Hey Wifey wants to do something a bit different next year for the summer holiday so Lake Garda is high on the list. Anyone been? Which is a good resort for a family (my lad will be 9)? Is it simple enough to get a train from an airport? Verona best? Cheers
Love Lake Garda, we prefer Sirmione for resorts, right on the end of the pointy bit! A nice town, highly recommend The Hotel Olivi ... it is a spa hotel so the Wife will be happy. Not sure on activities for a 9 year old but i'm sure there is stuff around. We just got a private transfer from the airport, it's not far and just saves hassle
I'm sure you already know about this place https://www.gardaland.it/en/ I lived in Salo and Riva years ago. Riva is a very beautiful town with cobbled streets and cafes, classic Italy. Malcesine in the north is very popular with families, so is Limone. Sirmione is a really pretty place. Torbole in the north is a watersports / windsurf and sailing mecca - best place to stay there is Lido Blu which has its own school/ instructors. Traveling around the lake on hydrofoils is fun and quick. There is a public bus to and from the lake to Verona airport. If you get flights from Thomson or one of the package holiday companies you may be able to get transfers aswell. Journey times are around an hour to southern destinations, longer to the northern resorts. I would get a car, and run down to Venice for the day, and use it to explore all the little places around the lakeshore. Garda gets very busy in the height of summer, so expect a lot of Germans everywhere. The car will help you get away from the crowds. Here is a clip of the driving style between Salo on the west side of the lake. Bardolino wine comes from here, so enjoy a few glasses!
We stayed in limone this year,beautiful. Visit the mountains Boldo and Marmalade in the Dolomites. Loads of motorbikes especially up the pordoi pass. I'm not one for laying all day by the pool. We hired a car and visited Verona,Venice and of course the Ducati Factory in Bologna.
All of the lakes are beautiful but Como is the best IMO, (also most expensive). Having had 4 biking holidays to Italy, Verona is I think my favourite city.
