The Garda Village

The rooms were horrible, with old interiors, uncomfortable beds and pillows, and old blankets that didn’t seem clean. There were no towels, shampoo, shower gel, or other toiletries. The doors were awful too: once closed, you couldn’t open them without a key. The food was very poor, with the same limited choices in the morning and evening. The canteen was very old, and its staff were rude. The pool was bad as well. It only opened from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and swimming caps were required, which I’d never encountered at a hotel before. I went once with my family, but after my son jumped in, the lifeguard kicked him out and made our whole family leave after ten minutes. The lifeguards were rude. Prices at the bar and shop were far too high, a drink cost €3, and the shop had very little to buy. Reception only worked until 8 p.m., and the staff and service were rude and treated us like animals. The hotel was overpriced. You could get much better all-inclusive hotels in Spain for much less. Choosing this place was a very bad decision. Don’t go here!

The location was fantastic, right by the lake, with beautiful views, nature, and wildlife like ducks. You’re also near restaurants and beaches, and the sunsets are great. The views alone were breathtaking. The village felt roomy and relaxed, and the staff were very friendly. They said guests often get confused and argue with them because LoveHolidays doesn’t mention these issues in its description. I’d return to the area, but not to this hotel unless it improves the food, accommodation, toiletries, and free Wi-Fi. The rooms don’t feel like a 4-star hotel and have lots of cosmetic problems. Our bed wasn’t very comfortable: it was two single mattresses pushed together, with several broken support beams. The shower was small, had no shampoo, and used a pull-out lever that was easy to knock off when backing into it. The pressure was good, though. There was AC, a fridge, and a freezer, but no soap, dish soap, shampoo, or toilet paper. Having to make your own bed didn’t feel very luxurious. Breakfast had limited choices and little variety, and the food overall was very average. Phone signal was extremely slow, and the hotel only offered paid Wi-Fi, which I wouldn’t expect at a 4-star place. The thermal spa and castle area are about an hour’s walk away, or a 5-10 minute drive or bus ride. There’s also a nearby beach bar I’d recommend.

The bungalows are a bit dated, but the beds were OK, and it was pretty quiet at night. If you’re over 190 cm tall, watch out for the box on the master bedroom wall. I hit my head hard on it. The village itself is roomy and relaxed, with nightly kids’ entertainment at 21:00 and activities for teenagers. It’s a good location if you want to avoid being in traffic all the time around Lazise and Peschiera. The lake and pools are great for swimming, and it’s a lovely spot to watch the sunset.

We had a great time here with my school class over four days. The location was nice, the campground was mostly clean, and there was plenty to do, from mini-golf and basketball to soccer and swimming when it was hot. We had half board, and the food was truly delicious, with lots of different choices each day. The main annoyance was the Wi-Fi. It wasn’t free, cost a lot, and still didn’t work in our bungalows, only in certain spots around the village. Our shower cabin door also wouldn’t close properly, leaving a gap where water leaked onto the floor, so we had to dry it each time. Some of the other bungalows rented by my classmates seemed to have a similar problem.