i_am_kane

I've been at this for about three weeks now. My husband and I will be arriving via train from Venice into Desenzano. First thought was to stay where the rail and boat/ferry service are located, but we're not sold on Desenzano for five nights AR (May 3 - LV May 8, 2014). Peschiera del Garda is out because there is limited boat service, especially into the evening hours.

We have decided to stay in the lower part Lago di Garda, and have narrowed our choice down to two towns: Bardolino or Garda. What we eliminated is Gardone Riviera (too quiet, too removed from the water - not to mention expensive). Also eliminated is Sirmione (too many tourists, too small among other things.)

The terrain in Bardolino and Garda, from what I can gather, is mostly level to hilly. Fine, we don't want to be billy goats. Our wants: Frequent boat schedule, good selection of moderately-priced restaurants, a hotel directly on the water, an active/lively town center and a waterfront promenade. These two towns seem to fulfill our wants.

However, doing all this research on the Internet doesn't really give you the kind of information I'm looking as when travelers have actually spent time in these towns and can fill you in on the details.

Can anyone comment on these two towns considering the parameters I listed?

HappyTrvlr

You didn't mention Salo(accent on the o) which is on the west side of the lake, southern end. Italian friends told us to stay there and we were very happy with that decision. Lovely long waterfront promenade, good shopping if that interests you. It has a very nice feel to it. We stayed at Hotel Bellerive and loved it there, a little off of the main part of town. Hotel has a parking lot. Most of the visitors in Salo were speaking German and Italian, didn't see other Americans.

i_am_kane

HappyTrvlr,

Yes, Salo (with the accent on the o!). I did research on the town, but may have lumped it together with Gardone (don't ask me why). It is definitely not on the "No List." I'd be very interested in more information, e.g. did you enjoy the restaurants, is the main part of town active into the night? We don't stay up that late when we travel, but certainly enjoy being with other tourists in the evening.

Shopping is important to my husband, not so much me...he was in the garment business. Parking is not important since we are using the trains in-and-out. I will check out Hotel Bellerive.

Thank you so much.

kleeblatt

Bardolino is very nice.

i_am_kane

ttt

bobthenavigator

If you stay on the east lower part of the lake then look at this place http://www.gardesana.eu/index.cfm

I prefer the north end, and my second chocie would be the west side--perhaps Salo--but it is as expensive as Gardone.

i_am_kane

Bob, the town as well as the hotel is lovely. However, it seems as though boat/ferry service is limited, which is a prime consideration for us.

quokka

I found Bardolino a bit lame compared to Garda and, even more so, to its other neighbour Lazise, which is a cute old town with walls and a small port right in the heart of the old town. The centre is entirely flat, and it has good boat connections and also good bus connections. So Lazise might be an alternative to consider.

i_am_kane

quokka, I will check Lazise out. Although, you might agree, during the wine festivals, Bardolino is hopping.

Gal_in_EdmondsWA

We did a lot of research too, and then asked friends via Facebook where they would base themselves at Lake Garda. A friend enthusiastically recommended Sirmione, which she said clears out nicely later in the day, and specifically this hotel: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Lombardy.html

We'll be there for 5 nights in just a couple of weeks, and will report back. We are basing there, but planning boat trips and exploring other villages every day.

i_am_kane

Gail, You certainly piqued my curiosity with your post. I will investigate your recommendation. Thanks.

Improviser

Well, I'm a definite Riva del Garda fan first, second and third choice. Everything else comes after that in no particular order. A plus here, a minus there, none as good as Riva.

i_am_kane

Improviser, You are not alone in your opinion on this board; however, time constraints will not permit us to travel from the southern part of Lago di Garda to Riva and back down to the southern part (Desenzano train station).

Some day maybe we will put it on a future Italy itinerary.

annhig

i_am_kane,

I suspect that in your earlier thread I sang the praises of Garda itself, and I'm going to do so again. there are several reasons for this:

1. lovely position on the lake
2. wide range of accommodation [this may be a minus as there are undoubtedly a lot of people as well but it seems to absorb them well enough]
3. lots and lots of boats all round the lake, including some express.
4. nice walking along the lake.
5. nice restaurants and shops to explore in the evenings.
6. a good bus service.

buon viaggio!

i_am_kane

annhig,

You're my kind of girl! You actually read all my "wants and restrictions" for this trip, and summed everything up in your post.Your input is invaluable and always appreciated.

I will begin my search for hotels (hopefully with a lake view) in the town of Garda.

annhig

my pleasure, i_am_kane.

good luck in your hunt. I have a feeling that we stayed in the hotel Garda [original name!] but I can't find anywhere of that name in Garda itself. perhaps it's gone out of business or changed it name, and it was too long ago for me to remember exactly where it was. i wouldn't actually recommend it to you - a little too far from the boats and the lake I think [no view] but for our family holiday with our then quite young kids, it fitted the bill well enough.

Rubicund

On the topic of Sirmione: The hotels inside the walls are very good and there is a good choice of restaurants in the town itself. Although the place is mobbed during the day, in the evenings it quietens down and is very pleasant to walk around. The part of the town that is outside the walls stretches back right to the main road, some 2 or 3 Kms and is lined with hotels and restaurants.

However, the town inside the walls has a very special feel in the evenings and we have stayed there a couple of times, as well as in other towns round the lake. Sirmione is now our first choice. I can recommend the Flaminia or the Olivi as good hotels.

The boats are frequent from the landing stage near the Flaminia and there is pleasant walking along the lakeside just outside the walls, all on the level.

flygirl

These are not on your list, but, from our 2012 trip after research I chose Malcesine. After having visited Lake Garda, my next time would either be a stay in Malcesine or Limone sul Garda. Our brief visit to Riva del Garda was in a downpour so I can't opine on that, although it's also in a dramatic area so likely quite pretty.

Improviser

"time constraints will not permit us to travel from the southern part of Lago di Garda to Riva and back down to the southern part (Desenzano train station)."

I'm a bit confused by that statement kane. You say you plan to stay for 5 nights. Are you just referring to the time of day you woul arrive at the lake and then have to get to Riva and the reverse when leaving? With 5 nights, you certainly have enough time to go to/from anywhere on the lake.

Your choice is of course your choice but I personally would not make my choice of where to stay for 5 nights based on how convenient a train schedule is or is not. I expect to find a way to do what I want, not change my plans to suit others.

If my interpretation is correct, then I would say, 'cart...horse'. I would choose WHERE I want to go and then figure out HOW to get there.

annhig

Improvisor - my interpretation of what the OP means is that she wants to stay in one place and make day trips around the lake. The problem with staying in Riva or in Sirmone is that it is difficult, if not impossible, to do a day trip to the other end of the lake from there.

whereas, if you stay somewhere on the east or west bank, you can visit anywhere on the lake with ease.