When to Visit Lake Como: Seasons at Passalacqua and Tremezzo

Benjamin has stayed and loved; droves of clients approve and Highly Recommend… I ventured to the lake to partake in a dash of Dolce Vita! Repeating my recent suggestion of improving your Italian: among your Italian words and phrases, questo è importante: ‘Il dolce far niente” an Italian phrase and life philosophy, it translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

View from bed, Passalacqua.

Two sister properties on celebrated Lake Como. Passalacqua is unique. Back in the 18th century, it was created as a place of the heart on Lake Como for friends, for love and leisure, for the pleasures of the table and the Italian art of dolce far niente. It is that same place of the heart today. A private Villa, now shared with the world. In sports, it’s called ringside, in theatre it’s orchestra or the stalls, at Passalacqua, the grounds and suites are definitely top tier on the shimmering lake. if there had been an option, I wouldn’t have departed! Seven acres of cultivated gardens, the charm and opulent rooms and suites have been updated with care, sacred grounds originally owned by Pope Innocent XI and later owned by composer Vincenzo Bellini. Prominent figures including Napoleon to Winston Churchill gathered here on the lake, including a bevy of our dear VIP Clients.

The best Season to visit Lake Como? Every season, end of summer is sublime!

Spring, when blossom scents the air and daubs white brushstrokes on green hillsides above cobalt blue water. Summer, when long lazy days merge into magical nights alive with promise. Fall, when the woods are tinged with russet and copper, when fragrant truffles and green-gold olive oil enrich the table. A 5-star hotel on Lake Como with warm, personalized service, Passalacqua is the gateway to a region for all seasons.

Back in the day, they knew that pools made for swimmers could also look stylish. Set on a garden terrace just below the main villa, edged by ancient climbing roses and a magnificent bay tree, la piscina lends itself equally to sporty laps and leisurely dips.

Lake Como – The tiny village with the hidden waterfall. The path meandering through wildflower meadows and cool forests to a medieval church. The little water-side trattoria that’s the insiders’ secret and a few grand hotels.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo To Die for Views!

There are many Palace hotels in Italy, what makes this one so Grand?! Sister property Grand Hotel Tremezzo. The Grand Hotel Tremezzo is housed in an iconic art nouveau villa on the western shores of Lake Como, with views across the crystalline waters towards Bellagio and the sunset-lit Grigne mountain range. Generations of travelers have fallen in love with this legendary hotel’s sumptuous rooms and suites, three pools, lakeside private beach and verdant private park – not to mention its dedication to the warmest hospitality all’italiana.

Each and every room and suite has breathtaking views, and the WOW factor- Water on Water floating pool, where could you find a better lake view? Tremezzo not only has stunning rooms and suites, the off property private Villa with its arabesque gardens, six beautiful suites, and an aristocratic history dating back to the 16th century, Villa Sola Cabiati—reached in minutes from the hotel by car or boat—is our exclusive-booking escape, complete with a private staff to help you live out your Lake Como dream. Old world service, where service is an honored profession, five star amenities. Splendor and Sparkle, lake and dramatic snow capped Alps surround the valley.

An afternoon on the lake can be organized at both hotels, I enjoyed a delightful afternoon spin, Life on the Lake in our typical Five Star Fashion. The lavish property is well-known for its magnificent floating pool, but a better kept secret is the heavenly garden, complete with a tennis court and another pool, shaded by olive, palm and banana trees. Garden aficionado’s note: the famed gardens of Villa Carlotta border the property.

Both hotels are family run by the delightful charming hotelier, Valentina De Santis, send our regards! And now from Assouline, a Love Letter to Lake Como!

Highly Recommend!

Discover Argentina: Culinary, Culture, and Adventure Awaits, Ole!

Our Latin America Team has just returned from one of my all-time favorite countries Argentina! We are keeping them busy with our multiple Mexico City and Oaxaca Journeys. I would return to Argentina in a heartbeat… extraordinary dining, striking Gauchos, delectable wine, art… a long list of compelling reasons to visit. When I first began this Professional Travel Journey, all of our clients visited Argentina, I’ll never forget a call from our VIP Team, on taking our Household Name client to the hospital when he sliced off part of his finger in a cooking class. I adore this client, he sends quick sweet notes and videos from their travel – he sent a brief note – finger fine, at hospital! Last week, he sent a video from his rooftop penthouse in Rome…it’s the little things! It’s always nice to be appreciated by clients or really, anyone!

