In October, four lovely journalists and I spent four days in Italy with R Collection. We stayed at Grand Hotel Bristol, Portofino and Grand Hotel Victoria, Lake Como, where we enjoyed afternoon aperitivos, stunning views and delicious Italian cuisine..
Nestled on the Ligurian coast, Grand Hotel Bristol in Rapallo is a stunning example of Italian grandeur and seaside tranquility. After arriving at the hotel and settling into our amazing rooms with views of the Portofino coast, we enjoyed an evening of cocktails from the Silk Bar and wandered around the NUAR Gallery, followed by a delicious tasting menu at Le Cupole.
The following day we ventured into the beautiful town of Portofino, where we had coffee at Dolce & Gabbana’s café, before walking up to the Castello, where the view of the colourful harbourside town is unmatched. For lunch we stopped at Portofino’s staple restaurant, Da I Gemelli before enjoying an Aperol Spritz overlooking the water.
From the Ligurian coast, we then journeyed north to spectacular Lake Como, where we checked into the Grand Hotel Victoria in the picturesque town of Menaggio. This 5-star hotel is a perfect blend of history and luxury and the spacious suites are unlike any other.
At the hotel we relaxed in the ERRE Spa, where we made sure to try everything, including saunas, steam rooms,the whirlpool tub, salt room and Kneipp Path before experiencing one of the signature treatments. We spent the evening at the hotel’s beach club, Victoria Beach, sampling the most amazing Italian dishes from pizza to fresh seafood.
On our final day in the dazzling Lake Como area, we took the ferry to Varenna, where we wandered through the gorgeous Italian town and had our breath taken away by the stunning lake views. Back at the hotel we enjoyed a cooking class, learning to make homemade pasta, pesto and tiramisu (we still haven’t decided who the best chef was!).
After an amazing final dinner at Lago Restaurant, we spent the evening discussing the highlights of our trip and wishing we had another four days to spend at the R Collection properties.
