Aqualux Hotel Spa & Suite Bardolino

The aesthetic at the Aqualux Hotel Spa Suite & Terme is a surprisingly successful combination of nature and minimalism. The hotel is almost entirely built of wood, and employs modern, geometric design. The main building -- a low-rise glassy structure -- surrounds a lovely garden, a luxe outdoor seating area, and the hotel's numerous pools. Outside, flowerbeds and man-made ponds line pathways around the grounds, which also feature a beautiful fountain made of metal beams.

There are more modernist elements inside. The furniture in the lounge area, for example, is simple and linear in style, and gray. Muted grays dominates much of the hotel's decor, though more fluid touches, such as the curved wood check-in desk, add character. Overall, the Aqualux has a very grown-up vibe. A quiet hotel, the Aqualux attracts guests who come for the relaxation and the spa treatments. Families with children feel welcome, too.

Located in Bardolino, the hotel is about a five-minute walk from the center of town, and a ten-minute walk from Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. The lake is an extremely popular destination with visitors, who can participate in boating, water sports, and biking. The area surrounding the hotel is largely residential. Verona, the historic city in which Shakespeare set three of his plays, is about a 30-minute drive away, making the Aqualux less ideal for sightseers.

Like the common areas, guest rooms get tons of natural light, which make them bright and airy. They also combine modern, linear and natural design themes. The Aqualux offers Comfort and Aqua rooms, which are smaller, in addition to three types of suites. The wooden furniture is sleek, and the color palette is neutral, though red and purple in the carpets, lamps, and shades in the smaller rooms add color to the generally bare decor. Even the Comfort and Aqua rooms have space to move around in, as well as sofas for seating, and outdoor balconies. Amenities include tea and coffee stations that come with kettles, and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are spacious -- though there are no bathtubs -- and include slippers along with robes. Wi-Fi is only free for 30 minutes a day in the rooms.

With eight pools and a full spa facility, comfort and leisure are Aqualux’s primary goals -- beginning with a free drink upon arrival. The extensive spa is a major feature of the Aqualux. It features three saunas, a large Jacuzzi, a solarium, a caldarium, and more, providing plenty of places to sweat stresses away. Facial and body treatments are available as well, and the large gardens on premise offer natural space for relaxation.

The hotel’s two restaurants keep guests well-fed, (as does the free daily breakfast) whether they’re craving Italian classics at Italian Taste, or international specialties at Drops Food & Wine. A pool bar and indoor lounge provide refreshments and food, too. A spacious fitness center includes cardio machines, weight machines, and number of free weights, but closes at night.

While the hotel seems geared toward play over work, there are five conference rooms (totally almost 4,000 square feet) at the Aqualux. Parking is free.