Benaco36

We arrived to find Lisa saying she had good and bad news: our room had been overbooked. She offered a larger room or an apartment in the neighboring house, but the apartment felt dark, sterile, and without charm or personality. It later turned out that Lisa had given the room we'd booked to a regular guest who had arrived spontaneously on their own. When we said we weren't happy with the alternative, Lisa tried calling that guest to persuade them to move into the apartment. They didn't answer, so she called other guests who, like us, hadn't booked, and tried to convince them to take it. In the end she offered us the dark apartment at half price. We declined and found an overpriced hotel in the area instead. We didn't feel comfortable having Lisa as host for a dark apartment, even at half price. We had booked the recommended family room personally and in writing five months beforehand, and had paid a deposit.

We'll definitely come back. The staff are lovely and motivated, and put so much time into making the place special. There were fresh flowers in the entrance, and our room was spacious and clean. Breakfast nearby came with a fantastic lake view. We had a fantastic stay at the hotel, our best choice at Lago di Garda and Torri del Benaco.

We spent four nights here in July with friends and loved every minute. Benaco36 is right in the middle of Torri del Benaco, tucked into this beautiful little town. Lisa and her family run the small boutique hotel and were extraordinary hosts, with valuable advice on making the most of our time at Lake Garda. The town itself is idyllic, with fabulous restaurants, a lively atmosphere in the evenings, and easy access to the lake. We highly recommend staying at Benaco36.

I love this place.