Hotel Ascona

Amazing ! Spotlessly clean, with fabulous views. Staff really helpful. You will not be disappointed. Food lovely ! Attention to detail 10/10, and owner on site both days we stayed. Would recommend they add tea/coffee facilities in the rooms though. All in all an amazing hotel! Bravo !

We booked 3 nights at this hotel and I was a bit apprehensive having read previous reviews but what a wonderful, positive surprise. We were picked up at the train station by the hotel courtesy service. Greeted by the reception staff and offered a welcome Prosecco or soft drink and snack. The room with large balcony overlooking the spectacular scenery was very nice indeed, including outdoor futniture. The room was spacious, extremely clean, modern, very comfortable bed, little bouquet of fresh flowers, selection of fresh fruits and sweets. A kettle was provided on request. Bathroom was large with all amenities. Breakfast was super with selection of fresh fruits, yoghurts, muesli, cereals, cold meats and cheeses, salmon, eggs, pastries and more. We had dinner in the hotel two nights (because the first night was so good) and the choice as well as the food was excellent. Compliments to the chef and his team. The gardens are beautifully maintained with sun loungers dotted around as well as around the pool area also with magnificent view. There is a very pretty pergola with outdoor seating where you can enjoy food or drinks overlooking the pool and wonderful scenery beyond. I paid particular attention to the staff due to previous reviews and found them somewhat surly although helpful and professional. However, we did get a bright smiley good morning from a guy who hoovering the corrider which compensated nicely. Also the lady who greeted us at breakfast and dinner was very friendly and chatty (I think she is a member of the family who owns the hotel) which I think is a nice touch. The hotel is located about 10 minutes walk down to Ascona centre and lake, probably a 15 minutes steep walk back up which we enjoyed as a form of exercise. The hotel provides a courtesy shuttle service on request also to and from Locarno train station We have visited this hotel a few times over the years and it just gets better and better. Well done team Ascona! We are already looking forward to the next visit and highly recommend it. A few more smiles from the staff, a show of friendliness and it would be perfect.

We spent three nights at the Hotel Ascona. Upon our late arrival, we were “greeted” by what appeared to be a night porter. He did an extremely poor job of checking us in. We had to pay for the stay upon arrival which is okay, but when my partners card didn’t work the first and second time he made us feel like he didn’t believe we had any money in the account! It was quite uncomfortable. My partner tried to tell him that tapping the card wouldn’t work because it was way above the limit to tap, but the young man wouldn’t listen. In the end, he rang his supervisor who advised him to input the card details manually. Of course this worked. It wasn’t exactly the warm welcome we were hoping for. The room was nice and we can’t complain about the facilities at all. The pool is beautiful and the view is spectacular. Again, breakfast was lovely. Lots of choice. But the staff there were quite unfriendly again. No one greeting you or showing you to your seat. Which I think would be expected in a hotel of this standard. On our last night, we asked reception the book us a taxi for 8am the next morning to take us to Locarno train station. The same man who checked us in was behind the desk and he confirmed that it would be there for us. At 10 past 8 the next morning the taxi was still not there. My partner went back into reception to ask could they ring the taxi company to make sure someone was on the way. The woman at reception said she didn’t know what company the night porter had rung the night before. My partner replied that neither did he. She very sarcastically replied ‘Super!’ and proceeded to storm off with the phone. Eventually a taxi came but to say she was no help was an understatement. This hotel is lovely but the staff were a big let down. It left a bad taste in our mouth and I wouldn’t recommend Hotel Ascona to anyone because of our experience.