Albergo Terminus Hotel

The four-pearl Albergo Terminus Hotel is an early 19th-century building facing Lake Como, with a small manicured patch of grass and stylish terrace facing the water. A newer wing of the hotel was built in 2007. Common spaces impress, including the lobby area with terrazzo floors, an antique front desk, oriental rug, and upholstered orange chairs. The grand hall delivers serious wow factor with its intricate stucco designs, antique lamps, Lombard paintings, classic furniture, and red carpeting that runs up the stairs. However, some areas of the hotel could use renovations. A dining terrace is open in the warmer months with views of the lake. This is one of only two upscale hotels in Como facing the lake; the other is the Metropole Suisse, but most will prefer the Albergo Terminus Hotel for its more elegant decor. 

The hotel is in the heart of Como, across the street from the lake and on the street that leads to the ferry terminal. There are restaurants, cafes, and shops  in the immediate area. The Cathedral of Como (Duomo), Teatro Sociale, and museums are within a five-minute walk, and the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio and Villa Olmo are a 20-minute walk. It’s a 10-minute drive to the freeway and 50 minutes to Milan and its airport. The drive to Malpensa Airport takes 40 minutes. 

Decor varies between room categories but all have a classic style, and guests can expect details such as Jacquard tapestries, wall paneling, wooden floors, and sepia artwork. Rooms have air-conditioning, safes, flat-screen TVs, and minibars, and upgraded rooms have iPod docks. Bathrooms have marble and mosaic tiles, bidets, heated towel racks, hairdryers, and walk-in showers; some higher-category rooms also have soaking tubs.

The Business Standard Rooms are the cheapest and most dated in style; these have unappealing internal views. Unlike the Business Standard and Classic Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms are located in the newer wing of the hotel and offer partial lake views. The Small Deluxe Room is aptly named -- it is indeed small -- but the nicer decor and lake views make it well worth the upgrade. Junior Suites have lake-facing terraces. The Bianca Suite is especially stylish, with a glass-walled bedroom, a sitting area, a kitchen, and a teak terrace facing the lake. The chic Penthouse Suite on the top floor has vaulted ceilings, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, skylights, a living room, a kitchen, a washer and dryer, and two terraces. 

Bar delle Terme restaurant is dripping in charm, from the iron chandeliers to painted ceiling designs, and there's a terrace that can be set up for romantic candlelit dinners during warmer months. Bar service is also available, but there isn’t a separate bar area. A traditional continental breakfast spread is served for free on the first floor, but there's a fee for eggs and omelets. In-room breakfast can also be requested. On the hotel’s top floor is a huge fitness center with Technogym cardio and weight machines and free weights, and there's a sauna on the ground floor. Bicycle rentals are also available. The hotel has two classically designed meeting rooms with video projectors, one that can fit 15 people and the other large enough for up to 50 guests. The front desk can assist with business services. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel but there's a fee for parking.