Hotel Aracoeli

The hotel was very well situated, but the reception itself was not in the hotel. After arrival it took me a little bit of time and stress to find the reception, but the room was (almost) worth the money I paid. There is only a few things I would change about the room itself. With the minimal features I understand there being very low floor beds, but I can't reconcile the fact that there were no seats. Having a bad back I found this particularly troublesome, getting up and down off of the bed was hard .... as was attempting to fasten my footwear. Also, the showers (yes, plural, there are 2 side by side) are not entirely enclosed meaning that the floor surrounding the shower area was soaked and presented a danger. The hotel staff however were polite and friendly; the continental buffet was fresh and varied (cake and apple pie included); general cleanliness was good to excellent. I would recommend staying in the hotel if you have cause to be in Orta, San Giulio. Be aware though that there is a language barrier and most locals appreciate even an attempt at speaking Italian.

The hotel was very well situated, but the reception itself was not in the hotel. After arrival it took me a little bit of time and stress to find the reception, but the room was (almost) worth the money I paid. There is only a few things I would change about the room itself. With the minimal features I understand there being very low floor beds, but I can't reconcile the fact that there were no seats. Having a bad back I found this particularly troublesome, getting up and down off of the bed was hard .... as was attempting to fasten my footwear. Also, the showers (yes, plural, there are 2 side by side) are not entirely enclosed meaning that the floor surrounding the shower area was soaked and presented a danger. The hotel staff however were polite and friendly; the continental buffet was fresh and varied (cake and apple pie included); general cleanliness was good to excellent. I would recommend staying in the hotel if you have cause to be in Orta, San Giulio. Be aware though that there is a language barrier and most locals appreciate even an attempt at speaking Italian.

Staff pleasant and helpful, as they manage 3 properties. Don't rely on GPS as roads are very narrow and two way. Hotel situated on the central piazza, good for eating, shopping and access to ferry, but late eating crowds can make lots of noise if you plan to sleep early. Hotel very old and rooms renovated in modern design. Our bed was a king sized soft futon, which was not so comfortable. Our shower appeared to be added on, and was on one of the walls in the corner of the living room/bedroom. No closet, but a few shelves in the room for clothing. Breakfast was an unexpected feast! Cereals, meats, cheeses, quiches, hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, coffee, espresso machine, juices and a variety of coffee cakes. Here, the hotel was outstanding!

Staff pleasant and helpful, as they manage 3 properties. Don't rely on GPS as roads are very narrow and two way. Hotel situated on the central piazza, good for eating, shopping and access to ferry, but late eating crowds can make lots of noise if you plan to sleep early. Hotel very old and rooms renovated in modern design. Our bed was a king sized soft futon, which was not so comfortable. Our shower appeared to be added on, and was on one of the walls in the corner of the living room/bedroom. No closet, but a few shelves in the room for clothing. Breakfast was an unexpected feast! Cereals, meats, cheeses, quiches, hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, coffee, espresso machine, juices and a variety of coffee cakes. Here, the hotel was outstanding!

Interesting and quirky room, lovely breakfast. Top floor room called 'a room of ones own' has a great view of Lake Orta and the stone roofs of the city. The shower is certainly one of the oddest I have come across, in a good way.

Interesting and quirky room, lovely breakfast. Top floor room called 'a room of ones own' has a great view of Lake Orta and the stone roofs of the city. The shower is certainly one of the oddest I have come across, in a good way.

You can't beat this hotel for location. It was right on the central square and a footstep away from everything you'd want to do in Orta. It was a little complicated checking in as you have to go to another office and although it says 'free parking' the car park is 1km up a hill, so we used the paying underground car park closer to the town instead. The room was clean, but for the price it wasn't quite up to the quality I'd expect. It had a nice balcony looking onto the square and they provided tea/coffee and juice, which we didn't get anywhere else. The sheets on the bed were a bit worn and the bed was a bit uncomfortable. Everything seemed to come from Ikea which surprised me! It seemed like they'd gone for style over substance - an open shower, for example, in the main room, but cheap linen! The breakfast is really good, lots of choice and really tasty.

