Hotel Elena - Stresa

9.9

We can't say enough about our stay at Hotel Elena! The staff was very attentive and friendly. The hotel was extremely clean. If you're like us and are looking for somewhere reasonable but nice to stay this is the place! I would recommend this hotel with no reservations! Great job Hotel Elena!

9.2

We cannot understanding your rating system. We found the hotel on a par with any other hotels we stayed in over two months in Europe and they were all more expensive and not as well run. The owners put every effort into ensuring a pleasant stay and the breakfasts provided were very good indeed. Our only complaint would be that the pillows were very hard indeed

9.9

What a great value this place was! Free parking was very narrow, but Marco graciously parked the Fiat for us. We had a quiet room on the top floor on the back side (loved the easy little elevator!), but with the convenience of Piazza Cadorno on the front side, the boat dock and lakefront walk just a block away, train station only about five blocks away. Staff were friendly and welcoming and breakfast was great! Stresa is small, old-fashioned and charming, in a tourist-y way.

9.5

Very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent breakfast with good coffee. On my check-out day I needed to leave very early and I was given a packed breakfast! The only problem I had was the noise from TV in adjoining room and from the square in front of the hotel. The ground floor of the hotel is also a cafe which is open till the evening, hence a bit noisy.

8.5

A great little hotel right in the heart of Stresa. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Plenty of variety at breakfast. Great view of the alps from our balcony on the top floor.

8.7

Location. Location. Location. The hotel is exceptionally well situated, perhaps too well as it is right on busy Cardonne Piazza and front rooms facing the square, where activity starts at 6 and continues until midnight, can be noisy. The hotel is clean; attentive proprietors live on site, are extremely helpful and speak excellent English.

9.8

Excellent choice. The staff was very helpful and friendly. We enjoyed our stay very much and will make every effort to return to Stresa and stay again at Elena.

8.4

Overall Hotel Elena was a comfortable stay for the price we paid. It's a fantastic location in the heart of Stresa however we had difficulty finding it as our GPS in our hirecar could not locate the name of the piazza it is situated on. Apart from that the owner was lovely and the room was fine. Breakfast was great also. Would definately recommend.

9.9

EAT PIZZA IN THE TOWN AND COME BACK TO ELENA FOR ICE CREAM TO MAKE YOUR GO FURTHER IN STRESA

8.9

just a short break with our 10yr old daughter,the staff were very kind to her.Lovely family run hotel with good views from our room(3rd floor).Lovely little square with plenty of restaurants nearby,all great with kids.Quite a quiet place but we were off-season,loved it

8.8

Wir hatten ein schönes Zimmer mit Balkon zur Piazza. Frischer Kaffee (Espresso, Cappucino, etc.) zum Frühstück (kein Automat, sondern von der Mama des Hauses freundlich serviert!) und leckere Brötchen und Brioches. Optimale Lage direkt an der Piazza und der Bar Torino (Tipp zum Essen gehen!). Auch die angeschlossene Bar Elena ist sehr zu empfehlen. Wir konnten auch unser Gepäck am Abreisetag kostenlos einige Stunden deponieren. Alles in allem Super-Hotel mit nettem Personal. Kommen gerne wieder. Mille grazie. Ach ja, ein Tipp noch: Unbedingt die Wochenmärkte in Stresa, Intra, etc. besuchen!

9.2

Stayed 3 nights in April. Perfect location. Friendly welcome, personal service. I felt at home. Everything I needed in the room including full length mirror in the wardrobe, hair dryer and balcony with 2 chairs and table. Excellent value for money. Breakfast good.

8.3

Very pleasently surprised with location room and cleanliness. Very friendly staff. would recommend this hotel to any person seeking cheap clean and friendly accomodation. Great location

8.6

This is the first time for us in Stresa. Our hotel was very close to everything we wanted to do. The employees were very courteous and helpful. We would stay there again.

9.4

Really loved this hotel, everybody so friendly and helpful. The only problem was the leaf collection machine early in the morning competing with the church bells but in some respects it gave a sense of inclusion (at 7am) being woken up with everybody else in the center of the town. We will be back and would recommend this hotel to our friends. The hosts treated us and the other guests like family.

