06 The Stay Guide: Lake Como

Few destinations capture travelers’ imaginations like Lake Como—but choosing the right hotel here is far from simple. In this episode, Whitney sits down with travel advisors Sarah Sirzyk and Ciarán Ritter of Explorateur Travel to share firsthand insights from a packed fam trip through Lake Como. From the ultra-private Passalacqua to the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo, plus family-friendly options like Grand Hotel Victoria, they walk through the strengths, trade-offs, and client profiles for seven properties. Whether your clients are splurging on serenity, looking for buzzy energy, or need a classic four-star fit for families, this Stay Guide gives you clarity on how to confidently guide travelers through Lake Como’s diverse hotel scene.

Key Takeaways

  • Why Passalacqua is more than a hotel stay—it's the destination itself.

  • How Grand Hotel Tremezzo delivers Instagram-worthy buzz and iconic lakefront vibes.

  • Tips for positioning Grand Hotel Victoria to families who want walkability + wellness.

  • What makes Hotel Royal Victoria a budget-friendly but charming four-star option.

  • How to guide independent travelers toward Como-city properties like Vista Palazzo.

About the guest: 

Sarah Sirzyk and Ciarán Ritter are travel advisors with Explorateur Travel, a boutique Virtuoso agency based in Louisiana. Sarah brings a keen eye for matching clients with the perfect properties, while Ciaran blends her passion for exploration with thoughtful client service. Together, they joined a Lake Como fam trip, visiting and experiencing a range of properties firsthand, from iconic five-star hotels to charming four-star stays. Their insights help travellers and advisors alike understand not just the amenities, but also the unique vibe and client fit of each hotel.

Whitney Shindelar

Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.

I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.

I look forward to designing your next adventure!

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05 The Stay Guide: Belize