Hotel Le Balze Aktiv & Wellness

My husband and I stayed a week at Hotel Le Balze Active & Wellness for a tennis holiday and ended up adding an extra night because we enjoyed it so much. The mountain-top setting gives you spectacular views of Lake Garda, cooler air than at the lake, and a lovely breeze in summer. The green surroundings are great for biking, hiking, tennis, or just relaxing. The hotel was impeccable, from freshly painted walls with no scuffs to staff scrubbing the fabric on the restaurant chairs. Our room and bathroom were spotless and comfortable, with no water spots in the shower, and the linens, pillows, and mattress were all very comfortable. Breakfast was extensive and delicious. There were juices, fruit, cakes, bread, pancakes, jams, cold cuts, cheeses, and more. The scrambled eggs were the best I've had. We ate dinner at the restaurant every evening, and the chef was excellent. There were good antipasti, first and second courses, and desserts. I work in the restaurant business and was impressed by the quality. Every meal came with a panoramic lake view, and the building's circular shape means all the tables get the scenery. The service team were friendly, polite, multilingual, and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. By the end, we knew everyone by name. It's very family friendly, with mini golf, basketball, an indoor pool, spa, Pilates, and yoga. A couple of evenings had after-dinner entertainment, including a magician and live music. The clay tennis courts were in pristine condition, and the pizzeria by the courts served delicious thin-crust pizza. We also took lessons with Matteo, a wonderful coach who helped tune up our skills. We'll be back for sure.

We had four glorious days at Hotel Balze as part of a tennis holiday. The staff, food, views, and tennis facilities were all lovely, and it was great value for money. I can't recommend it highly enough, and we'll certainly come back.

Getting up to the hotel takes a while, and the road from the main road is tiring enough that you need to drive carefully. The mountain view is its one real plus. The place felt average and nowhere near four-star quality. It was hot, but when we asked staff to switch on the air conditioning, they refused. Breakfast was below average too. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The reception was kind, and the setting and views are the hotel's main strengths. If you’re hoping for a four-star wellness break, though, this was a letdown for us. The wellness area costs extra and is just a tiny room with two saunas and a Jacuzzi. We were probably the youngest couple there, and the hotel didn't meet our expectations. Breakfast was the worst we had on our two-week trip through Austria and Italy. I expected much more from a four-star place. Staff seemed like school trainees, which isn't automatically a problem, but we had to carry our own coffee from the bar. We went early, yet the window seats were all marked as reserved and stayed empty throughout breakfast. The organization was poor, and we couldn't enjoy breakfast with a view. The hotel might work for people who want to play tennis or go hiking. For us, it feels like it hasn't kept up with the times and isn't what it once was.