8.0

Nice small hotel right in the center of the charming village of Stresa. We walked from the rail station (a bit of a hike with our luggage) and were happy that they were expecting us. Our room was simple, clean, and roomy. The beds were pretty hard, and one was a bit on the lumpy side. We were on the street side, but Stresa is pretty quiet so we didn't notice any street noise. The included breakfast was the typical European breads, cereal, juice and coffee. We would stay there again should we ever return to Stresa.

9.1

Very good location in the center and far from railway (quiet). friendly personnel.

8.2

I stayed at Elena in September 2008, I was travelling with my mother. We found Hotel Elena very clean and comfortable. There was a lift which made it easy to take luggage to the room. The staff were very helpfull and friendly. Elena is very central to the shops,restaurants and the port area. We also walked to the station which took us about 10 minutes. The only negative was on the Saturday night it was a bit noisy as the hotel has a bar downstairs. To some it up I would stay at Hotel Elena again. The prices are very reasonable for the area.

8.9

very good location,warm hospitality,parking and breakfast included,large room with all necessary facilities but very simple furnitures. anyway good value for the price.

9.7

lovely small hotel with welcoming friendly staff. Good single rooms with balconies. perfect location for ferries, trains and buses. Good breakfast to start the day.

8.9

This was a great place especially for the money. The staff was excellent--responded immediately at night to a blown fuse in our room which was very much appreciated and beyond expectation.

9.7

We had a 4th floor room at the rear it was quickly reached by lift and had a balcony with a great view of the hill.The owners were so welcoming and helpful and the staff brilliant! Not 'posh' but clean and comfortable and very convenient for everything in Stresa.We're silver surfers and had no problems booking. Well done Venere!

9.3

Really nice room with a balcony overlooking the square at the heart of town. Many restaurants within a couple of minutes walk. A great little town to stay in when visiting the lake.

7.4

The hotel was pretty much fine - tidy and clean, but we stayed the first night on Saturday night, and the noise from the adjacent town square, along with the church bells made it very hard to get some sleep...

10

We enjoyed our 2 night stay in Stresa at Hotel Elena. The view was beautiful, the room was great, and the people were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely return to this little gem in Italy and stay again at Hotel Elena. It was perfect to celebrate our 10-year anniversary!!

8.6

Hotel charmant,de type familial et très bien situé dans Stresa. Le personnel est vraiment aimable et accueillant. La chambre est de dimension correcte et ne ressemble pas à un mouchoir de poche même lorsqu'on ne réserve que pour une personne...Un très bon souvenir pour moi...

9.2

A great location - but be aware that there are no fans in the rooms so it can get very warm!

8.7

Small hotel with character in good central location overlooking town square. Friendly. Location in pedestrain area means parking limited at rear. We had to park in public car park a short distance away.

9.9

Lovely little family run hotel. We arrived very late (a missed plane meant it was almost midnight!) and everything was shut. The person on reception apologised for not having any fresh bread (as in rolls) but made us cheese and ham toasties anyway, with the sliced bread. Which is just what we needed after a long and tiring journey. It's a fairly modest place (with fairly modest prices to match), but clean, well fitted out and pretty conveniently located. If we returned to Stresa, we'd definitely stay at the Elena again.

9.9

The Hotel Elena is situated in the center of Stresa, directly on the main square. It is a short walk to the lake, a fifteen minute walk from the Stresa railway station, and restaurants, shops and the excitement and romance of Stresa are literally at your doorstep. Our room had a balcony facing the main square overlooking the mountains -- simply breathtaking. Breakfast was included and although not elaborate it was adequate. The room was on the small side but it was very quaint, very comfortable, and well appointed. The hotel appears to be family run, providing a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. We would stay at the Elena on our next trip to Stresa without any hesitation whatsoever.

8.9

This is a great hotel in the center of downtwon Stresa near "everything." For the price, it's great. There is no AC though but it cools down at night even in August. I had a veranda overlooking the square. I had to leave real early missing breakfast but the owner even fixed me a take-away breakfast in the morning. Just a nice homely place.