Colome, Argentina

Argentina offers a wide range of diversity of experiences and locations. It isn’t just a country, it’s a continent’s worth of landscapes packed into one wild, beautiful place full of generous and warm people. One afternoon you can be sipping Malbec in Mendoza, the next you’re off-roading through otherworldly canyons in the northwest. We can organize perfectly civilized Journeys or go natural and visit funky family-owned wineries, neighborhood eateries, and smoky backyard asados.

Argentina  spans such a large area of the Southern hemisphere that a trip here could have you huddled up close to native penguins on Martillo island on the Southern tip, sipping on high-altitude wines in Mendoza or Salta, bamboo-bicycling through the busy streets of Buenos Aires, or staring in awe at the immense power of the Iguazu Falls, or for those with more time, all of the above. From the very north to the extreme south, Argentina delivers adventure and culture on every latitude. Each time I’ve visited, a Tango show is always on my dance card!

Most trips begin and end in Argentina’s stunning capital, Buenos Aires, but from there it’s up to you depending on your interests, travel style, and how long you’re able to travel.  A short list below of areas, possible combinations – with follow-up posts of unique itineraries, with interesting mixtures for longer trips, but if you’re limited to a week, we can still combine Buenos Aires with another amazing area of this one-of-a-kind destination.


You might agree that the best way to get to know a city is by eating your way around it. Dive deep into historic neighborhoods like Palermo and San Telmo with a local culinary guide, sampling an array of iconic and traditional dishes, as well as unexpected fare. Tear through sourdough Argentine-style pizza, corn-filled empanadas, and a chickpea-based dish called faina reflecting the influence of Italian immigrants.

Bear in mind, Buenos Aires is not just for carnivores. We try at least one new plant-forward restaurant, because even avid meat eaters need a green break! Contemplate a delectable mushroom Milanese, a vegetarian version of a popular Italian favorite. Save a few nights for a perfectly cooked grass-fed ribeye followed by thirst-quenching gelato. Working with locals guarantees that we identify the IYKYK places you will love sharing with your foodie friends!  

Shop Buenos Aires with Our Artisan Insider. One of the dear friends of our VIP Team is a stylist with serious local cred ready to take you straight to the good stuff. Think hand-stitched leather, designer fashion, textiles, jewelry, even expertly crafted knives to step up your asado game. These aren’t souvenir shops; they’re ateliers and studios where Argentina’s top designers are excelling at their craft. Return home with pieces you’ll not only use but cherish. I have a gorgeous set of chunky bone handled forks and knives in a leather case; they come out for an all-meat centric meal! I collect silver accessories and my small footed silver dishes are perfect for Chimichurri.

Mendoza Boutique & Wineries- You haven’t truly experienced Mendoza until you’ve tasted wine with the winemakers themselves, preferably while staring straight at the snowcapped Andes.

At SuperUco, Agustin and Matías Michelini pour bold, biodynamic wines that are as wild and honest as the land itself. It’s a tiny family project with big ideas and zero ego. And then there’s Finca El Paraíso, the Arizu family’s original estate, where guests wander the vineyards and olive groves before sitting down to a long, leisurely lunch cooked by their in-house chef. The wines are legendary, the setting’s serene, and the stories run deep.

Mixing it Up in Mendoza- If you also love spirits, we’ve tracked down a small-batch distillery that’s only just opened its doors to the public. They’re quietly producing some of the best whiskey and gin in Argentina. It’s tucked away, run by passionate locals, and the tasting room feels more like a secret club than a tourist stop. 

One of my romantic notions was to meet a Gaucho. There are few people in Argentina as romanticized as the Gaucho. The nomadic and colorful horseman and cowhand of the Argentine and Uruguayan Pampas who flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century and has remained a folk hero similar to the cowboy in western North America.

Upcoming Journeys or call to inquire! Numerous itineraries can be curated in Argentina: Buenos Aires and Mendoza. Patagonia, Buenos Aires and Wild Patagonia. Buenos Aires, Iguazo Falls and Rio. Wine Tasting through Argentina.. Northwest Argentina Road Trip. Best of Argentina.

Summer (December-February): Ideal for Patagonia, but can be very hot in the north. 
Shoulder Seasons (September-November & March-May): Offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds in many areas. 
Winter (June-August): Good for skiing in Bariloche, but some Patagonian areas are snowed in. 

Highly Recommend!