Travel | Chicisms

A Stay at Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy

We’ve moved! Read more on our new site: The Tasteful Traveler.

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When you think of Lake Como, what do you see? Boat rides down a beautifully blue lake? George Clooney’s house? That sparkling floating pool with orange and white umbrellas you always see in photos?

That floating pool belongs to Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, and it is an exquisite place to stay while you are exploring the gorgeous area of Lake Como. Read on for an in-depth review of our stay to see if the Grand is the hotel for you on your next Lake Como trip.

A view of Lake Como, Italy and the floating pool from Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy

The Property:

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is located on the shores of a little town called Tremezzo, directly across the lake from Bellagio. You’ll find Villa Carlotta (a botanical garden and museum) a four minute walk away, as well as two ferry stops (for Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo) a two or four minute walk away, respectively, so you can easily get to where you need to go if you choose to explore Tremezzo and neighboring towns around the lake.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is indeed grand. It gives off vibes reminiscent of the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the grounds are gorgeous. There are three pools – one of which is that gorgeous floating pool you see in photos, a few places to dine, a private beach, and luxurious rooms to stay in.

There are multiple ways to get to the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, making it easy to reach. The hotel is located about 80 km (50 miles) away from Milan’s airports MXP and LIN so you can drive, or take the train from Milan to Como, and hop on the ferry to Tremezzo. The hotel can also arrange car transfers for you (either from Milan or the Como train station).

View of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy, from the floating pool.

View of Grand Hotel Tremezzo from the floating pool.

The Room(s):

Grand Hotel Tremezzo offers a mix of park view and lake view rooms (they’re offered as ‘prestige’ or ‘deluxe’ rooms – more on that later), as well as suites, rooftop suites, and a villa to rent.

If you’re just looking at the rooms and want a stunning view of the lake, make sure to book the Lake View rooms.

We had booked one night in the Park View Prestige Room, and another night in the Lake View Prestige Room. On arrival, we were lucky enough to have both rooms upgraded so we got to spend a night in both the Lake View Prestige Room and the Lake View View Deluxe room.

Both these Lake View Prestige and Deluxe rooms obviously offered gorgeous lake views, but had a few differences (aside from price):

Lake View Prestige: rooms located in the middle of the Grand, have balconies with views of the lake, and have king or twin beds
Lake View Deluxe: are the corner rooms of the Grand building (so there are more floor-to-ceiling windows), and also have a balcony with views of the lake, and have king or twin beds

The Deluxe rooms is a little bit larger than the Prestige, and that square footage is stretched across the whole room – the bathrooms have double sinks vs one sink in the Prestige, and there’s a bit more space for lounging in the main room. Both types of rooms are absolutely gorgeous so you really can’t go wrong, but if you’re looking for a bit more space and windows, choose the Deluxe.

Lake View Deluxe room at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

General booking room tip: When placing your reservation, ask for a room on a higher floor if available. This will help give you those gorgeous views, and you’ll be farther from street traffic.

View from the Lake View Deluxe room at Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

The Food:

Breakfast at the hotel is a must. Not only because it’s included in your stay, but because the offerings are delicious and the seating with a view of the lake can’t be beat.

Breakfast is set up like a buffet in what seems like a vast ballroom, and you’ll find hotel staff on hand ready to help serve you whatever you’d like from the buffet.

As far as the actual food goes, there’s a wide variety to choose from. There are multiples kinds of local cheeses and meats, as well as hard- and soft-boiled eggs options (as in you can choose from a 3-minute boiled egg, or a 6- or 9- minute boiled egg). You’ll also find different types of pastries, breads, cookies, fruit, and chocolates.

A plate from the breakfast buffet at Grand Hotel Tremezzo

There are a total of five bars/restaurants that you can dine at on the property, all offering a range of food:

T Pizza: This is located behind the property, next to the Flower Pool and offers a few appetizers, salads and, of course, pizzas.
T Bar: For a casual bite to eat, head over to T Bar which offers lunch and dinner on the terrace with a view of the lake.
Giacomo al Lago: This is the lakeside restaurant located in the midst of The Grand’s private beach and next to the floating pool. Food here was delicious (and my favorite out of the three places we tried on the property including T Bar and L’Escale). Get an aperol spritz, a bite to eat and take in the sunshine.
L’Escale Trattoria and Wine Bar: We had a lackluster experience here – both with the service and food. Could’ve been an off night, but I would recommend eating at the other restaurants on the property rather than at L’Escale.
La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi: For fine dining on the property, make sure to go here and make a reservation in advance. (We unfortunately didn’t get to have a meal here as we didn’t have a reservation). This restaurant serves up some of late chef Marchesi’s signature dishes, including his famous saffron risotto topped with a 23-karat gold leaf.

