Hotel Merloni

The Hotel Merloni has a pastoral hilltop setting on well-landscaped grounds, and a garden lined with manicured hedges and dotted with flowers. The outdoor spaces, indoor public spaces, and many of the guest rooms feature views of the neighboring hills and forests. Hotel Merloni is housed in two-floor building with typical regional architecture, and interiors have a vaguely Italian alpine look. Guests mostly gather around the outdoor pool, where they can sip drinks and take sunbathe on the deck. The family owned property draws couples and families who want a relaxed atmosphere and enough on-site amenities for a comfortable stay—with rates that won't break the bank.

The Hotel Merloni is located off highway SS340, the main road between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. Having a car is recommended, though there's a pharmacy, supermarket, bar, and a few restaurants within a five-minute walk of the property. Ferries to Bellagio and Varenna are a little more than a five-minute drive from the hotel. It takes roughly eight minutes by car to reach the center of Menaggio, with restaurants, bars, and shops, plus the promenade along Lake Como, Piazza Garibaldi square, and the Church of Santa Marta. Milan-Malpensa Airport is the closest airport, about one hour and 20 minutes away by car. 

Guest rooms at Hotel Merloni are spacious and tidy, with decor that has a hint of elegance. Wood furniture and floors are well-maintained, bedspreads and curtains are done in rich royal blue and gold, and floral prints accent whitewashed walls. The overall look is spare but pleasant. Some rooms feature furnished terraces or balconies with views of the surrounding hills and forests. Amenities in the 80 rooms are rather limited, with no mini-fridges or electric kettles for instant coffee and tea, though all units come with air-conditioning, desks, wardrobes, small safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Some double beds are two singles pushed together, and at less than 25 inches in size, TVs are a little small when viewed from a distance. Bathrooms are well-lighted and come with hairdryers, bidets, and showers or shower/tub combos. Some have limited counter space around the sink, and shower stalls are slightly snug. 

The Hotel Merloni offers a fairly extensive lineup of features, with the outdoor seasonal swimming pool set in pretty gardens as a highlight. It's roughly 15 meters long, and guests can order drinks from the hotel bar to enjoy poolside. Another plus is the full-service restaurant, which serves a mostly well-reviewed breakfast buffet with eggs, bacon, and a wide range of cold items. It costs extra, but bed-and-breakfast and half-board plans are available, and there's also a less expensive continental breakfast. For lunch and dinner, national and regional Lombardy cuisine is on the menu, and the restaurant provides room service. 

Guests are given discounted access to a nearby golf course, and there's a small fitness room on-site with several cardio machines and a weight machine, though equipment is considerably dated. Other amenities include a ping-pong table situated in a covered, open-air pavilion, children’s playground, 24-hour front desk, and free on-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout. Pets are welcome at no extra fee. Travelers with limited mobility should be aware that the hotel doesn't have an elevator.