Grand Hotel Terme Sirmione

I had really enjoyed my stay at Grand Hotel Sirmione until the last morning. At breakfast, in a public restaurant where people were chatting freely, I took a FaceTime call with a friend and spoke in what felt like a normal voice for the seating area. Two couples rudely confronted me, mocked me, and called the manager. He came over and said my call was bothering others and I had to take it to the lobby. Other couples at the same table were talking freely, so I didn’t see a difference between what I was doing and what they were doing. The experience was humiliating and disappointing, and felt discriminatory. I felt I was treated differently because of my skin color while white couples around me spoke freely. The manager should have clarified that taking a call in a lively public dining area was acceptable. That incident overshadowed an otherwise pleasant stay. I’ll take my business elsewhere in future, and can’t recommend the hotel because of the discriminatory behavior I experienced.

The restaurant was fantastic, and the staff made us feel at home with their highly trained, welcoming service. The rooms were spacious, with fine linen sheets and linen hand towels that felt a step above. The building is stunning, decorated in a lovely mix of art deco and old money castle style. The hotel sits right in the heart of Sirmione on Lake Garda, surrounded by the lake. The old city walls are just steps away, yet a beautiful garden isolates the property from the crowded town. Breakfast overlooking the water, an old wooden boat cruise, a swim in the hotel’s thermal pool, and an Aperol at sunset on the deck made for what I’d call a perfect day. Sirmione is an upscale village, lovely for a romantic stay or a family visit.

The natural thermal baths inside the hotel and its location, with immediate access to Sirmione’s historic center, were the only real positives. The hotel feels obsolete, like it’s resting on an old reputation without any interest in updating or improving. We arrived at 3 PM and waited half an hour to get into our room. My fiancé had requested a lake view, but our balcony looked over the hotel’s thermal baths instead. When we raised it, we were told there were no other rooms available. The place is extremely outdated and didn’t feel exceptional in any respect.

The restaurant team were the bright spot for us. Every waiter and waitress was warm and professional, and gave A+ service. The location is hard to beat, right in central Sirmione with gorgeous lake views. There’s onsite parking, bike rental, and decent spa facilities. We stayed three nights in June, though the experience didn’t feel like five-star service overall. At $850+ a night, we expected more. The Aqua Termale’s sulfur smell hits you on arrival, and perhaps something aromatic in the lobby would help. Bugs were a repeated problem around the pool: dead ones on chairs, umbrellas, windows, and shaded spots day after day. Those areas needed daily cleaning, and some parts of the pool had visible mold. The paccheri dish could use reconsideration too. We paid extra for a lake view suite with modern furnishings and a balcony, though it was really just a room with a sofa. Bugs made the balcony unusable, and a notice on the sliding door warned us not to open it. On our last night, we found more than 30 bugs on the ceiling, despite never opening the balcony door. After our calls went unanswered, we went to reception, where the attendant immediately accused us of opening the door before hearing us out. Following an unpleasant conversation, we were moved to a much lower-quality room with no lake view or updated furnishings, but kept paying the original premium rate. The manager wasn’t available the next day. We got a spa gift as compensation, but no adjustment to the rate for the downgrade or the bad experience. The location is spectacular and the restaurant staff carry much of the stay, but expectations may need adjusting at these prices. Those staff deserve a raise.