Resort Al Castello

“Fantastic property but lessons learned”

The location of this hotel is fantastic, in a secluded village close to Vicolungo and Navarro but it does feel remote and you certainly need a car to get around. Admittedly I did stay here in low season and I didn’t realise the restaurant and bar are closed on Mondays so I was a little stuck for … more

The location of this hotel is fantastic, in a secluded village close to Vicolungo and Navarro but it does feel remote and you certainly need a car to get around. Admittedly I did stay here in low season and I didn’t realise the restaurant and bar are closed on Mondays so I was a little stuck for food options. There are no options. None. Zero. So if staying here on a Monday then beware - you gotta travel for munchies and the taxi they offered to call me to go to a nearby town was daylight robbery at best (even Dick Turpin wore a mask). The pool was also closed (the weather was awful to be fair) and it turned out I was the only guest which was a little strange. The service and welcome was fantastic, I cannot fault the check in experience and checkout and despite me being the only guest they provided a small breakfast on request. The rooms are historical and classic but the bed was very comfy and the bedding fantastic. The bathroom was great and the shower bit with good shower pressure. The room was immaculately clean and also had power sockets next to the bed which is always a win. Loved Netflix on the tv in the room. I can imagine this is an incredible place to stay in the summer. With a car. My take out of 5… 🗺️ 3 🛌 5 🍽️ 1 🚕 0 🚿 5 ❄️ 3 📺 5 🔌 4 🛜 4 💡 3 👥 5 🛋️ 3 🏋🏻 x 🏊🏻 x Thanks for a great stay.

less

“We do not recommend this hotel”

We didn’t like our room or the resort (218€ including dinner for 2 for one night). The receptionist on duty was neither welcoming nor friendly, but he did help us with our luggage. Our room #102 was supposed to be 60 square meters, but it didn’t seem like it (although there was a lot of useless spa… more

We didn’t like our room or the resort (218€ including dinner for 2 for one night). The receptionist on duty was neither welcoming nor friendly, but he did help us with our luggage. Our room #102 was supposed to be 60 square meters, but it didn’t seem like it (although there was a lot of useless space in the bathroom). It was a big square room with decorated high ceilings. There was a 4-poster bed and two bedside tables. It was one of those beds that is like jelly and when one of us moved, it shook badly. There was a sofa on one side of the room but it was useless to us because the TV screen did not move and the screen faced the bed, not the sofa. There was a big useless chair, an armoire, and a desk for Audre, with a Lavazza coffee machine on it and a mini fridg under it. We saw a table and a chair in the hallway and asked the receptionist to bring them into the room for Dimitri’s desk. We brought in two chairs to use for a luggage rack for Audre’s suitcase. We set the thermostat and the room got too hot. Although the heated towel rack in the bathroom was on when we arrived, it automatically stopped heating and the bathroom got cold. The toilet was very high and uncomfortable. The sink had no stopper and if anything had fallen into it, it would have been lost forever. Audre had to wash the glass in the bathroom because it was dirty. The soap dispenser ran out of soap and it was not refilled soon enough for our next bathroom use. We looked at the outdoor Jacuzzi and it might have been okay but it was too windy the day we might have used it. We had dinner at the Hibou Bistrot and our first impression was good. The server was very nice and friendly. There was a roaring fire when we arrived and we loved sitting near it. We ordered the crostini and then the pork on a skewer. As usual we shared everything. We were brought grissini and bread and they were good. Dimitri liked the crostini but the main dish of pork was dry like cardboard. We didn’t eat it. Dimitri liked the tarte tartin for dessert. Breakfast the next morning was adequate. We were supposed to stay two nights but we decided to leave. The owner made an exception and allowed us to leave without penalty. That was nice!

less

“Only go here when there are no parties…”

We expected a quiet place. However, at the venue next door, a wedding caused a lot of noise until late in the evening. (We were guaranteed that all would be silent at 9pm - not.) Also check-in was rather quick and unpersonal. No explanation about activitities, walls, etc what so ever. Breakfast was… more

We expected a quiet place. However, at the venue next door, a wedding caused a lot of noise until late in the evening. (We were guaranteed that all would be silent at 9pm - not.) Also check-in was rather quick and unpersonal. No explanation about activitities, walls, etc what so ever. Breakfast was nice. Clearly it is a hotel with a lot of history. With respect for that, I would rather not call this a “resort”.

less

“Excellent restaurant, otherwise unwelcoming ”

The hotel itself is superb, well-appointed and in a charming setting. I was here unexpectedly “sans femme” as my wife didn’t want to venture outside Switzerland in the current environment. Perhaps that’s the reason I was allocated a gloomy room with minimal sunlight and paper-thin walls whereby … more

The hotel itself is superb, well-appointed and in a charming setting. I was here unexpectedly “sans femme” as my wife didn’t want to venture outside Switzerland in the current environment. Perhaps that’s the reason I was allocated a gloomy room with minimal sunlight and paper-thin walls whereby every sound could be heard from the neighbouring room. I found the Reception staff to be quite unfriendly. Although they spoke English, conversation was perfunctory - not even a response when I said “Good Morning” or “Goodbye” to them. By contrast, the Restaurant staff were both friendly and professional, not to mention the cuisine and wine which were exceptional.

less