If there’s one thing that can really make a difference to a holiday it’s the food served at the hotel. And did this hotel make a difference.

Breakfast was a buffet with more things on offer than I knew existed. Hot dishes. Viennoiserie. Cakes. Cereals, Juices. Breads. Fresh fruit… the list goes on.

Evening meals were 4 courses of Italian deliousness, the second course (usually a choice of soup or a pasta) were both served, making for a 5 course blow out.

In total there were 30 dishes served, one not my taste and 2 not particularly well made. A 90% victory for the chef.

Every dinner was served by uniformed waiters who would arrange a substitute if needed. For example, Margaret doesn’t eat fish. The substitutes were at least as good!

Apart from the hotel, the waterfronts at every small town around the lake are numerous pavement cafés serving drinks and cakes. Many are good for lunch. At one, on the Baveno promenade, we ordered 2 calzoni. Based on price, we were expecting a “light” lunch. We were served items large enough to feed a Gurkha regiment just back from a route march, stuffed to the gunwales with ham and cheese. They were magnificent - we were not defeated!!