7.2

Small hotel but very well managed end very clean. Only 6 parking places for the 14 rooms and impossible to park if the car is not a small one. Location is very good... maybe too good because noisy at night (main piazza just in front of the hotel) But the hotel is good (very good for the price) and I strongly recommand it if you want something cheap.

9.8

This hotel is in the perfect place , in a small square about 100 yds from the lake. Our stay was superb and the hotel although only a 2 star was brilliant and cleanliness and service was fantastic.. The owner Laura made us feel like part of the family and a great breakfast too. We would definately go back. It is an ideal place for seeing the islands in the middle of the lake and also for going up the alps in the cable cars..well worth the trip

8.7

I stayed 2 nights. It was good.

9.7

A super central location in Stresa. Ideal for a short stay. We had 2 nights. Having a fridge in the room was very useful. Continental buffet style breakfast plentiful. A little tight for parking, so I wouldn't recommend it if you have a large vehicle (e.g. People carrier)

9.7

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Elena. Our room was small, but it had a balcony with flower boxes and a nice view of the town and surrounding hills. The bath was small, but modern and the shower was more than adequate. The room was spotlessly clean and we had fresh linens and towels daily. The staff was helpful and friendly, and we enjoyed being in the center of things in Stresa.

6.3

Most of the rooms are without air-conditioning The price is of high level to compare with its condition and service.

9.0

Stresa is beautiful and Elena provided a very friendly, hospitable stay for us. Breakfast could have been better. I would definitely return.

8.6

Elena was a pleasant surprise. Warm welcome by friendly owners. Totally agree with GP comments. It was unseasonably hot when we stayed (mid June) and there was no air conditioning or breeze. Next day we asked if a fan was available and one was given to use over the next two nights. I would happily stay again, it's particularly good if you're on a budget.

9.4

Great location on piazza with bars and restaurants right outside hotel. Staff very helpful. Highly recommended

9.9

Just the top of the town, very friendly people.

7.9

Although the room was noisy, we were aware that if we wanted a room overlooking the quaint square that it would be noisy. We also knew there was to be a Miss Stressa contest that night and we had excellent seats to view the festivities

7.8

The Elena is a basic, but charming hotel, thanks, in part, to the little balcony with a view of the mountainside. (Get a back room.)Good value for the money.

8.8

Very friendly staff, good location. Not a 5-star property but lots of fun.

7.7

Good value

10

I would reccomend this hotel to anybody

8.8

Very nice little hotel, gives more, than star-rating indicates.

9.0

Elena was recommended to us by friends, so we knew it was a plain & simple type of hotel above an ice-cream/coffee & drinks bar facing one of Stresa'a main squares. Of its type it was excellent. One received a pleasant welcome; we had asked for a quiet room and got one - at the back on the 4th (top) floor. It was airy & reasonably spacious with a balcony from which one had a view of the hills; impeccably clean; the en-suite shower room was small but perfectly adequate; the room was equipped with a fridge & a small safe (for the use of which no charge was made).Breakfasts in the bar downstairs were more than adequate unless only a "full English" will do. Hotel staff were friendly & helpful - their advice about restaurants was invaluable. Excellent, central location; no garden, of course, but you could linger over a drink at one of their tables in the square for as long as you liked. So if you are satisfied with the simple life and don't yearn for deep carpets, well-upholstered armchairs and obsequious flunkeys Hotel Elena can be strongly recommended.

8.5

Hotel bien situé et calme, le parking situé non loin de l'hotel est également bien. Le petit déjeuner est tres correct Nous passions quelques jours sur les bords du lac majeur avec nos 2 enfants de 4 ans et 1 mois

7.8

3 nights

7.0

Petit hotel situé dans le quartier piétonnier. Propriétaire très gentille. Environnement bruyant si on a le balcon et les fenêtres qui donnent sur la piazzetta.

9.8

Our flight was delayed and we arrived in the early hours of the morning, access to the hotel was not easy, had to walk approximatly 1000 meters with luggage as late nite access was restricted up access roads to the Piazza which this hotel faces onto. Should be ok if you arrive at normal hours. Even thou we were very late, we were made very welcome. The hotel is in a great location,easy for the ferry service, shopping and caffe's and is very good value, would stay here again. Parking is somewhat restricted.