Lunch at Giacomo al Lago, at Grand Hotel Tremezzo

The Amenities:

You can easily spend a day exploring the grounds of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo itself – from the three pools, the private beach, the spa, the gardens, and the tennis court.

A view of the Flowers Pool at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

A view of the Flowers Pool at Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

If you’re in search of something more, the concierge team will happily set up excursions for you (including cooking classes, walks and more).

Read more on our new website: The Tasteful Traveler

Leila2024-07-03T15:07:22-07:00April 14th, 2023|Categories: Travel|Tags: grand hotel tremezzo, hotel, italy, lake como, summer travel, Travel, vacation|0 Comments

A Stay at The Harbor House Inn in Elk, California

Top 8 Travel Tips for Japan

Japan is nothing short of a wonderland. The food is excellent, the cities are extremely clean and there’s so much to see and do!

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, or even thinking about visiting, below are 8 travel tips that I found the most helpful on a recent trip to the country.

1. Pocket Wi-Fi will be your best purchase. Before you take off on your flight, order a pocket wi-fi and pick it up at the airport once you land in Japan. Pocket wi-fi is extremely helpful because it’s portable, runs on battery, and lets you access wi-fi from your mobile devices almost anywhere. This is great when you’re trying to navigate a completely new city (and country!) since you’ll be able to use Google Maps and an internet browser to look up places to go, while on the go.

We used Pupuru Wi-Fi and had no complaints. It lasted almost all day (8-9 hours) on a full charge while we were out exploring.

2. Walk or take public transportation. Japan’s public transportation system is amazing — it’s always on time, so clean and makes traveling within the country simple. I strongly suggest you take the subway, trains, or even just walk around. Walking from place to place gives you the opportunity to explore all the neighborhoods and hidden alleyways with bars/restaurants/shops that you probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise.

3. Bring a plastic bag with you for trash. I don’t think we saw one public trash can as we walked through five cities in Japan. The country is extremely clean, but you probably won’t find a trash can out in the open (you will find vending machines, but that’s another story). As you’re walking through the cities, you’ll probably accumulate some trash from shops, food vendors and more, so bring along a small plastic baggie like a ziploc bag with you to throw them away while you’re on the go. You can throw all of this away in a convenience store or at your hotel/Airbnb at the end of the day.

4. Purchase a Japan Rail Pass. If you’re planning to hop from city to city and take the shinkansen, purchase a Japan Rail Pass. It was about $278 USD per person (at the time of this post) for a 7-day pass and you can use your rail pass to pay for any JR train (except the Mizuho and Nozomi Shinkansen). You’ll need to purchase the pass before you arrive in Japan, so buy it at home before your trip.

Cost-wise, it made more sense to purchase the JR Pass instead of purchasing individual train tickets separately, especially if you plan on taking the Shinkansen.

5. Bring cash! Japan is predominately a cash-only economy, so make sure to bring extra cash with you. This may have shifted slightly during the pandemic as cashless payments became more popular, but I’d still err on the side of bringing some cash just in case.

Especially if you’re planning on strolling through markets, street vendors, and eating ramen. You’ll be reaching for your yen and coins instead of a card more than you know.

Speaking of coins, it’s helpful to bring a little coin pouch with you (or buy one in Japan). I’ve never used coins as much as I did in Japan and having them all in one pouch made it much easier for purchases.

6. Convenience stores are great in Japan. I never thought I would recommend anyone to walk into a 7-Eleven but here we go. There was at least one convenience store (or ‘konbini’) on every couple of blocks – the most popular ones you’ll see are 7-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart.

But the thing is, the convenience stores in Japan aren’t just like your 7-Eleven in the states. The konbini are actually enjoyable, and even fun to be in. You’ll find the usual items in a Japanese convenient store like chips, toothbrushes and drinks, but you’ll find so many interesting options for all of those products. You can also stop in to grab a quick bite to eat, with items like freshly made rice balls (onigiri), sandwiches and pastries.

They also have ATMs where you can exchange or withdraw money (helpful for tip #5!).

7. Lockers at Train Stations. Most of the train stations in Japan have coin lockers that you can stash your backpack or suitcases in. This is incredibly helpful if you’re traveling between cities and need a place to put your bag down so you can explore the city before checking into your hotel or Airbnb.

Depending on how large your locker is, they only cost about 300 – 500 yen for the day. It’s as easy as finding an open locker, dropping your stuff in it, locking it, and paying for the locker. Just remember where your locker is since the train stations are pretty large.

