Hotel Garden

Family-run since 1969, Hotel Garden has a friendly atmosphere with great views of Lake Garda. The bright yellow building is surrounded by manicured hedges, and the property opens into pretty garden grounds with tables and chairs and a hammock under a shade canopy. Its small old-fashioned lobby has green marble floors, decorative moulding on the ceiling, a curved wooden reception desk, and pale-yellow walls dotted with oil paintings. Several lounges can be found around the corner, each completely different from the next, but all like dated time capsules from decades past, with overly fussy decor. The hotel is open seasonally, and most guests are couples on romantic getaways, or families looking for a relaxed base near the lake. 

The hotel is in a quiet location near the center of Garda, making it convenient to the restaurants, bars, and shops throughout the small, walkable town. Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, is just a short walk away with marinas and plenty of boating activities. The stretch of pebble beach of Pincherle is about a 10-minute walk from the property. Panoramic views from the hilltop San Giorgio monastery can be reached in 16 minutes by car, and the medieval city of Verona and its small airport are about a 40-minute drive away. Day trips to Venice are also possible -- it's roughly 90 minutes by car. The larger Orio al Serio International Airport in Bergamo is about an 80-minute drive away.

The hotel has 36 air-conditioned guest rooms with classic wood furnishings, but decor overall is dated, characterized by plain carpets, bland wallpaper, and floral fabrics. The 20 Girasole Rooms have views of Lake Garda, while 16 Margherita Rooms overlook nearby Mount Baldo. Layouts vary, but units are spacious and all have furnished private balconies. Double beds are standard and can be switched for two twin beds. All units have small desks with wooden chairs, large wardrobes with electronic safes, and some have seating areas with a variety of either plain or eccentric antique-style chairs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with old, tiny flat-screen TVs. The tiled bathrooms are a little cramped, but all have small walk-in showers, bidets, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and toiletries.  

The outdoor pool has a large sundeck with plenty of loungers and umbrellas, along with a hot tub and small lounge area with black wicker furniture under a canvas and linen shade canopy. Beyond the pool area, there are four tennis courts, and guests can book lessons with a professional trainer for a fee. No spa is on-site, but there's an open-air fitness center with several Technogym cardio machines and a wide range of weight-training equipment. 

The restaurant and bar serves traditional Italian cuisine (and wine) for lunch and dinner and a free continental breakfast, with seating available on an outdoor terrace under a trellis covered in grape vines. Free parking is available in a convenient outdoor lot, and private garage parking can be arranged for a fee. The hotel also has free loaner bikes and a free airport shuttle to small regional airports in Verona and Brescia, though transfers to Orio al Serio International Airport cost extra. Wi-Fi is free throughout.