9.2

Great location

7.7

Excellent pour un hotel 1 etoile mais il me semble qu'il y en avait 2. Tres bien situé pour acces au lac.

7.0

There was no private parking available and we had to park some distance away from the hotel in a metered parking area.

8.4

Great plce to stay for one or a few nights.

9.6

An excellent little hotel. Very friendly and helpful proprietors. Handy location.

8.5

Excellent location. Right smack in Piazza Cordona where all the food joints are. also near to the lakes and shopping lanes and most attractions. Good value for money.

8.8

A delightful and welcoming small family run hotel in a central location in Stresa. The rooms at the front of the hotel have a pretty balcony with good views of the surrounding hills. Breakfast was included in the price of the hotel and was most adequate. The hotel fronts onto a small piazza with easy access to restaurants and shops. If you are looking for luxury or glamour, then you should stay at one of the large hotels on the lakefront. If you are looking for a friendly comfortable and clean hotel (with a lift), then I would highly recommend Hotel Elena.

9.7

This should really be two star, but I understand the fact there is no space for a private residents lounge limits it to one. Anyway, very friendly, nice rooms, excellent location, and one of the best places we have been to.

9.7

Great hotel, great staff and awesome view from the balcony. We spent hours just drinking wine on the balcony and watching people passing by on the piazza

8.8

Very pleasant stay. Very good relationship between price and quality

9.6

Hotel Elena was perfect for our one night stay at Lago Maggiore. The location is right in the center of the pedestrian area with lots of shops and restaurants. It's also located right near the lake, so it's a short walk to the lake's edge. We had to leave really early in the morning to catch an early morning flight at Milano Malpensa airport and one of the hotel owners woke up early to unlock the hotel and let us out. We were obviously the only guests awake or leaving that early. Sevice and location are excellent and, though a modest hotel, it was clean and we had a perfect stay there. Highly recommended.

9.8

The bathroom was brand new and the beds very confortable. The owners were extremely helpful and polite

9.7

Laura and her staff were wonderful. They did everything they could to make your stay a comfortable one. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a small, comfortable hotel in Stresa.

9.6

I loved staying at Hotel Elena, in my sweet room, with a small balcony overlooking the piazza, my own very nice little bathroom. Having flown in from the states, I accidentally overslept my way through jet lag, the first morning. A very nice older member of the hotel family came knocking at my door, asking if I'd like coffee. I quickly dressed and found that they had kept the breakfast laid out for me,downstairs, even though it was well past normal breakfast time.This just wouldn't happen at any big hotel.

9.9

Our best hotel on our trip! Would definately stay there again. The staff was excellent.

8.0

We wanted to stay reasonable close to Malpensa as we had a late morning flight. We chose the most inexpensive hotel we could find. Hotel Elena is inexpensive, but very conveniently located on the main square. The concierge was helpful and friendly. As it is a one star hotel, there aren't any facilities as such, but the breakfast was good (fresh brioche, croissants and excellent cappuchino) and was prepared a bit before the stated breakfast time to allow us to partake. We highly recommend Hotel Elena

9.9

The owners were exceptionally welcoming. It was in the centre of town, the perfect location, and the coffee and cakes that the bar downstairs offers are excellent! Would Highly recommend it and would use again.

9.3

Top floor with balcony and view of small piazza mountains as backdrop. Superb! The hotel would go over very well with people like my wife and I who like good service, pleasant surroundings and a nice and friendly staff, but who still have to keep an eye on the budget.

9.2

Excellent location; close to all activities, shops,restaurants, ferry, etc. Very helpful and friendly staff. Breakfast adeguate. I would rate this as an excellent value.

9.8

This small hotel is in the heart of the action (restaurants, shops) in Stresa, and only two or three minutes walk from the boat terminal, from which easy trips to many major sights are possible. The staff/owners are very helpful and cheerfully so, and one can manage well in English (many guests were English or American during our stay). Our room was quiet, clean and cosy; a little balcony with table and chairs overlooking the piazza (with its outdoor restaurants) made us feel as if we were part of the town rather than just passing through. A daily brief 7:45 am carillon concert from the nearby church bell added to that feeling of belonging to a special place. My only warning: the shower stall was narrow, not unusual in places that probably did not originally have private bathrooms, but this could be an issue for some people.

