A real mountain resort in Italy called Hotel Stella Montis is blowing up online. It shares a name with the Stella Montis map in the game ARC Raiders. Fans are flooding Google with 5-star reviews about “fighting machines” plus “looting the mini-bar.” It’s a hilarious, harmless trend that is giving a real business a huge boost.
I’ve seen some weird stuff in gaming communities, but this is actually pretty great.
The ARC Raiders community has found something special. It turns out one of the game’s toughest, snowiest maps—Stella Montis—exists in the real world. Sort of. It’s a beautiful four-star hotel in the Italian Alps.
Instead of just posting a screenshot, players are treating the hotel’s review page like an extension of the game. It’s a mix of roleplay, inside jokes, plus surprisingly high praise for the “extraction points.”
If you haven’t been keeping up with the ARC Raiders hype, here is the story behind the viral Italian resort.
Why Is Hotel Stella Montis Going Viral?
The trend started when players noticed the name match. In the game, Stella Montis is a cold, industrial research base full of killer robots. In reality, it’s a cozy spa resort where people go to ski and eat pasta.
The contrast is what makes it work. Raiders are leaving reviews that read like mission reports. One reviewer mentioned the “drawers have epic loot,” yet another warned travelers about “moving balls that burn you”—a nod to the game’s orb enemies.
Stella Montis → A snowy, multi-layered research facility map in ARC Raiders featuring tight corridors plus high-value loot rooms. Example: Players deploy here to find rare materials while fighting off “Shredders” and “Bastions.”
The Best “Fake” Reviews
People aren’t being trolls. They are actually helping the hotel. Almost every review is 5 stars.
One guy thanked the “front desk” for help with a Shieldbreaker extraction. Another mentioned the spa was great for recovering from “plasma burns.”
The hotel currently has a perfect 5-star average on Google with hundreds of new comments. The community seems to have a rule: Don’t leave bad reviews. Everyone wants to keep the joke going without hurting the actual business. That is a rare win for the internet.
How to Unlock Stella Montis in ARC Raiders
If all this talk about the Alps makes you want to play, you should know that Stella Montis isn’t open right away. You have to earn your way into the cold.
To unlock the Stella Montis map, you need to complete the “Ascension” questline.
Once you finish those missions, you can deploy into the mountains. It is arguably the hardest map in the game right now. You’ll find:
- The Seed Vault (Tons of loot but very dangerous)
- The Medical Wing
- The Rooftop Extraction (A total deathtrap)
If you’re heading there, I suggest taking a Free Loadout first. You don’t want to lose your best gear to a Shredder while you’re looking at the nice architecture.
Why Do the Maps Feel So Real?
Embark Studios uses a lot of photogrammetry. They take real-world locations and scan them into the game engine. While the game was originally inspired by Tenerife, the devs shifted to an Italian mountain vibe a while ago.
You can see it in the world. Acerra Spaceport plus Stella Montis feel grounded. They look like places that actually existed before the machines took over. This realism is probably why fans felt so connected to a real hotel. It just fits the aesthetic.
Map Events → Random changes that happen during a raid, like a snowstorm or a machine boss spawning. Example: A “Visibility Drop” event makes it impossible to see snipers, forcing you to move through buildings.
How to Join the Trend Safely
If you’re going to leave a review, keep it classy.
The hotel staff probably has no idea what a “Shredder” is or why people are asking for “Venator blueprints” at check-in. As long as the reviews are positive, it’s just free marketing for them.
Some quick tips:
- 5 Stars Only: Don’t mess with their business rating.
- Make it Obvious: Mention robots or “The ARC” so real travelers know it’s a joke.
- Be Kind: The staff are real people, even if the map name is a coincidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the hotel actually in the game?
No. The game map is a fictional research base. But they share the same name and a similar mountain look, which is why fans love it.
Where is Hotel Stella Montis located?
It is in the Trento province of Northern Italy. It’s a real place you can visit for a ski trip. No robots included.
What is the “Flute” people keep mentioning?
In ARC Raiders, the flute is a gadget you use as a peace sign. If you see another player playing a flute, it usually means “don’t shoot, let’s team up.”
Are there other real-life maps?
Fans are looking! With the Riven Tides update coming in 2026, people are already searching for Italian coastal towns that look like the new teaser images.
Conclusion
The Hotel Stella Montis trend is a wholesome moment where a gaming community is helping a real business through a funny coincidence. By leaving 5-star reviews based on ARC Raiders, fans are boosting a real-world hotel while celebrating the map they love. Just don’t expect to find high-tier loot in the hotel’s breakfast buffet.
