Baita Cao

no room with lake view as booked owner said water undrinkable and was angry when i did not buy water or a meal considering the trouble of getting there regret not going elsewhere as not value for money no tv wifi in room no signal

We arrived at the Capanna after having driven down from Holland the same morning, and got rather lost on the incredibly narrow and windy road up to Brunate. At one point we got so stuck we didn't think there was any option other than to reverse the car all the way up a single track road. We finally arrived at about 10.30pm, the owner was very smiley and welcoming, and made us some sandwiches as we were so hungry. Our room was very clean and cosy, the toilet opposite our room and the shower at the end of the corridoor were exceptionally clean. Breakfast was of the same standard as our 4 star Rome hotel - a good selection of pastries, toast, jams and nuttella, juice and coffee or hot chocolate and cheese and meats - very nice. A very lovely view of Lake Como from the outside seating area. We would highly reccommend the Capanna - just be well prepared for the drive up there!!

The hotel is quite basic but extremely clean- new showers and the rooms are cleaned everyday. The couple who runs the hotel are such nice people and they pampered to all our fancies. The breakfast is hearty with plenty of freshly made coffee, juice, croissants, fresh bread, cheese and ham (yum!), and jam and honey. The location of the B&B is one of the best on the lake or one of the worst - depending on what you are after. They are perched on the very top of the mountain that towers over Como. You get absolutely stunning views of the lake and it is so peaceful up there. The location is perfect if you want to do some hiking as there are hiking paths leading right from the hotel across the peaks all the way to Bellaggio. Having extolled the views and the peace you get up in Brunate, I have to mention the extremely windy and extremely narrow road that leads up there. If you're planning on staying up in Brunate for most of your stay than this isn't a problem, but if you, like us, have a car and want to explore the lake, you have to take into acount 1/2 hr spent going down and then up the mountain. The Lonely Planet guide says that once you've driven from Como to Bellagio, you can drive anywhere in the world. Well, they obviously hadn't driven up to Brunate. The drive to Bellagio is really quite easy in comparison with the Brunate climb. But I have to say it gets easier everyday as you get used to the roads. My boyfriend was driving like an Italian at the end of the holidays:)