9.8

the hotel is in an excellent location close to shops, restaurants and lake front & access to ferries. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and spoke very good English. Tea,coffee or other drinks, as well as cakes and ice creams are available all day and evening. It's about 15mins walk from railway station,so with luggage we took a taxi (app.9Eur).

9.9

My husband and I (both retired but active)have just spent 8 days at the hotel Elena.It is a small and friendly hotel,the front has a small cafe/bar and the breakfast room is at the rear. Whilst the decor is somewhat dated and the rooms basic,they are spotlessly clean and comfortable,with fridge,television and hairdryers provided. Room service is excellent and all the staff are friendly, pleasant and helpful. Breakfast is continental but adequate and served by a charming elderly Italian lady who speaks slowly and clearly (in Italian) The owners speak good English. The hotel is suitable for all ages of adults, and there is a lift. The situation of the Elena is perfect, on the edge of a pedestrian square and just a few minutes from the lakeside, boats and promenade.

7.8

Hotel with very friendly service, reasonably priced compared to the pricy Stresa standard, good breakfast, good location.

8.1

Basic B & B but clean, friendly and good value for money. Rooms at back quiet but front rooms look over square so more noise. Bathroom on each floor so although rooms just have shower a 'soak' is possible! Good location in centre of town and free parking. Great restaurant down the road - La Bott- with local cuisine.

9.7

In a time when everyone seems to think that staying in glitzy resort hotels (that look so much alike one doesn't know where one is), the Elena is a welcome relief. The hotel staff was welcoming and friendly -- I had the feeling of being welcomed into a private home. The room was modest but clean and I had a little balcony overlooking the busy old square where I could set up my laptop as well as look over the scene. After a good meal in a local fish restaurant, I sat and had a digestif in their cafe which seemed to have mostly a local clientele. Breakfast was ample and varied. We need to support these small hotels! A gem.

9.1

very nice family hotel, friendly staff good location. parking scarce on site, free public car park nearby but plan to park early

8.7

We will definitely come back again!

7.6

very good location, nice people, medium room, but I think that the price is a little (or more than a little) too much...

8.2

This is a basic hotel ideal for a stop over. Expensive for what you get, but thats about par for the area! The owners are extemely helpful and will recommend restaurants nearby that are not curning out "tourist food"; we took their recommendation and had a superb meal at reasonable cost. We had a room overlooking the square, so if you like to leave the windows open and retire early, best ask for a room in the back. Likewise, the dustcarts and waste bin emptying starts very early! Our stay was in August, but guess it would be much quieter out of season. The hotel is situated right in the centre of Stresa so its an easy walk anywhere. Hotel is easy to find if you don't miss the one sign on the main road by the lake (its on the lake side of the road), as the narrow roads and one-way system in the town could lead to an interesting drive.

7.6

We enjoyed our stay. Since we were staying for almost a week, we (two people) got a triple room to the front, which was nicely spacious (with a fairly small bathroom), but quite noisy because of the town square with lots of cafes and restaurants. (The rooms to the back are probably much more quiet, but seemed smaller.) The room contains rather basic furniture that was in a good state. The breakfast was nice and consisted of freshly brewed coffee (or hot chocolate or others), juice, cereals, musli, croissants, bread rolls (with butter, jam, honey), yoghurt. We were served in a very friendly way. Stresa can easily be reached by train. It's a ~10-minute walk from the train station to this hotel (and most other hotels in Stresa).

8.4

We had a lovely stay at this hotel. Everyone was so friendly and answered any questions we had. The location was great and it was nice sitting in the hotel bar in the square in the evening. Thank you for making our stay great.

6.9

Mignon petit hôtel familial, très simple mais situé au coeur de Stesa sur une charmante place très animée. Le seul problème, il n'y a pas de climatisation dans la chambre et la température proche des 35° nous a empêché de dormir toute la nuit, malgré les fenêtres grandes ouvertes, ce qui nous a permis de faire la chasse aux moustiques, très présents...

