Lakeside Luxury
By N McFarlane, UK  
Destination Lake Garda, Italy  
Categories Family, Over 50's  
When Travelled May 2004
Length of Stay 7 Days  
Holiday Cost £500-1000  
Spending Money £400
Travel Agent Callers Pegasus  
Tour Operator Inghams
  
Airline First Choice
  
Insurance via Travel Agent
Accommodation Hotel Terminus. Excellent lakeside location with stunning lake views. Very friendly family-run hotel with superb standards of accommodation and comfort and excellent cuisine and hospitality. Food consisted of a 3-course meal eg soup, pasta etc for starters followed by a choice of main courses which included veal dishes, pork dishes, fish dishes and also vegetarian choices. Desert was buffet style and featured a wide selection.

Cleanliness at the hotel was second to none with towels being changed several times a day and maids who were always keen to avoid disturbing you.

  
 
Travelogue From the moment we touched down at Verona airport we fell in love with Italy. From our coach the first views of Lake Garda were stunning.

Over the course of the next week we visited the nearby resorts of Bardolino (famous for it's delightful wine), Sirmione and Malcesine (where we took an unforgettable trip up to Monte Baldo in a cable car). The resort of Garda itself was beautiful and the promenade cafes and restaurants were the ideal place to sit back and relax and watch the world go by.

We also enjoyed a day trip to Verona where we seen Juliette's balcony and we also visited the Arena where the operas are held over the summer (unfortunately we could only imagine how wonderful it must be!)

The highlight of the holiday, however, was our trip to Venice (the first time both of us had been). My first view of the Rialto Bridge and the view up the Grande Canal quite literally took my breath away. We also enjoyed an unexpected ride on a gondola (something I had always wanted to say I had done!). We then retired to St Mark's square where we enjoyed a coffee whilst sitting back and relaxing whilst listening to the orchestras positioned outside the cafes.

I can't wait until I return!!!
 
When to Visit April / May (55f) for gardens. June-August (77f) regattas, fireworks and concerts. September for harvest festivals.
 

Must See Attractions

  • Gardaland (www.gardaland.it)
  • Malcesine cable cars
  • Juliette's balcony, Veronaa
  • Highest Life expectancy in Europe. Situated where the Alps meet the Meditteranean.

    Maggiore (Majoree) goes into Switzerland so remember passports. Borromean Islands with villas, gardens and restaurants.
    Como - Belagio is picturesque. Hotel Belagio in Las Vegas – Amercans like it. Explore town of Como and enjoy architecture and shops for silk
    Iseo – quieter. Less tourism. Iseo historic town. Within reach of wine growing region of Franciacorta.
    Garda – largest. Pageants and concerts. Malcesine is popular family resort with good hotels and water sports.
    Orta
    Varese
    Lugano

    Other Attractions
    Villas and Gardens
    Shopping
    Restaurants – fish. Villa hotels
    Water sports – sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, diving, canoeing
    Golf
    Cycling
    Horse riding
    Abseiling, paragliding, hang-gliding, climbing, trecking, potholing, free-climbing (watch out for climbers suspended over lake Garda), bungee jumping
    Skiing
    Swimming
    Boat trips – steamers, rowing boats, motorboats, ferries
    Castles
    Beaches
    Museums
    Evening cruise

    For Children
    Southern end of lake Garda
    Themeparks – Italian equivalent of Disneyworld just outside Garda. Aqua Paradise water park.
    Swiss chocolate factory museum at Alprose.
    Transport museum at Ranco Lake Maggiore.
    Ice cream!!

  
 

Fab Tips

  • The weather can be very changeable so I advise that you pack for all various weather types (ie. pack sun-tan cream and an umbrella!)
  • Learn even a little bit of Italian.....they'll respect you for it!!
  
 

Useful Websites
 
© Fabulous Holidays 2004.