Garda Rooms

The best part is the view from the window: the room looks right onto the lake, with just the pedestrian walkway in between. The railing and frosted glass still give you privacy. If you’re staying here, check the sunrise time and set an alarm. Watching the light and colors change over the lake and the Sirmione peninsula minute by minute is a real highlight. The guesthouse sits just outside the pedestrian area, which is very handy for a weekend in Desenzano. There’s a big paid car park nearby, though with a little patience and a short walk of a few hundred meters, we found free parking easily. Self check-in was straightforward, with clear instructions from the owners over WhatsApp, and they’re always available if you need anything. We were in room 4, which was just the right size for two, with a wardrobe, desk, bedside tables, and a very comfortable bed. The bathroom is spacious, and the rooms look recently renovated.

The view of the lake is spectacular, and room 3 is spacious, bright, and clean, with a large, clean private bathroom. The guesthouse is right on the lakeside, so the promenade passes directly in front of the room, which does affect privacy. The biggest drawback is the lack of a mosquito net. In the evening, you can’t leave the window open without all sorts of things getting in. Check-in and check-out were very convenient, and the WhatsApp instructions were clear. The hostess was very kind and even offered us a late checkout so we could enjoy Sunday.

I liked the online check-in, since the instructions for entering the room gave us complete independence. There are lots of restaurants and bars nearby, and you can take a ferry during the day for a reasonable price. The building was easy to find, with white parking lots out front and nearby. Our room was spacious and reasonably clean, though the cups for herbal tea were so dirty they couldn’t be used. It faces the lakeside promenade, so there’s no privacy with the window open, but the view is spectacular. With all the summer tourists, I don’t think it’s ideal because you can hear everything in the room. The rooms need better insulation.

Breakfast is served at Pasticceria Garibaldi, about 200 meters away, and it’s a fantastic sweet Italian breakfast with several kinds of coffee and fresh squeezed juice. There’s no buffet of cheese, cold cuts, and eggs, but the staff there are incredibly friendly and helpful. On the street, there’s plenty of free parking. We spent Easter here, and the six rooms in the accommodation are modern. Our room had everything we needed, stayed clean, and was thoroughly cleaned every day. We didn’t use the air conditioning, so I can’t comment on it. Beforehand, Celeste was very friendly and gave us useful information. The view is much better than the owner’s photos show. From the sliding door, the whole lake is right there, only about 2.5 meters away, and it feels like you could jump in. We loved it. With the curtains open, you can even see the lake from bed if you sit up. I wholeheartedly recommend this place. Many thanks to Celeste and her team. We’ll definitely be back.