You can't beat this hotel for location. It was right on the central square and a footstep away from everything you'd want to do in Orta. It was a little complicated checking in as you have to go to another office and although it says 'free parking' the car park is 1km up a hill, so we used the paying underground car park closer to the town instead. The room was clean, but for the price it wasn't quite up to the quality I'd expect. It had a nice balcony looking onto the square and they provided tea/coffee and juice, which we didn't get anywhere else. The sheets on the bed were a bit worn and the bed was a bit uncomfortable. Everything seemed to come from Ikea which surprised me! It seemed like they'd gone for style over substance - an open shower, for example, in the main room, but cheap linen! The breakfast is really good, lots of choice and really tasty.

This hotel is in a great location right to the side of the main square albeit for this reason rather noisy at night. My room was run down and not to a great standard however it has air com which many in Orta don't! No onsite reception and help yourself breakfast. I wouldn't stay again when I return next year but perfect if you want a basic room with aircon (and are a heavy sleeper).

This hotel is in a great location right to the side of the main square albeit for this reason rather noisy at night. My room was run down and not to a great standard however it has air com which many in Orta don't! No onsite reception and help yourself breakfast. I wouldn't stay again when I return next year but perfect if you want a basic room with aircon (and are a heavy sleeper).

Too Noisey...

Too Noisey...

We picked the hotel as the picture appealed and the room met our expectations of something really different. The shower was brilliant! Breakfast offer nice and varied.

We picked the hotel as the picture appealed and the room met our expectations of something really different. The shower was brilliant! Breakfast offer nice and varied.

Cool rooms and great breakfast. Excellent value.

Cool rooms and great breakfast. Excellent value.

The hotel was well located and had a lovely breakfast. The room was funky and spacious but I was not satisfied with the quality of the bedding and we could really hear the tv and talking in the room next store - There were free snacks available and the people were very sweet.

The hotel was well located and had a lovely breakfast. The room was funky and spacious but I was not satisfied with the quality of the bedding and we could really hear the tv and talking in the room next store - There were free snacks available and the people were very sweet.

The reception was two blocks away from the hotel and was not explained in the reservation instructions. A large puddle formed during the night from A/C drainage. Breakfast was very good though impersonal.

The reception was two blocks away from the hotel and was not explained in the reservation instructions. A large puddle formed during the night from A/C drainage. Breakfast was very good though impersonal.

We stayed here for a wedding in the town and we couldn't have been happier with our room. It was quirky, clean and had everything we could want. The view was spectacular! We had the room at the top and we had windows that opened fully to give full effect of the lake. Just beautiful. We would definitely stay here again.

We stayed here for a wedding in the town and we couldn't have been happier with our room. It was quirky, clean and had everything we could want. The view was spectacular! We had the room at the top and we had windows that opened fully to give full effect of the lake. Just beautiful. We would definitely stay here again.

Fantastic hotel, in a place of beauty. Great location. Superb breakfast. Reasonably priced too.

Fantastic hotel, in a place of beauty. Great location. Superb breakfast. Reasonably priced too.

We really enjoyed our stay in hotel Aracoli.Great location,marvellous breakfast,great value for money.

We really enjoyed our stay in hotel Aracoli.Great location,marvellous breakfast,great value for money.

We did - after looking at the rooms and smelling it (whole hotel reeked of cleaning fluid), we forfeited our money and went to a wonderful hotel a few steps away (Leon D'Oro). We are seasoned travelers, equally at home in luxury hotels or camping, but....The first room smelled, had a bed that sunk to the floor and minimalist furnishings (safe to house a college fraternity!). They showed us a second room that had a futon bed (!) with dirty sheets and said it would be made up soon (this was at 6:30 pm). Orta is a wonderful town. If you go, don't ruin the experience. Even though this hotel is on the charming square, it is to be avoided. Go to the Leon D'Oro, instead, and get a room looking out at the lake and the square - you won't be sorry.

We did - after looking at the rooms and smelling it (whole hotel reeked of cleaning fluid), we forfeited our money and went to a wonderful hotel a few steps away (Leon D'Oro). We are seasoned travelers, equally at home in luxury hotels or camping, but....The first room smelled, had a bed that sunk to the floor and minimalist furnishings (safe to house a college fraternity!). They showed us a second room that had a futon bed (!) with dirty sheets and said it would be made up soon (this was at 6:30 pm). Orta is a wonderful town. If you go, don't ruin the experience. Even though this hotel is on the charming square, it is to be avoided. Go to the Leon D'Oro, instead, and get a room looking out at the lake and the square - you won't be sorry.