9.4

Charming small hotel tucked between shops and restaurants in a lively square, right in the center of Sresa, 3 min to the port. Rooms overlooking the courtyard are reasonably quiet. No airconditioner, but a big fan was provided on request. We would like to come back!

9.2

A nice little hotel in an excellent location on the town's main plaza containing many restaurants and stores, and only one block from the waterfront promenade. Great value for the price, and friendly helpful staff.

7.9

We stayed only 1 night but we liked this small hotel a lot: excellent location in main piazza; close to whatever 'action' Stresa has; pleasant rooms and toilet/bathing facilities and a good breakfast. Owners also run good cafe on premises. A bit more expensive than others of similar category, but everything in Stresa is premium price. An enjoyable experience.

9.2

This hotel is a gem. Our room was better than many we have stayed in in much higher-rated Italian hotels. Location is excellent & staff welcoming and friendly. Highly recommended.

9.5

Wonderful find in the heart of Stresa. Great little family run hotel where nothing was too much trouble. Enjoyed sitting on the balcony above the traffic free square soaking up the atmosphere. An array of good eating places were in the vicinity and it was only a very short walk to the lakeside. I would definitely return here.

9.4

We stayed at Hotel Elena last year, returned this year and plan to return again. Say no more!

8.7

I traveled to Lago Maggiore on a leisure trip to the Italian lakes. Stresa is a beautiful town, elegant and one can feel the grand atmosphere of the days gone by. Very clean with plenty of flowers everywhere. The Borromeo islands are within easy reach and enhance the beauty of the whole area. Hotel Elena is located on Plaza Cadorna, a lovely, not too large a plaza with cafes and restaurants with sitting al fresco all around. Rooms are: double w/bath, and larger with 4 beds. All rooms have little balconies overlooking the Plaza. There's a market store close by. Breakfast is served in the nice room downstairs and grandma will ask you if you want more cappuccino or tea. Desk clerks are very helpful and speak English. Walk 50 meters down the lovely street and you are at the lake shore. It is an ideal place for people who like to step down into a busy Plaza and be in the middle of it right away. Very Recommended.

10

This was our third visit to the Elena and once again we received a warm welcome at this excellent small hotel and café bar which is situated in a typically Italian piazza about 200 yards from Lake Maggiore (and from where you can catch boats to other destinations around the lake). Visitors to the Elena are surrounded by smart shops, restaurants, cafés and bars which, although busy, do not keep you awake at night. The bedrooms - and cleverly designed en suite shower rooms - are scrupulously clean and comfortable. The continental breakfasts are very good and the ice creams are delicious! We cannot recommend this hotel highly enough to those travellers wanting value for money in a quaint and pretty setting.

9.7

Just a fabulous little gem of a hotel! Thank you !

9.7

Travelled as a couple. Excellent value for money. Clean and spacious room. We were lucky to have a front room with balcony overlooking charming square with a wonderful evening atmosphere. Very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent position for exploring Stresa during the day and at night. Would stay there again.

9.1

We stayed in Stresa for two nights in May, 2007. The terrace and the view were the best features of the room. The hotel was great value for money and the breakfast was one of the best we had in Italy. Good coffee was made to order and lots of it. I would strongly recommend this hotel and only wished we could have stayed longer.

9.9

We travelled through Italy for a month and the Elena was the one of the best places we stayed at. Our room was large, clean and looked out over a beautiful Piazza. The host was lovely and I would recommend the Hotel to anyone. It was very good value. They have cereal for breakfast which is great for non Europeans. It is a 10 minute stroll from the train station and easy to find.

8.5

Nice place to stay, in the town center, many cafes and restaurants near, not too noisy. If you don't need luxury but value for maoney, I can recommend it. Very clean!

8.0

good

7.3

Very difficult to find, especially if with car. Hotel staff very friendly and helpful, family atmosphere. Lovely area of Stressa.

8.6

Excellent location next to the Piazza. The staff very friendly especially Laura who speaks English and was bery supportive. Nice warm family environment. Good breakfast. Only disadvantage:Parking 5 minutes walk. This would be definitly my choice for my next vacation in Lago Maggiore.