QC Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi Bormio

Let's start with the most interesting aspect of the hotel: the building itself! It is a truly beautiful, well-maintained historic building that evokes the splendour of Belle Époque travel. The dining and breakfast room is spectacular. A definite plus was the upgrade from a standard room to a junior suite, which was very welcome. The room is honestly a mix: some beautiful historic pieces of furniture and others in horrible 1990s Italian style. A terrible sofa bed straight out of a 1990s furniture catalogue. Very nice, spacious marble bathroom. However, I don't think it can be considered a 5-star room, but rather a 4-star room. This is also because, as a rule in 5-star hotels, complimentary water and evening turndown service are provided, none of which are available at this hotel. The staff is a mix : some are kind and courteous (especially at restaurant), while others clearly did not attend a hotel school and treat you with arrogance (reception desk). On the plus side, the breakfast is satisfactory and the food is of good quality, although it is not at the level of a 5-star hotel. The dinner is of good quality, but the prices are crazy: much higher than the Italian average. For example, a glass of wine costs €17??? We're not in Cortina d'Ampezzo or at Badrutt hotel in St. Moritz. The SPA, known as the ‘new baths/Bagni nuovi’, is very pleasant. There are several outdoor pools and several relaxation rooms inside. I must say that the spa is very pleasant, but guests staying only one night should be aware that they can use it from 3 p.m. to 11 a.m. on the day of check-out. Overall, it was a pleasant stay, but be aware of the prices because, in my opinion, they are disproportionate to what the hotel offers.

The area is unbelievably scenic. The spa complex is huge and very good. However the hotel itself is pretty medicare, especially since it claims to have five stars. What makes a good five-star experience? Feeling special being their guest. It’s not at all the case with this hotel. The staff doesn't look particularly friendly or welcoming—not much smiling or nice words in general. We’ve heard “no” too many times from them: Can we sit there? No. Can we move our reservation to the restaurant? No. Can we eat now? No. Is the bar open? No. Does the bar have snacks? No. Etc., etc. The restaurant is a separate story: absolutely average food served in small portions, but enormously overpriced compared to what you can have in the neighbouring village for three times less money. If you stay there, save your money and don’t eat at the restaurant—it isn't worth it. The rooms are nice and have great views, but, c’mon, mould in the bathroom in such a place? Absolutely terrible bed making your back ache? On top of that, no fresh water in the rooms, all bar snacks are paid for, and toiletries are not replenished in time—we lived two days without shower gel. One more thing to consider: The area is absolutely not pedestrian-friendly. If you want to have dinner in the village, you can forget about your glass of wine, because you’ll need to drive there. All in all, if you’re a fan of the area (and believe me, you should be) and want to spend some time there, maybe a cheaper option won’t make you feel cheated. If you love QC spas (as my wife and I do), you can always drop by Bagni Nuovi’s spa without living in the hotel.