Relais Castello di Morcote

My husband and I recently spent two nights at Relais Castello di Morcote. We were on our way to Italy, but I had been wanting to visit the Lugano area. It's a lucky thing I noticed this hotel advertised. It's just the kind of place we enjoy. This hotel used to be a convent, and it's located in a unique mountainside location that overlooks Lake Lugano. Guests are allowed to walk through the vineyards owned by the hotel's winery. There are castle ruins there, and if you're there on a sunny day, you are rewarded with beautiful views of the lake. You can also visit the ruins. We enjoyed our room, which had its own yard, and was handicapped accessible. We didn't need the handicapped facilities, but it's good to know they exist. There's an honesty bar, where guests can try the wines and enjoy coffee, tea, and a pastry. We also liked the restaurant, where we had dinner and were gifted a bottle of the hotel's rose in celebration of International Women's Day. We ended up buying six bottles to take home with us. I wish we'd bought more. Breakfast was generous, and the lady serving it was so friendly and kind. She made perfect cappuccinos. My one complaint was that at dinner, I found the chair I was sitting on a bit uncomfortable. However, the restaurant has benches that were better. I used those at breakfast. We also enjoyed a generous cold cut platter on Sunday night, as the restaurant wasn't open. The parking situation was confusing at first, as there is a private parking area that is closer to the hotel than the hotel's parking (by the church) is. But once we got that sorted out, it was fine. Our visit happened to be at the tail end of the off season, so we didn't get to try all of the hotel's features. But if we're ever back in the Lugano/Vico Morcote area, I would definitely want to stay again. Next time, I'll be sure to get a room with a lake view!

Arrival by car is generally advisable, but for the adventurous and physically fit, public transit is also a possibility. We arrived by train from Zurich with a transfer in Lugano to Melide. From there, we took the bus to Vico Morcote. Be aware that bus service to this tiny Ticinese village is limited. Taxis are also available from Lugano. The Relais Castello di Morcote is a uniquely special, beautifully designed, very romantic boutique hotel. It is ideally suited for couples, and those who are looking to unwind, unplug, hike, and get in touch with nature (those looking for a pool and entertainment would be better served in Lugano). We stayed in a super quiet room with a private garden at the back of the hotel (an added benefit was the mini-fridge in our particular room). The privacy would lend itself well to meditation, reading, or yoga practice. Dining at the hotel restaurant and the Alpe Vicania restaurant further up the hill are highly recommended. A shuttle service is provided to and from Alpe Vicania by making an advance reservation at the hotel. The creative food and attentive service at both locations added a special touch to our overall experience. Breakfast was fantastic, too! Vico Morcote itself is a tiny town of 300+ inhabitants. It boasts a vineyard and castello worth visiting. The path meandering up to the castello is lined with magnificent olive trees, scented wildflowers and herbs, and grape vines. From the lush grounds of the castello, the panoramic views of the lake and the Italian town of Porto Ceresio are spectacular. Wine tastings and a tour of the wine making operation are available at the vineyard by making a reservation at the hotel. We highly recommend it! For those traveling on public transit, be aware that the two dining options available in Vico Morcote are both closed on Mondays. Food markets are not available, and the only choice is to descend down the hill to Morcote proper, a steep walk that takes about 20 minutes (there is no bus from Vico Morcote to Morcote proper). Climbing back uphill takes closer to 30-40 minutes. If requested, the hotel will make a dinner reservation in advance. On our walk that day, it was raining and a bit stormy, something to keep in mind when planning your trip. Without access to a car, you may want to avoid staying on a Monday unless you're okay with a walk in any condition. With that said, we enjoyed our daily hikes and looked forward to climbing uphill to peace and quiet at the end of each day! In terms of excursions, we took the 10am bus to Lugano on several occasions. From there, we toured Lugano, or took the boat to Porto Ceresio, Italy, for lunch. Similarly, we took the boat from Lugano to Gandria, where we walked the olive trail. Since buses to Vico Morcote are limited with a big gap in mid-day service, we opted to take the bus or ship back to Morcote proper from Lugano. In Morcote, we toured the Parco Scherrer and the highly recommended Church of Santa Maria del Sasso. At the

It's taken a while for me to post this review because it's difficult to find the right words to do it justice. My husband and I fell in love with this property from the moment we arrived. There is a peaceful energy in this ancient converted convent. No expense was spared during renovations to created a highly styled yet homey and comfortable experience. Each room is unique (I was fortunate to see 4 rooms) with all the plush amenities you could possibly need. The staff are incredible and eager to elevate guests' experiences in any way they can. The food both at dinner (al fresco under a full moon) and breakfast was delicious. We brought home a couple souvenir bottles of sublime Olive Oil and Honey from the property- and enjoyed multiple bottles of the delicious wine from the Tentuta (estate). We were very excited to learn that they are in the process of adding a pool and spa to the property. The bonus, as hotel guest, of having access to the Castle and vineyards put this property in a league of its own. I've read a couple reviews with concerns about the walk from and to town. For us, this was part of the charm and added to the overall experience. How often are you able to walk under a fragrant canopy of chestnut and olive trees with a view of one of the most iconic lakes in the world- to consider this a negative or inconvenience seems irreverent- after all, this is a medieval village. I'm not overstating it when I say that staying at the Relais Castello De Morcote will remain one of the great experiences of my life. To the staff and owner- thank you for your hospitality and for creating such a unique experience- Your efforts are appreciated and we loved every second of our stay!