Aria Retreat And Spa

The rooms are very nicely appointed and the location and views are amazing. That said, anyone considering ARIA should be aware of the climate control in the rooms. We were very hot in the middle of the night and kept turning the air conditioning down but the room temperature never seemed to react. The temperature in the room varied from approx. 66f to 76f (I have included a picture of the high end of that range: 24.3c which is approximately 76f). Note that the lowest 66f reading was only achieved after leaving the sliding doors wide open all night but at the disadvantage of being woken up at 6:00 am by ambulances passing on the road directly below the hotel. I brought the issue to the attention of multiple staff members who continued to insist that the system was working fine. I eventually got to one member who finally shared the truth. It turns out that the hotel disengages the entire cooling system when the temperature falls below a certain level (fine for the winter but we were there in September). What was more disturbing than the temperature situation was the interaction with management which I can only describe as bizarre. First it wasn’t until I spoke to various members at least 3 or 4 times until I got the straight answer. Then after having the proper explanation they tried to frame it as an environmental thing (i.e., “we are a green hotel”) rather than “we save thousands by not supplying air conditioning.” In any case they were unable to do anything (i.e., “it is the entire system, not just your room”). On to the next bizarre interaction: I was offered a 10% discount which was offensive given that this is a $1,000 per night property and we were not able to set the system to our desired temperature (the manager actually eventually agreed to 15% but the refund was never processed at that rate). The next bizarre reasoning: We already received a 15% discount even though the rate we received was the rate offered when the customer assumes the full risk of cancellation with a full loss of pre-payment (hardly a discount). Next bizarre exchange: The manager insisting multiple times that she was sorry “we did not like her hotel” and we could re-locate to another hotel for the last two nights and she would refund those nights. Again, I had to insist multiple times that we were not going to take one day of our three days in the area to relocate. And how in the world is that a concession?? “Don’t stay for the remaining two nights and don’t pay for them.” And as far as “sorry you don’t like the hotel,” I had to correct her multiple times stating that we had no problem with the property itself, we just wanted air conditioning! In summary, the hotel’s policy regarding air conditioning was absolutely unacceptable and the interaction with the staff given the situation was even more frustrating. I would select another hotel.

I wanted to go somewhere special for my wife's special birthday and Aria was simply stunning in every way. The location is breathtaking, the modern design is tastefully done, you have real time and space to relax. The facilities are exceptional, particularly the huge spa space. The food is of a really high quality. We enjoyed le Joie de Vivre, and dolce vita, although la Musa was just a different class. From the lead up to planning the trip through to every member of staff we encountered, there was such a can do and helpful attitude. Staff were friendly and extremely professional without ever making you feel uncomfortable. Given how hard it is to find excellent staff, Aria has done just that, and they are all trained so well. Their attitude is to do everything they can to bring joy, happiness, relaxation and that something special to guests. They really go above and beyond. We're fortunate to have enjoyed some lovely hotels, but this has topped everything due to consistent excellence and professionalism from all the staff. On my wife's birthday, the lovely private spa cabin was a totally special and unique experience in a stunning location. I may now leave someone out, in which case I am sorry for that. But particular stand outs were Matteo and Tecla in concierge as well as the whole front desk team, other Matteo the restaurant manager, the two other waiters who served us at la Musa, the remarkable Christian and lovely Giulia at dolce vita, and Roman in le Joie de Vivre, the women in the spa. But back to Matteo in concierge who provided me with so much help over the last few months as I planned the surprise trip for my wife - what to do, where to go and catering for our dietary requirements. The way all the staff smile and do their best deserves a special mention for everyone so I am sorry if I have missed out someone. Aria promised an unforgettable experience for my wife's special birthday and they have gone above even my high expectations. Many many thanks.

We were fortunate enough to book a room at this resort. Could not have imagined how beautiful it was from the pictures on the website. To wake up to the amazing lake view in a spectacular room was a gift. Daily breakfast brought to your room spoiled us and the staff made us feel very welcome. it's not cheap to stay here but more than worth the price!!

