail in the decor, furnishings, etc. was fabulous and as 5 star as it comes.

The view of the lush gardens and the smell of fresh jasmine permeated the room and more than made up for not having a lakefront room. Although it’s hard to come up with any drawbacks, I will say that the room was a little on the small side, and we did find ourselves bumping into our luggage, which we had to lay out on the floor since closet space was tight.

Additionally, the shower/tub combo was on the slippery side and was hard to get in and out of, so I’d be mindful of choosing this particular room type if traveling with companions that have mobility issues. 

The Location and Guest Experience

I had never stayed on this side of Lake Como before – I had always stayed in or very near to Bellagio on the Eastern side – and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to base myself and explore more of the lovely towns on the Western shores.

The hotel is perfectly located in between the 2 ferry stops of Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta, with the Villa Carlotta ferry stop being a mere 2-3 minute walk from the hotel.

Included in the nightly rate is one of the most incredible hotel breakfasts I have ever experienced in my life.

I’m talking a chocolate fountain, a truffle bars, a mimosa bar, made- to-order egg, waffle and crepe dishes, and so much more.

If you can’t find something you like at this hotel breakfast then you must not ever even eat! Everything from the bread, to the pastries, and beyond was all freshly made each day and was served with the most welcoming smiles from the fabulous dining room  staff.

And I mean come on, being able to eat an incredibly delicious breakfast on this terrace overlooking Lake Como – I mean what a way to start your day!

Now the main reason I had always dreamed of staying at this hotel was to experience the incredible floating pool in Lake Como, and let me tell you, the experience did not disappoint!

Being able to “swim” in Lake Como without having to actually get into the chilly lake water was quite the thrill and lived up to the hype IMO.

But not only was the floating pool a true delight, but the Garden Pool was also a dream! We spent many an afternoon at this pool as well, and it was much quieter and very serene, and the delightful scent of jasmine made it the perfect place to relax after a busy morning of sightseeing. 

In addition, the beach club right on the lake was also like something out of a movie, and sitting right on the shore, sunbathing and drinking Aperol Spritzes during happy hour was another highlight of the trip for me!

I wish I had known ahead of time of the gorgeous tennis facilities the hotel had, because their courts were impeccable and nestled in the hills of the garden.

I only happened upon it during a stroll through the garden one day, and I so wish that I had carved out some time one day to play –  even if just for an hour. 

Finally, I also highly recommend enjoying an evening or two at the piano bar on the lake.

The piano player was phenomenal and sitting at night listening to him play while watching the lights of Bellagio twinkle across Lake Como made for one of the most romantic settings!

After a few glasses of wine there, be sure to play at least one game of pool in the stunning Billiard Room. Sadly I don’t have any pictures of the piano bar or the fabulous billiards room, but trust me, it’s worth checking out. 

Final Verdict

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Grand Hotel Tremezzo! It was a true 5 star experience in every way, and I can only hope to stay there again on another trip to Lake Como. If you’re able to afford to splurge to stay here, trust me, you won’t regret it!

Does it get any better?