This was the first of three hotels we had booked in Northern Italy; it was the cheapest but turned out to be the best value.
The hotel was easy to find by car and less than 30 minutes drive from Milan Malpensa airport. You can save a few Euro by not going on the Autostrasse toll road, just follow the free A road to Arona. There is a free secure underground carpark with direct access to the hotel lobby.
The rooms were spacious and spotlessly clean. Our room on the side of the hotel was quiet, set back from the main road to the front of the hotel. The room had everything listed in the hotel facilities and would suit a family, business stay or romantic break.
Breakfast was a very good continental selection. There was a small bar in the lobby area. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff.
There are a couple of reasonably priced restaurants just a short walk from the hotel and a small cafe bar, the Europa, for a very cheap night out. The hotel is just 50m away from a small friendly supermarket, ideal to stock up the mini fridge with drinks and to buy a picnic from. Forget the impression that Italy is expensive. We ate, drank and shopped near the hotel for less money than we could at home.
Further afield, the hotel is ideal for trips to Lake D'Orta and to Lake Maggiore. The hotel lobby has a good selection of brochures and the staff were very helpful advising on things to do. A must see would be the 20 mini cathedrals on the hillside at Orta San Giulio and the picturesque lake town of Stressa.
If you are touring the north of Italy and stating off near Milan then this hotel is THE starting place.