8. Train stations are malls. If you have no where to be, getting lost in a train station isn’t such a bad idea. The train stations are so large and inside you’ll find grocery stores, great food to take out, clothing stores and so much more. Major train stations also have a shopping area that’s multiple floors (we’re talking 8 or 9). It’s really just incredible to be in the middle of it all.

Any other tips or thoughts? Let me know in the comments. Happy traveling!

Leila2022-02-02T19:56:07-08:00January 10th, 2022|Categories: Travel|Tags: japan, Travel|0 Comments

A Stay at the St. Regis Bora Bora

We’ve moved! Read more about our stay on our new site: The Tasteful Traveler.

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A trip to Bora Bora is really nothing but paradise. And if you’re looking for a place to stay, and want to live the overwater bungalow life, the St. Regis Bora Bora is the place to go.

Let’s break it down.

The Resort:

When you think St. Regis, you think luxury. And that’s exactly what you get at the St. Regis Bora Bora.

The resort property is huge and you can get around via walking, biking or by calling for a golf cart pickup/dropoff. The overwater villas are also some of the largest in the South Pacific, starting at 1,550 square feet so space is never an issue.

The property also has a Lagoonarium (pictured below) which is the St. Regis Bora Bora’s protected lagoon that hosts a myriad of fish, including a very large Napoleon fish named Terry. Guests are also able to snorkel in this lagoon so you can experience it all up close.

I highly recommend you go to the Lagoonarium for the scheduled fish feeding – it is informative and so fun to see all the types of fish and experience a feeding frenzy.

Even if you visit the St. Regis Bora Bora at peak time (like we did), you’ll find that it’ll feel like you have the resort to yourself. The most people you’ll see will be at breakfast when every one comes out for a few bites, but after that, you likely won’t run into many people. The beach will feel like it’s all yours.

The Room:

We stayed in the Overwater Deluxe Otemanu Villa thanks to an upgrade, and I just have to say that these villas are gorgeous. These deluxe Otemanu villas are facing Mount Otemanu so you get gorgeous views of the mountain and the sunset.

These villas are very spacious, and have an indoor lounge/living room space that’s separate from the bedroom. Both the living room and bedroom have floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to the outdoor terrace and dining space so you can wake up looking at the gorgeous turquoise waters.

The Amenities:

The St. Regis Bora Bora offers butler service and it is exceptional. From picking you up in a golf cart from the lobby and driving you to your bungalow, helping schedule and manage dinner reservations (and arranging pickup), and even getting your floatie blown up. They’ll check in with you when you’re at breakfast to make sure you have everything you need and talk about your day, and they’ll make sure you’re having a great time. The butlers are so incredibly nice and helpful, and really round out your experience at the St. Regis.

As mentioned above, you can get around the property via bike and that’s because each bungalow comes with complimentary bikes. They’re assigned to your villa number which is great so you don’t have to be on the lookout for a bike to grab at any given point (this is a real thing at some of the other Bora Bora resorts).

The overwater villas also offer in-room coffee/tea service. Just dial the number on the bungalow’s phone and arrange for a french press coffee and/or tea to come over the next morning and they’ll set it up where ever you’d like to enjoy it (highly recommend enjoying out on your deck so you can stare out at the water).

The Food:

When you’re staying at a resort in Bora Bora that’s not on the mainland (whether that’s the St. Regis or elsewhere), you’ll likely be eating a bulk of your meals at the resort. Which means restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines and types of food is good to have so you don’t get tired of eating the same thing every day (especially if you’re staying at that one resort for 3+ days), and good food is obviously always a must have. Luckily, the St. Regis Bora Bora has it all with five restaurants on site.

Te Pahu is an open-air restaurant located right next to the beach, and it’s where breakfast is served. Breakfast is typically a buffet, but in these times of Covid all dishes were on a menu that we could choose from and then they were brought to our table.

The St. Regis Bora Bora also hosts a Polynesian night on Wednesdays and an Indian night on Sundays at Te Pahu. Both are a treat but Polynesian night is great as you get to experience the delicious local cuisine and a Tamure dance show. Get there early for a seat at the front!

If there’s one restaurant at the resort that you absolutely must go to for dinner, it’s the Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges. This restaurant by the michelin-starred chef serves elegant French-Asian fusion cuisine in a dining room that’s set on the water and has glass panels in the floor so you can take a peek at the fish swimming underneath your feet.

The service is impeccable and all of the food is absolutely delicious. Try the five-course tasting menu and opt to be surprised with each delicious course, or choose dishes a la carte (or go twice like we did and get the tasting menu one night, and a la carte the next time. The uravena fish is highly recommended – pictured below). Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

(A hot tip: before your dinner reservation, go to the Lagoon restaurant for sunset and sit outside with a cocktail and appetizers in hand. The views are gorgeous from this spot).

