Relax and enjoy our lakeside resort of Cadennabia and the Fully Inclusive arrangement at our lakeside hotel. We’ve included a visit to breathtaking Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands and there’s also a chance to travel on an unforgettable journey on the famous Bernina Express railway to visit St. Moritz.
We are delighted to feature the superb Britannia Excelsior Hotel, which is one of the most popular hotels on Lake Como. An historical 19th century hotel, built and furnished in traditional Italian style, today it is owned and managed by the Whieldon family who extend a warm welcome to all their guests.
The hotel is situated in an enviable position directly across the road from the lakeside in Cadenabbia, and has stunning views over the lake to Bellagio. It’s just 50 metres from the boat landing stage, where regular ferries and steamers stop to take you to all Lake Como’s towns and beauty spots.
The 3 star Britannia Excelsior has spacious and comfortable public areas and beautifully decorated lounges, a well stocked bar, a large restaurant featuring “show cooking” islands and an outdoor sun terrace with commanding views over the lake. All of the 280 en-suite bedrooms are comfortably furnished and feature air conditioning/heating, ceiling fan, hairdryer, telephone, ’fridge, safe and satellite TV.
Accommodation is reserved on an ‘All Inclusive’ basis, with hot and cold buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Free local brand spirits, wines, beers, soft drinks, tea and coffee are served between 10.30am and midnight.
Room Upgrades
Prices are based on standard Comfort twin bedrooms. Comfort rooms with a lake view and/or a balcony are available at a supplement. Standard Deluxe rooms and Deluxe rooms with a balcony and/or a lake view are also available at a supplement. Please note that the difference between Comfort and Deluxe rooms relates to the furnishings/decor and not the size of the room.
Water Shuttle
A water shuttle service across the lake to Bellagio is offered by the hotel and is free of charge to Mistral guests. The shuttle operates at varying times during the day in the summer season, usually from mid May to mid September (subject to weather conditions).
Hotel Lakeside Lido
The hotel’s Lido Beach Club, just 100 metres from the hotel, is where from late April until mid September, you can soak up the sun by the large swimming pool. There is also a bar serving the free “all inclusive” drinks (excluding spirits) during the daytime. Mistral guests also enjoy a 20% discount at the Lido’s a la carte restaurant.
We leave from selected local departure points and take an early afternoon crossing from Dover to Calais and on to our hotel in northern France.
Continuing our journey after breakfast, we travel south through France and across Switzerland to Italy and our lakeside resort of Cadenabbia, arriving in the early evening, where we stay for six nights on a ‘Fully Inclusive” basis.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we travel to Lake Maggiore and the main resort of Stresa, with its lovely lakeside setting facing the beautiful Borromean Islands. We take a cruise over to Isola Bella where you can visit its beautiful Palazzo stately home and elegant Italianate gardens where its famous white peacocks roam (payable locally), before continuing by boat to Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island). We then cruise back to Stresa with time at leisure before returning to our hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is at leisure to relax in the comfortable surroundings of our hotel. Or perhaps take the water shuttle service from the hotel across the lake to Bellagio – it’s free of charge to Mistral guests. The shuttle operates at varying times during the day in the summer season, usually from mid May to mid September (subject to weather conditions).
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, for our guests who have pre-booked, our optional excursion takes us on one of the great railway journeys in the world and also visits the world famous resort of St Moritz in Switzerland.
Our day begins when we travel by coach to St. Moritz, where we will have some free time before we board the Bernina Regional Railway at Diavolezza. Sit back and enjoy the spectacular journey through the Swiss Alps and the unspoilt beauty of the Bernina Pass on what is one of the highest railway lines in Europe. As we approach the Swiss / Italian border, we travel over the amazing Brusio viaduct, which is a single-track nine-arched stone spiral railway viaduct, opened in 1908. Since 2008 the viaduct, along with the rest of the line, has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the Great Railway Journey’s in the World. We then arrive in Tirano, a quaint Italian town, where we spend a short amount of free time before returning to our hotel. On some dates the train journey will be in reverse, from Tirano to St. Moritz.
Our optional excursions really do enhance your holiday. The rail journey is very popular and this excursion must be pre-booked, at the time you book the holiday. Payment doesn’t have to be made until the final balance due date. £50 per person
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning visit Como town and its bustling open-air market. As well as the street market, Como has a really good shopping centre. If shops are not for you then the lakeside promenade, with its gardens and pavement cafes, is the area to head for. This afternoon we drive back along the western shore of the lake, making a stop in one or two of the delightful lakeside villages.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Another day where you are able to do as much - or as little - as you please. There are so many amenities to enjoy at our hotel, or perhaps visit the nearby Villa Carlotta or take a lake cruise by steamer or ferry for a different view of the shoreline, which is dotted with stunning villas and summer homes.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We travel back to northern France for our overnight stay.
Included meal: Breakfast
We arrive home
Included meal: Breakfast
Bernina Express Railway and St. Moritz. This is a very popular excursion and must be booked in advance – it cannot be booked in resort. £50 per person.