Lake Garda

[snozzlemaid]

We've never been abroad as a family and we've never flown. Having recently got a small inheritance I've decided we're definitely flying away somewhere next year.
Dd17 has always wanted to visit Italy so I've been looking at Lake Garda. There'll be dp, me and dd and we'll be going mid July.
We've only ever done self catering in the UK which is never a real holiday for me so I want a hotel probably half board.
Any recommendations? There's so many online and I keep getting put off when I read a bad review.
Would like to spend no more than £2500 if possible.

Bump

You should decide if you want to be in a resort in the north (Riva, Malcesine,Limone) or the south (Sirmione, Garda, Bardolino) as the lake is huge. In the North you will be close to the mountains, in the south easier to visit Venice, Verona, Garda Land etc. We went 20 years ago and then again a couple of years ago for a cheap break with my daughter. We found that there was a huge difference in the standard of food between four and three star. The four star hotels food was a highlight of the holiday. Although we were there 20 years ago the hotel is still there and seems to be still getting good reviews. It’s the Sportsman in Bardolino. It’s actually half way between Garda and Bardolino so you have to walk to get to the boat for day trips. We used to walk to one resort in the morning and the other in the evening, it on the edge of the lake so a very beautiful walk. We went to Sirmione a couple of years ago and my daughter went again last year, it’s beautiful. We just stayed in a very basic hotel which is probably not what you are looking for. You’ll not need a car as you explore the lake by boat. We went to Verona on the bus and an organised trip to Venice. Sorry I can’t give up to date recommendations hopefully someone else will help but Lake Garda is absolutely beautiful you will love it.

Hi, we stayed in Lazise and loved this little town. So near Gardaland, water park, easy to scoot up to Malsecine to cable car and easy to to Venice/ Verona. We did an Airbnb so can't help you with hotels...but I did a logo of research and this was our choice. Sirmione was heaving with people, but it was end July.

Sirmione is hideous in the summer - far too many people.

We stayed in Garda, and I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

Malcesine. Can recommend Casa Popi or Hotel Benacus.

Gargnano is lovely

Oh it's so beautiful OP, and that's a very generous budget.
We stayed in a hotel in Riva Del Garda a few years ago. I'll have to ask dh if he can remember the name of the hotel. Have a look at one called 'Ambassador suite' anyway, as I was looking at that lately myself.
Just google images of Riva, it's breath taking, especially the mountains in the background. So many beautiful shops and pizza everywhere was just €2 a slice.

Riva is fabulous, it's at the very north of the lake, but tbh, it doesn't really matter where you stay - we spent the week getting boats everywhere to other towns around the lake.
You can also do day trips to Venice, Milan, the Dolomites, etc. Your dd would love all that I'm sure.

This year we've decided to stay at the south of the lake, probably a campsite (I have young kids) but I'd go back to the north in a heartbeat.

We stayed in Riva around 8 years ago in the Parc hotel flora.

It was lovely. Plenty of restaurants and plenty of things to do.

This was pre-dc and we'd like to go back one day when our kids are s bit older.

We hiked, played crazy golf, hired bikes and did loads of day trips. So much to do. Lots of water sports too.

I stayed in limone 10 years ago. The scenery was breathtaking. Absolutely gorgeous.

There's so much to see and do, a week just isn't long enough

We went two years running a couple of years ago. We stayed in The Majestic Palace hotel in Malcesine. It was a lovely hotel & resort. Would go back in a heartbeat

Thank you all. Lots of recommendations for me to look into.

Peschiera Del Garda is a lovely town in the South. If you look at accommodation to the west of the town, there is a lovely promenade where you can walk along the lake shore to the town for meals/Gelato on an evening etc.

We stayed on Camping Bergamini in the past which was a beautiful location but probably not what you're looking for.

We went for a meal at Ziba Hotel and Spa one evening, that could be worth a look, it was gorgeous inside.

Glad to hear that about Peschiera Del Garda. I'm thinking of booking Bella italia (also not what the OP is looking for) , and I think it's a short walk to the town.

Let us know when or if you book OP

We have stayed in Garda and Sirmione, and liked both. If you want to make the most of exploring the lake by boat you might be better off staying midway up as Sirmione to Riva by boat does make for a very long day unless you take the fast catamaran.

Also, if you stay on the East side of the lake you get to enjoy beautiful sunsets and keep the sun for longer, especially if you are at the Northern end where it is mountainous.

I adore lake Garda, and want to stay in Malcesine or Riva next time as we have more or less "done" the southern part of the lake.

It is just breathtakingly beautiful.

We did Malecisine and it was beautiful, not far from Verona either if you fancied something different for a day. We stayed in Hotel Lago di Garda which over looks the lake (though I suppose there could Eva few hotels called that!!), it was beautiful, very reasonably priced and had a spa.

Where are the best places to get to Verona from, ideally by train rather than bus?

Malecisine is stunning, but was very busy in August.

It's about 40 min by bus from Verona to say Bardolino, and Verona has an airport shuttle train to the centre of town. When the opera isn't on, Verona is cheap to stay in (and a picnic in the colosseum-like opera house while they do rehearsals and build set is fab!)

I would go B&B in a nice hotel, as there are so many restaurants. We stayed in the Hotel Color in Bardolino which still gets good reviews - no real lake view but only 5 min walk to the lakeside. Will you be doing more culture and walks, or watersports and Gardaland/water park?

I'm now thinking we probably would do B&B as there are some nice hotels we could get at a good price.
We aren't water sports fans so it would be walks, visiting towns, sightseeing and boat trips on the lake.

If you do go to Bella Italla or similar would highly recommend a trip to gardaland the theme park (and there is others nearby too) all do cheaper tickets after 3pm, it’s quiet, still hot and stays open late. Enjoy

@MrsCar we are also thinking of Bella Italia. It looks lovely so glad to hear It's nice round that area.

Just because you go self catering doesnt mean you have to cook! With kids we find it's nice to have more space than a hotel room. Lovely to have a large deck to sit out on and a fridge for wine, snacks etc. And if you don't fancy getting up for breakfast, you can just have a coffee and gorgeous pastries sitting on your deck. There are amazing restaurants everywhere. You could go to a different one every night, rather than hotel food every day, which I've never found brilliant in Italy. There are fabulous campsites in that area with great pools, waterslides etc. Go for the biggest mobile with aircon etc and you can have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living/kitchen area and a large deck for the price of a small hotel room.

Hi did you book somewhere? Ive been looking to go next year, any suggestions where to stay appreciated.