Lake Garda

wingnut32 · 20-01-2022 6:17pm #1

Im hoping to go to Lake Garda for a week in May with two teens and a one year old in tow. Where is the best village to base ourselves for the week, I was think Peschiera might be a good idea but Im unsure if its the best for us. Any help would be appreciated!

black & white · 20-01-2022 6:52pm

We stayed at Liberty Hotel in Riva del Garda a few years ago, beautiful town and lovely hotel. We got a superior room in the main building. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Living Off The Splash · 23-01-2022 11:41am

Have a look at Desenzano. Easy to get to from Bergamo. Lovely little harbour. Old town where the locals live up at the back. Hop on ferry and cross to very touristy Sirmione. You can also get a bus in the town to take you to the lovely Salo.

Patser · 23-01-2022 11:47am

Depends on what you want:

Stayed in Peschiera a few years ago, and it's very touristy - but with teens that can be a good thing. It means that there are lots of activities there, Gardaland is nearby, the town is set up to deal with numbers. Sirmione is nearby and worth a visit. But the southern end of Lake Garda is not that scenic (it is warmer). We had fun there, but it was off season, so not too packed. May will probably be the same.

If you want quiet, and scenic; there are loads of lovely towns along Northern sides of the Lake, but they can involve travel to get to the attractions.

vegandinner · 23-01-2022 11:48am

I am also looking at a week in lake Garda this year. probably august we have an 8yo and a 5yo. They are really keen to have an active kids club. we usually get a villa and keep to ourselves, but the kids really want to socialise post covid and I'm happy to send them to the kids club all day if its good, any recommendations on that?

appledrop · 23-01-2022 12:00pm

It depends what you want. We adore Riva Del Garda in the North, but our son is young so quite pace suits us. Besides beautiful mountains + plenty of watersports.

Where you looking at might suit you better though, nearer to Gardaland and more tourists. Also a much shorter drive from airports, Riva quite a drive away.

For anyone looking at kids club, tend to be more popular in camp sites etc, plenty of them on Lake so you would have to be staying there.

You really need to do your research on accommodation depending what you want. Some of hotels are very small with not much activities so different to say places in Spain, Portugal but there are larger complexs and options of campsites, villas etc you just need to research it well.

Wyldwood · 23-01-2022 12:16pm

Lake Garda is stunning and the perfect holiday for adults. Not so much for kids to do though in most of the beautiful towns. My go-to place is Desenzano, as mentioned above, for its transport facilities to all the other areas around the lake and also to Milan, Venice and Verona.

Those with kids looking for entertainment should maybe look at Bella Italia in Peschiera, although in May all facilities may not be fully up and running.

Baoithin66 · 30-01-2022 3:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118520402#Comment_118520402

Hi sorry to jump in but could you recommend some places to stay in Desenzano?

Wyldwood · 30-01-2022 8:25pm

I've stayed in the Villa Rosa and The Park Hotel in Desenzano. We were just a couple without children. Both hotels are central to the town, the Park being right in the middle.

Patser · 31-01-2022 1:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118520424#Comment_118520424

Bella Italia is the go to place for kids clubs etc. It is huge, like it's own mini town, but incredibly well set up to deal with the numbers, with pools hidden throughout the site.

I haven't been there in August, but a neighbour was and said it was incredibly hot - mid 30s and higher - but that was during a heatwave even the locals were commenting on

Living Off The Splash · 06-02-2022 4:11pm

The Flowers apartments are in a great location overlooking the little harbour. We stayed in the nearby Serendipity Apartments that I would not recommended due to a "drain" odour in the apartment.