Gasparina Village

We don’t usually choose this kind of place, as we normally stay in a villa, but we enjoyed our time here. If we’re in the area again, we’d go straight back to the restaurant. The food was great for a reasonable price, and the service was exceptional. The restaurant and kitchen really are the heart of Gasparina village. The staff were so friendly, and everything we tried was excellent: pasta, seafood, and a T bone steak on our last night. The house wine was good, the desserts were stunning, and we sampled a few grappa that we liked. We got a warm welcome that lasted throughout the stay. After leaving for a few days to attend the Italian grand prix, coming back felt like coming home. The staff work hard to make sure guests have a good time. Our teenage son isn’t a morning eater, so he had a freshly made pizza for lunch every day. The dough was lovely and there was a good choice of toppings. They also do takeaway, which was ideal when we didn’t feel like socializing. We stayed bed and breakfast, and there were enough breakfast combinations to keep it varied. We didn’t try the evening buffet, but it looked good and changed daily. The pool is a big draw for younger children: it’s shallow, has slides and play features, and a slightly deeper end where older children and adults can cool off. A lifeguard was on duty all day and kept a close eye on things. We spent lots of time sunbathing on our terrace and watching the pool. The children seemed to have a hard time leaving it. We wish we’d visited when our son was small, he would have loved it. The fenced, gated area is locked at night to stop children wandering in, which seems like a great idea. There are two large supermarkets about a 20 minute walk away, though the first trip feels longest. Gardaland is around 15-20 minutes on foot. Bus stops outside its entrances serve Garda/Bardalino one way and Verona the other, about an hour away. The buses are easy to use. The train station is a 30 minute walk or 5 minutes by taxi for trips farther afield. We also walked about 35 minutes to the main centre of Pescheria del Garda on a cooler day. It was a lovely outing, though very touristy, and we were glad to return to the peace of Gasparina. You can walk, cycle, or scooter along the lake shore, where there are restaurants on the promenade. We didn’t eat at them because the food at Gasparina was so good. Reception staff were helpful with every question and gave us a smile that felt genuine.

The food tasted good, and the pool was nice for kids. They even put on some dancing for the children. But there were some frustrating things too: you can’t order two of the same dish at the restaurant, and the shower smelled like puke. From one of the rooms, we could hear the neighbours using the toilet. Internet was almost impossible to use by the pool or farther away, though it got better later in the evening. The city is a 25-40 minute walk, and the supermarket is about 15-20 minutes away.

The pool was a highlight for us. It’s large, not crowded, and we could always find chairs during the day. Our 6 year old could play there for hours while we kept an eye on them. For that alone, I’d consider coming back to the same place. The gelato was great, and the food we tried was okay. The beds were comfortable, and the apartment was mostly clean and tidy, with air conditioning. The apartment itself was fine, but quite small for five people. There was no oven, which we knew ahead of time, but it’s still a drawback if you want to cook. The kitchen knives were dull, making melon and tomatoes hard to cut. Heavy rain also came in from the terrace and reached the kitchen/dining area. WiFi barely worked. There were some other issues. Checkout is at 10:00 and check-in at 16:00, yet when we arrived at 17:00 our apartment wasn’t ready. After rain, when the pool area reopened, only two gates were opened, leaving half the guests to walk all the way around. It would only take one person five minutes to open the others. When I asked, I was told the boss had decided that. We had ants inside at times, and lots of spiders and webs outside by the door. They could easily remove those as part of cleaning. I’d keep doors and windows shut. Despite the problems, I’d still recommend this place to families with small children.

GASPARINA Village was quiet and very clean, with Lake Garda and Gardaland theme park only a short walk away. Our self-catering flat had the essentials we needed. The restaurant serves generous buffet breakfasts and dinners, and reception staff were friendly and efficient. We’ll definitely come back.