Other restaurants on the resort include:

Bam Boo which features sushi, wok and teppanyaki dishes for dinner,
Far Niente which has Italian cuisine for dinner, and
Aparima Bar for lunch dishes, smoothies and more.

Don’t forget room service! If you’re staying in an overwater villa and prefer to lounge in your room and jump off the deck into the ocean all day (who could blame you?), order room service which is just as delightful as eating out at the restaurants.

The Verdict:

Is the St. Regis Bora Bora really worth a stay? If you’re wanting gorgeous overwater bungalows with stunning views of Mt. Otemanu, exceptional butler service, delicious food, and a gorgeous beach to lounge around in, in addition to other amenities – absolutely. I would go back to the St. Regis Bora Bora any day.

Need to think about what to pack for your trip? Check out the packing list here.

Happy traveling!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means if you buy something, my blog will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Leila2023-09-27T11:07:15-07:00January 6th, 2022|Categories: Food, Travel|Tags: bora bora, french polynesia, st. regis bora bora, Travel, vacation|0 Comments

What to Pack for Bora Bora

Planning a trip to Bora Bora? Outside of the usual things that you already know to pack (like swimsuits, flip flops, your toiletries), there are a few more things that you should definitely bring with you.

Sunscreen – and lots of it!

Many of the resorts have sunscreen available at the beach, free to use, but it’s always a good idea to bring a few reef-safe sunscreen packages with you (depending on how long you’re staying in Bora Bora) so you have it when you go on any excursions, in your room, etc.

My all-time favorite face sunscreen is this EltaMD UV Physical SPF 41 sunscreen. It’s a mineral-based sunscreen (meaning it uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide instead of other chemicals) for UVA/UVB protection, is fragrance free, oil-free and water-resistant. It’s also lightly tinted so is great by itself or under makeup (and yes, the tinted version is totally fine for men).

Some other great reef-friendly options are below.

Insect Repellant

Even if the resorts treat their properties for mosquitos, it’s always a good idea to pack insect repellant for a tropical destination. Especially if you’re going on any land excursions in Bora Bora, like ATV-ing, hiking, etc.

The insect repellant I always pack when traveling is the below Repel insect repellant wipes. It’s so convenient to carry around and apply whenever you need! Plus it really works – it held up in Thailand and the nights I remembered to use it in Bora Bora.

Worst case scenario if you get multiple mosquito bites while traveling, try to hunt down tamanu balm. One of the locals recommended it to me at the St. Regis Bora Bora store on the resort and it helped tremendously with bites, cuts, you name it. Tamanu oil/balm originates in French Polynesia and has been a staple in their traditional medicine. It’s basically good for everything – cuts, burns, insect bites, sunburns, dry skin, and the list goes on.

Snorkel Mask Set

If you’re planning on snorkeling, you’ll find that many of the resorts (and excursion companies) have free snorkel masks and fins that they’re happy to provide. My tip is – bring your own snorkel mask and use the resort’s/excursion company’s flippers. Why? Because having a clean snorkel mask that you already know fits nicely, and has only been used by you and your mouth is key.

I bought the below snorkel mask set and loved it while we were in Bora Bora. The frameless mask gives you 180° viewing, and it is truly crystal clear, anti-fog and anti-leak.

Waterproof Dry Bag

If you’re planning on going on any water excursions (or even land excursions), pack a dry bag. This waterproof bag lets you store all your items away safely, no matter what you’re doing. We took our dry bag with us while on an ATV, a jet ski and our snorkeling adventures. (It also lasted through a trip to Thailand that was spent kayaking so it’s definitely durable). Needless to say, our phones, camera, etc. were safe and sound after tropical rain and a lot of waves.

Plastic Floatie

If you’re staying in an overwater bungalow, bring a plastic pool float in your travel bag so you can hop off your deck, and lounge about in the ocean any time you please. Your resort should be able to blow it up for you when asked, and nothing beats relaxing right off of your bungalow. It’s also a good idea to bring some rope so you’re able to tie the floatie to your bungalow outside when not in use (so it doesn’t float or fly away).

Water Shoes

There is coral everywhere, so it’s a good idea to make sure your feet are protected regardless of whether you’re going snorkeling or just walking from the beach into the ocean. That’s where water shoes come in. The ones I’m about to recommend below were tried and tested over a two week trip, so they’re reliable and get the job done. Not only do they protect your feet in the water, but they’re extremely versatile and comfortable. We wore these all the time while at the beach, when snorkeling, and even when we had an ATV trip followed by jet skis.

For women, these Speedo water shoes were the best. For men, the ALEADER slip on water shoes are also look pretty good. Some other great water shoe options below.