Casa Sull'Albero

From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations. The staff was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and attentive to every detail. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making us feel right at home.

Nestled on the top of a hill above the promenade the views were amazing. We raised an issue with the shower in our room (102), it was cold both mornings before we'd to leave at 7am. Staff said it should be working if you run the water for a few minutes - it was still freezing. We asked after for a partial refund but they only offered a small discount when we stay next.

I want to give you an overview in case you are looking at staying here. We came for a family wedding and stayed for a week. The property is a small boutique hotel associated with a larger full service hotel just down the hill. There is not staff onsite 24 hrs a day only from 7am to 11 pm. When you checkin take a picture of your room key card where they give you the wifi password and most importantly the CODE TO GET IN AFTER 11:00pm. The parent Hotel Promessi Sposi does have 24 hr staff if absolutely necessary. As stated Casa Sull' Albero is a small hotel (16 rooms I think). You get a hair dryer in the bathroom and carafe of water is replenished every day. There is only 1 iron for the whole hotel so I ironed all of our clothes for the week on day one so I wasn't scrambling on the day of the wedding. The rooms are small and sparse and beautiful. We had rooms 204 and 205. 205 is the best room in the hotel as it is bigger and has the best views. My kids were quite jealous. They will separate the king bed into two twins for your children for less squabbling but ask before you go because the cleaning staff are gone by 2:00pm and you will have to listen to your kids complain until the next day :) I will include a pic below from our room. The views are amazing. The bathroom is a wet room shower with a combination shampoo/conditioner and also body wash. Ladies, bring your own conditioner because no woman in the history of the world has been okay with a combination shampoo/conditioner, especially in the heat and humidity (you are on a lake after all) of an Italian summer. Casa Sull' Albero has a small pool and as it is July in Italy we were very grateful for it every day. They have an "honesty kitchen" where you can get soft drinks and juices and beer and wine and champagne and fruit and coffee. The price menu is there and it is very reasonable. Lovely to sit by the pool with a glass of Prosecco. No smoking inside but there are ashtrays outside in the huge garden overlooking the lake. I can't overstate the grandeur of the views. The private path to the parent Hotel Promessi Sposi is steep with gravel paths, steps, handrails and lights. It is not for unaccompanied children or the elderly or infirm. If you struggle with mobility you should stay in the Hotel Promessi Sposi instead. They have lovely terraced rooms to accommodate everyone. Like almost every town on Lake Como, Malgrate is built into the side of a cliff which makes it hard to get around if you struggle to walk for any reason. If this is the case, don't even think of going for a day trip to Varenna. Bellano, just one more stop on the train from Lecco, is much flatter, less touristy, has fantastic food and the gorges are stunning. Taxis in Malgrate and Lecco deserve their own mention. There are very few taxis and we had to walk from the train station in Lecco to the hotel after waiting an hour. Ask the front desk staff to book you transport well in advance. If you end up having to walk from Lecc

This is a boutique hotel where you stay between trees with a very nice view of the lake. I would recommend a lake view suite. Breakfast was a good open buffet. On our last day at the end of the breakfast saw people ordering plates. We were'nt told that we could order. Sleep quality was very good but shower was not because of the shower without door and the toilette was so close to it.