We ventured down to Brissago as part of our two week family holiday touring Switzerland, and decided upon the Riva Bella partly because my first choice was fully booked and partly because the manager responded quickly to my email.

I was hoping for a nice, little hotel and was a little apprehensive as I knew so little of the property and even less of the town.

Lady Luck smiled on us and we were really blessed in our choice, as well with the brilliant weather that we enjoyed during our stay there.

We had booked by email directly with the hotel and Ugo, whose family owns the property, responded warmly and promptly.

We took the 316 bus from Locarno train station and got off after about 30 minutes at the Brissago Posta bus stop less than 200 metres from the hotel, which was easy to find and perched by the side further along the road on a slope down to the lake. The reception, along with some rooms, is thus on floor 2, with a floor of rooms below on 1... more