Grand Hotel Majestic - Reviews
Mystery Inspector's Reviews
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19 April 2010
Top 3 reasons to stay at the hotel:
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One of the best reasons to stay at Grand Hotel Majestic is for the sheer beauty of the area (Lago Maggiore and the surrounding mountains) and the hotel itself (for the opportunity to stay in a recently renovated belle epoque hotel). Now is a great time to visit the property. The renovation means that you can have the ‘grande hotel experience’ with all the modern amenities (including fast wifi, a fully equipped gym, heated pool) and without the dusty, creaking hallways that smell like mothballs – that you sometimes find at historic properties.
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The grounds of Grand Hotel Majestic are impressive. Because Lago Maggiore is so popular among the rich & famous, you will find many impressive villas along the shore. All these gated properties also mean that access to the shores of Maggiore can be difficult to find (if they even exist). Grand Hotel Majestic is your ticket to what is probably one of the best stretches along the lake. The property boasts a beautifully manicured and expansive lawn, a promenade (with a few secluded benches tucked away here and there), a private beach and even a tennis court. Unless you ‘buy a villa’ on the shores of Lago Maggiore, it’s not possible to have this kind of experience anywhere else.
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If the hotel grounds are the best feature of Grand Hotel Majestic, the terrace bar is a close second. The term ‘terrace’ does not describe this space fairly. Imagine an expansive stone patio running the length of the hotel offering 180° degree views of the lake. It’s one of the best places to relax at the end of the day with an aperitif, while the sun is setting and music from the piano carries outside and across the grounds.
Overview:
Our stay at Grand Hotel Majestic got off to a great start when we were informed that we were given a complimentary room upgrade. We were escorted to our room by the receptionist and taken aback when we saw the balcony with its stunning view of Lago Maggorie. We then changed into our bathing suits and spent the remainder of our first day reading, napping and relaxing on sun beds in the hotel’s private park on the lake’s shores. When it was time to eat, a hotel staff member was close by to take our order and even set a table for us right next to our sunbeds.
In the evening my wife and I enjoyed an aperitif on the beautiful terrace lounge whilst taking in the last rays of sun. Dinner was taken at the hotel’s restaurant – La Beola. We were looking forward to our meal ever since reading the menu on display in the hotel elevator (inventive northern Italian cuisine). The food was excellent, and we were impressed at how hard the Captain worked to ensure that everyone had the best experience possible.
The next morning we woke early for an expansive breakfast buffet and some of the best cappuccino I have tasted in quite a while. Next, it was time for my kayak lesson with Olympic gold medalist Beniamino Bonomi. I ‘thought’ I was an experienced kayaker (I used to always take my dad’s sea touring kayak on the Hudson River), but ‘BB’ had a whole another experience in store for me. The Grand Hotel Majestic has a fleet of sleek, light and very fast kayaks for you to try. It takes some getting used to (as they’re less stable then the ‘touristic’ kayak), but don’t get discouraged. After a few minutes of falling and finding my balance I was cruising across Lago Maggiore and out to the nearby islands. It really is a great way to experience the stunning landscape. While I was getting some exercise on the lake, my wife enjoyed a massage in the hotel’s full service spa. We both warmed-up in the heated pool, followed by a sauna, while the concierge arranged an afternoon of island hopping for us. Even if you’re only in town for a short weekend – a trip to Isola Bella is a must for its stunning gardens, palace and roaming white peacocks. The ferry is only a 10 minutes walk into Pallanza (which also offers restaurants and shopping).