When Sharon and Linda were referred to me by another client, we immediately struck up a wonderful relationship.
We talked in detail about the “must haves” and the “would likes” and I crafted a fabulous holiday in a perfect location for them to explore the Italian lakes...
My friend Linda and I decided a while ago that we would like to visit the Italian lakes this year.
We are both retired and didn’t relish organising the trip ourselves, especially post-pandemic.
Enter the fabulous Felicity, recommended to us by a village friend who enthusiastically sang her praises - not just in terms of her warmth and organisational skills but also great value for money.
She responded promptly and from the very first contact, we both felt we were in safe hands.
I had visited Italy many years ago on a pilgrimage to Padua but everyone we had spoken to highly recommended the lakes area.
Our brief to Felicity was quite broad yet specific. We were looking for a seven-day holiday in a quiet resort on a half-board basis with maximum opportunities to explore the lakes and surrounding islands.
We wanted to be within walking distance of amenities in the town, on level ground and preferably with a pool that had a slope rather than steps - quite a tall order!
Felicity was endlessly patient, finding excellent solutions to any obstacles. She booked us into the Hotel Astoria Stresa, with two single lake view rooms and a lovely new pool with a slope.
She also managed to include flights, private transfers and a couple of escorted trips for a very reasonable price.
We were kept updated with all relevant information, including timely reminders about travel insurance, passport requirements and Felicity even printed our boarding passes and provided reassurance that she was contactable should there be any issues.
An early departure from a chaotic Luton Airport meant a collection from home at 3am but it was worthwhile - with the flight being only two hours, it gave us more time to enjoy our first day in Stresa.
We were greeted upon arrival and driven to our hotel in an hour, where we received a very warm welcome - and our bags were whisked off by a charming young man straight to our rooms.
The hotel exceeded our expectations with spotlessly clean rooms recently refurbished to a very high standard, incredibly comfortable double beds and lovely bed linen. Our balconies looked directly out onto the lake, and we were able to watch the comings and goings of the town.
Breakfast was lovely - a combination of continental and cooked food - plentiful and fresh.
Evening meals were excellent, with four courses, plenty of menu options for starter and main, followed by cheese (yummy!) and dessert.
The restaurant staff were exceptional - “old school” waiters - polite and courteous without being “over the top”! The wine was reasonably priced, and coffee was readily available in the bar area.
The pool was lovely with a snack area, plenty of sunbeds, towels, chairs, and shady areas if needed. Hotel staff were friendly and approachable and the service splendid; and we enjoyed meeting some delightful fellow travellers, several of whom had made multiple return trips to the hotel.
Stresa itself is a delightful place with plenty of opportunities to walk along the waterfront and sit watching the world go by. The town was just a short stroll from the hotel, with shops, bars, cafes, and a small street market on Friday mornings for local bargains.
The weather was mixed, with days of intermittent rain plus some lovely sunny ones, which worked well for our enjoyable planned excursions.
The Three Lakes Tour was from 8am till 6:30pm and provided a good overview of the logistics of the lakes led by a humorous and knowledgeable tour guide. The second tour of Lake Orto was also interesting, and we took an additional trip to Isola Bella by boat - a lovely, picturesque island with a fantastic palace and gardens – a must see!
The whole trip was a great success and would not have been possible without Felicity. Her clear passion for travel, people skills, patience and empathy took all the stress out of the planning and ensured that we had a holiday to remember.
Sharon x
