“Une halte à faire à bognanco !”

L'hôtel est traditionnel avec une décoration typiquement montagnarde. Les chambres sont très propres , le personnel gentil et le petit déjeuner satisfaisant. La vue sur la vallée est spendide et passer quelques jours dans ce petit village est ressourçant et apaisant. Point de départ de belles ra... Plus

L'hôtel est traditionnel avec une décoration typiquement montagnarde. Les chambres sont très propres , le personnel gentil et le petit déjeuner satisfaisant. La vue sur la vallée est spendide et passer quelques jours dans ce petit village est ressourçant et apaisant. Point de départ de belles randonnées.

Moins

“Charming hotel in a beautiful mountain valley setting”

This hotel sits on a hillside overlooking a beautiful valley. It is easily accessible by bus from the train station in Domodossola, and is the perfect spot to experience the simple charms of northern Italy’s mountain villages. The owner, an amicable native whose father also ran this hotel, is hap... Plus

This hotel sits on a hillside overlooking a beautiful valley. It is easily accessible by bus from the train station in Domodossola, and is the perfect spot to experience the simple charms of northern Italy’s mountain villages. The owner, an amicable native whose father also ran this hotel, is happy to accommodate guests in every way and proud to show off attractions throughout the commune of Bognanco. We spent one night as part of a vacation itinerary from Milan to Neuchatel and were completely satisfied. Our room was clean and quiet, the WiFi was excellent, the several common areas are pleasant, and the hotel is filled with interesting decor. The classic Italian dishes we ordered, risotto and gnocchi, were excellent. There is also a full bar and, of course, an espresso machine. Sipping a local beer or a macchiato on the terrace is the perfect finish to a morning spent at the spa or wandering the many hiking paths. The next village up the hill, Boco, deserves special mention as an attraction. Almost every building has a painting or sculpture or other piece of art on the walls, and the residents are happy to let tourists wander through and take photos. It is clear from the many renovations we saw that the valley is making an effort to welcome visitors with modern but still classic accommodations of every type. If you want Italian alpine charm at its best, Bognanco is the perfect place and the Hotel Edelweiss is an excellent base from which to explore.

Moins

“Amiable welcome at a step back in time”

Driving back from central Italy we wanted an overnight stop before crossing the Simplon Pass. The Edelweiss was apparently just off the main road at Domodossola and given the area we assumed it was in a winter sports resort. In fact Bognanco [as its precise name should have told us] is a somewhat... Plus

Driving back from central Italy we wanted an overnight stop before crossing the Simplon Pass. The Edelweiss was apparently just off the main road at Domodossola and given the area we assumed it was in a winter sports resort. In fact Bognanco [as its precise name should have told us] is a somewhat old fashioned small spa town that straggles down the steep and winding mountain road. Whilst that didn't particularly influence the physical nature of the Edelweiss, except that is for the lift and the spa treatments, it certainly had consequences for the clientele who were clearly there for the waters. It was still a little bit early for the peak season, the hotel occupancy was light and the surrounding village was quiet. However we had no complaints about the Hotel which was tidy and organised with splendid views down the valley from the two reasonably sized if slightly basic rooms we occupied. There was certainly no noise apart from the chimes from the very adjacent small church at eight in both the evening and morning. After a heavy night the latter might have been a bit intrusive but I doubt whether there are many heavy nights at the Edelweiss and in any event with glorious weather and a splendid view it was no hardship to hear the bells. We ate in the evening from a very short menu and the food was straightforward but with plenty of flavour. My bucatini amatriciana was a good a pasta dish as I ate on this holiday and the meat main courses were neatly done too. Breakfast was conventionally continental and a bit uninspiring but as it came with the room we were happy enough. All of this was provided by what I took to be a husband and wife team who could not have been more pleasant and keen to please so the stay left us feeling positive. Would I recommend it? That would depend on why you wanted to be in Bognanco. If taking the waters is your thing then this would be excellent and I guess it might not be a bad base for walking. However as a stopover it is probably a little too far of the main road although its location is compensation. Be prepared for a curiously dated experience though. Though the hotel itself is quite modern the clientele were not and from the old posters on display the spa itself probably dates back to the end of the nineteenth century when its curative possibilities were perhaps more heavily valued. Still we felt it was decent value for money and enjoyed both the honest hospitality and the slight quirkiness.

Moins