| Roundtrip Flight Price vs Points | SLH Name | Hotel Price vs Points | Pros | Cons |
| Emirates first class: ~S14,000; Award Booking: Emirates 170K points (taxes ~$300) | Vista Palazzo Lago di Como | $700-1200/ night or 40K Hyatt points | Beautiful room decorations and free breakfast | No free parking, No gym or swimming pool. |
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como is the only five-star SLH property in the city center of Como and we stayed here in late March during our trip to Lake Como. The hotel is less than 1-hour drive from Milan international airport (MXP) which was convenient since we booked Emirate’s fifth freedom flight from JFK to Milan.
How I Booked the Emirates Flight to Milan
We were lucky to find 2 return trip Emirates first-class flights from JFK to Milan (booked in the middle of 2021 when international travel was down). First-class flights on Emirates can be very overpriced and I posted a booking example for next March. Saver-level first-class seats on Emirates can be booked with 85K points each way and I used 340K total points for a 2-passenger return trip. Emirates was charging fewer taxes during that period as well between the US and Europe.
I posted some pictures of the A 380 Emirates first-class cabin in my last post.
How I Booked the Hotel Room
I used Hyatt points to book a deluxe room (40K points per night) for a 2-night stay. The typical cost of the hotel room fluctuates between $700-1200 USD based on the tourism season.
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/italy/slh-vista-palazzo-lago-di-como/mxpyz
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como Location
The hotel is located close to Lake Como but not directly facing it and is separated from the lake by a busy street. The whole area is very crowded with lots of shops and restaurants and ideal for visitors who enjoy such an atmosphere. This location is in stark contrast to the experience we had when visiting the nearby Grand Hotel Victoria (quiet street and neighborhood with great views of the lake and snowcapped mountains).
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como Check-in
We had trouble finding the hotel entrance by following Google maps and had to circle back 2 times because of busy traffic. After a quick phone call to the front desk, they guided us to park the car on the side of the street next to the main hotel entrance and valet service took care of our luggage and parking. They automatically upgraded us to a “junior suite” for being a Hyatt member which was really appreciated.
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como Junior Suite
The Junior Suite is breathtaking with luxurious fixtures and very high-quality bedding (with linen sheets) with a separate seating area. The bathroom is large with a bathtub, shower, and all the needed amenities. While the rooms are not big, they are designed very well to include a large TV and a work desk. I have not seen such a well-designed room in a long time and it easily exceeded the Grand Hotel Victoria in that aspect. The Junior Suite did not have any lake views which are only possible with two higher-level suites.
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como Breakfast
The breakfast area is located on the top floor with views of Lake Como only from one small outside area. There was a Buffet with all the usual choices of bread, cereal, oatmeal, and fruits and we were also able to order scrambled eggs from a menu.
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como Check out
The hotel charged me for two nights for a cash booking by mistake and emailed me immediately after they realized it was paid with Hyatt points. The charges were refunded promptly within a few days after the initial charge.
Summary
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como is very expensive to book with either cash or Hyatt points, but it is in the heart of Como town and the rooms have unmatched luxurious designs and decorations. If you want to spend time in Como town and walk to various shops and restaurants, I can’t think of a better place to stay. Personally, I would have stayed 2 more nights in Grand Hotel Victoria because we like nature hikes, quiet surroundings, and the world-class spa.