We stayed here for four nights in September. We travel extensively and this has to be one of the most comfortable and beautiful hotels we’ve stayed in. The hotel only has 15 suites and so the attention to detail is exquisite. We loved every minute of our stay. Every suite looks out onto Lake Lugano and breakfast is brought to you in the morning where you feast on a breakfast banquet on your terrace. There is a sitting area with a small kitchen and then a separate bedroom with a bathroom off the bedroom. The only thing missing was a small table to rest your wine glass on as you soaked in the beautiful deep bath after a day sightseeing or a day spent at the outdoor pool. There are plenty of dining establishments within the area and a magic tunnel will take you there! We also ate a couple of times in The Aria, albeit a small menu. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and attentive and on arrival they arranged for us to visit Como and have a private boat tour. They took care of all the transportation and it was all so well organised via what’s app. We spent a lot of our time at the pool resting and sunbathing after a busy two week walking holiday in Switzerland. The pool area is quiet with several sun loungers and has the most amazing views. We loved every minute of our stay at The Aria Retreat and would highly recommend it to others. It really is a little piece of paradise and the staff are a credit to the hotel. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Our stay at Aria was incredible. The staff, facilities and location of this resort were wonderful. As many other reviews state, and this can not be downplayed, the staff at Aria were incredibly professional, knowledgable and made the experience feel special. From the moment we drove up, Michaela ensured we were taken care of. Christian and Giulia at the lounge also made us feel welcome and at home. Breakfast delivered to our suite every morning and eating on our balcony really is a nice touch (thanks Fabio and Giulia), especially with the incredible views of Lake Lugano. Dinner at La Musa was fantastic (go for the 6 course option) and special shout outs to Matteo, Pietro and Fabio, your service was impeccable and you made the evening very special for us. The SPA was new with an indoor and outdoor pool. The gym was clean and well equipped. We'd definitely would come back and visit Aria again.

This resort is unlike any other we have ever stayed. A unique combination of ultimate luxury accommodation and services, in a magical setting. As special as the setting, accommodations and amenities were- the staff truly makes this next level. Detailed attention to every aspect of our stay- friendly and hospitable- like we were family. Special mention and appreciation to Christian and Giulia from Dolce Vita and Michela from the front desk in making our stay memorable- we will be back to see you!

We ended a two week (delayed) honeymoon (+babymoon) trip to Italy here and it was the best decision! I booked on points, not directly through the hotel, and so I emailed them to confirm our booking and let them know that we were excited to spend our honeymoon there - the concierge responded and they were absolutely wonderful. Michela is mostly who I spoke with but Matteo was great as well. They helped me arrange a driver from the train station, recommended a maternity photographer (per my request), and made dinner reservations for us. When we arrived, they were so kind to give us an upgrade since we were celebrating so much (honeymoon, babymoon, and my husband's birthday also fell during our stay). They went above and beyond for my husband on his actual birthday - cake and champagne to the room, everyone working that day wished him a happy birthday, etc. They had also made note of my pregnancy so each time we went to eat the waiters knew what I couldn't have to eat. Giulia and Christian in the bar were so fun and great as well. I just cannot say enough good things about the staff - over the top helpful, kind, tuned into their guests, easy to talk to, and made us feel like we were the only guests there. I truly have never been so impressed. Now onto the facilities - again, there are no words. Absolutely stunning - views everywhere you turn. Sitting on our porch eating (the very delicious) breakfast while looking at the lake was such a dreamy start to our days. Our room was unreal and if they would've let us, we would've moved in and never left! It was luxurious, well set up, and had the best view. Every place we went (our room, the spa, etc.) felt so clean that it almost felt new, seriously impeccable. And we loved the spa! We used our stay here to relax after lots of walking, sightseeing, and being on the go and the spa was the perfect place to do that. I spent so much time in their indoor and outdoor pool. My husband loved their sauna and we both had excellent massages. If felt like the true definition of luxurious relaxation. We were only supposed to stay two nights but ended up canceling our stay in our next location and instead booking a third night here and then going to our next location just in time to make it to the airport. We will dream about our stay here for a very long time and we cannot wait to make it back one day.