Lake Garda for 25th Anniversary - Where? (with a 6yr old)

[AlisonItaly]

Hi to all,

It is our 25th anniversary in September and we plan to have a few days on Lake Garda to celebrate (stopping off on the way home from our summer holiday in Austria). I have looked in all the usual places, searched tourist sites for hotels etc but can't find anywhere that seems right. We don't have a huge budget (about 150 a night max) so 5 star luxury is out, but I would like somewhere memorable for the occasion, somewhere that feels a bit special when we are there and nice to look back on. Only essentials are a pool, not too far from the lake and suitable for a our 6 year old. Hotel or self catering, and we will have a car so no transport problems. If anyone has any recommendations for places they have stayed I would be very grateful

Thanks

Try Bardolino, and a few years back stayed in Hotel Color which was lovely (just on a B+B basis; the other meals they had were OK but not nearly as good as local restaurants). And a rulebook forbidding people from reserving loungers with a towel!

Town and crazy golf, pedalos etc in 5 mins walk, supermarket next door, and most of the stuff a 6yo would find fun is on that side of the lake - cable car up Malsecine (?), various Scalinger castles, and there's a big water park southwards near the Gardaland theme park. We managed all those by bus and ferry so with a car you'd have no problem.

Some excellent restaurants, too. And cheap good wine. :)

Hi notcitrus, thanks for the recommendation. It looks great but unfortunately no rooms when we want to go. Will bear it in mind for future trips though. Thanks again.

I stayed at the Hotel Continental in Sirmione a few years ago, with my mother and sister. It is right on the lake, with lovely views from lakeview room balconies. We had rooms 106 and 108 ( first floor ) which had small outside terraces with a view of the pool, gardens and lake.
The pool had just been newly built, close to the lake. It also has a jetty where you can swim from.
Just a short walk through very pretty streets takes you to the Castle, and the quay for catching cruise or high speed boats to other towns around the lake.
There is also the ruins of a very large villa within walking distance of the hotel.
We had a super holiday, and the staff were wonderful. I could not fault it.
The only problem you may have is regarding the car, but hotel guests may be given a permit to drive through the Castle entrance into Sirmione town. General traffic is not allowed.
You can read my review with photos on Trip Advisor.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187842-d277407-r17364734-Hotel_Continental-Sirmione_Lake_Garda_Lombardy.html

Thanks for the suggestion figgygirl, it looks lovely but unfortunately our plans have changed. Not going to Austria now so won't be in the Garda area for our anniversary. Really do wish certain people would say at time if they are not happy with where we have chosen to go - before I start searching for places to stay!