If you have Friday-Sunday and ££££ = Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
Stunning lakes, wine, men and all the pasta you can eat. Really, what’s not to like?
CHECK-IN
First things first: Take hand luggage to avoid the epic Italian baggage queues. Next up: Grab an Uber out of Linate and get them to stop en route at the amazing Marni outlet (via Filippo Tajani) for any last-minute outfits you need to supplement your capsule Como wardrobe. (FYI: Tremezzo is well-attired. This is the place to bring that dress you bought at the Harrods sale in 2008, wondering, as you handed over your credit card, where on earth you would ever wear such a thing.) Como is an hour’s drive away, traffic dependent, but it’s very scenic – make sure your phone is fully charged. You’ll
get in just in time for a late lunch on the terrace. Follow this with an ESPA massage at the T Spa, before claiming one of the sofas in the opulent relaxation room.
GET BUSY
Set your alarm and go for a dawn swim. Tremezzo’s floating pool is a thing of beauty, slap bang in the middle of the lake. Grab a take-out breakfast before heading to Villa Carlotta next door, whose botanical gardens will make you weep at the state of yours back home. Next, take the ferry, a few minutes’ stroll from Tremezzo, which will take you to the scenic town of Bellagio. Grab lunch at Bar Caffé Rossi, buy a silk scarf, take a picture of Tremezzo from the other side of the lake and whizz back. If you’re feeling up for it, sneak in a quick game of tennis on Tremezzo’s clay court before dinner at L’Escale Trattoria & Wine Bar. Here, you’ll drink the finest Rossinis in Italy. Warning: may lead to a belief you can speak Italian after one too many.
CHECK-OUT
Take a walk along the lake, then pop to the shops on the water’s edge. Grab luxury Marvis toothpaste from the chemist (a third of the price that it is at home); Rummo dried pasta from the corner shop (you can only find this in top-notch delis in the UK); and the best bamboo bed linen made for Tremezzo from their shop. Today is a pool day – lucky, as this hotel has three. Then dry off and head back home.
Three nights, B&B, at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, with return flights, from £1,299; Classic-collection.co.uk