Hotel La Palma

La Palma's panoramic, wraparound Sky Bar is among the most stylish and buzziest in Stresa -- and for good reason. Clusters of modern wicker seating, where guests can perch with cocktails until late, look out over the bay. However, guests booking during wedding season might be disappointed when a party takes over the in-demand spot. The grounds of the hotel are simple but well-maintained, featuring a lush green lawn filled with patio seating around lemon trees and loungers facing the scenic Lake Maggiore. Inside, however, the common areas of the hotel are growing dated: The lobby features faux-antique furniture and dark-paneled walls, while the lounge is opulently elegant, with semi-circular velvet booths, red and gold carpets, and bronze statues hoisting gold light fixtures. This hotel appeals to a wide variety of guests, though the majority tend to be couples.

Located across from the lake on a main road that curves around Maggiore, La Palma Hotel is within walking distance of everything in Stresa. It's a one-minute walk from the lakeside beach and a six-minute walk into the center of town, where there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars. La Palma is also a great base from which to explore nearby sights. Isola Bella, a gorgeous island just off the mainland with gardens and a palace, is easily accessible, as a 13-minute walk will take visitors to the ferry dock to take them across to the isle. 

The ferry also carries visitors to other popular destinations around the lake, including Isola Madre, Baveno, Villa Taranto, Cannobio, and Ascona. Hop-on-hop-off tickets are available for day trips between villages. The train station is a 10-minute walk away, while the closest airport, Malpensa, is 50 minutes by car or a two-hour trek via public transit. Parking is free in the on-site private garage, but it doesn't have room for many cars and guests might need to find a spot on the street.  

The property's 120 air-conditioned rooms match the rest of the hotel in its stark division between faded elegance and sleek modernity. The Classic Rooms and some of those in the Superior and Deluxe categories look due for renovation with their traditional, outdated decor schemes. Though the design is a bit different between rooms, they generally feature patterned carpeting and wallpaper, old-fashioned quilts, and older wood furniture. More modern rooms and suites, on the other hand, have neutral-tone color schemes, hardwood floors, velvet upholstery, ivory bedding and dark-wood furniture with clean lines. 

Each room has a furnished balcony or terrace with either mountain or lake views, some of which are large and come with loungers. Bathrooms are attractive across the board, though some are more up-to-date than others. They come with either shower/tub combos or showers with rainfall showerheads. A good range of toiletries, hairdryers, bathrobes, and slippers are all provided. Also standard are satellite flat-screen TVs, safes, and minibars. Hotel policy doesn't allow irons in rooms.

La Palma Hotel offers a variety of amenities best suited to adults looking to relax. The seventh-floor rooftop houses the hotel's most popular features: The infinity-style pool and Sky Bar. The elegant and high-design outdoor pool is heated and looks out over the bay, while the deck is lined with padded loungers -- some of which are under canopies. Guests looking for more water can pop over to the larger lakeside pool across the street. 

The on-site restaurant features traditional Piedmont cuisine sourced from local suppliers and offers great continental buffet breakfasts, which are included in room rates. The fading formal grandeur of the dining room might not appeal to some visitors preferring a more casual atmosphere. 

The small gym has modern equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay and surrounding landscape. Quality and extensive wellness facilities include a salt cave with ergonomic loungers; elegant spa with massage rooms; multiple therapeutic showers; a relaxation balcony with pretty vistas; and a steam room and sauna. Meeting and event spaces are available, as is a computer and printer for guest use. Wi-Fi is free throughout.