Verificata A nice stay
Hotel.
Its a decent looking hotel in an absolutly perfect location - right in the heart of Desenzano, beside the incredible Porto Vecchio.
The reception and bar are clean and staff friendly.
The rooms are confusing to get to at first.
Let me explain. On my arrival I was taken around the back of reception and squeezed into a lift barely big enough for me, my backpack and by suitcase.
The ‘lift’ went up one floor where the receptionist was waiting (she had gone up via the circular staircase opposite the ‘lift’)
She then gave me my room key and said go down that corridor (to my left) and up two floors.
I followed her instruction and at the end of the coridor was a traditional style staircase, I heaved my suitcase up two flights of stairs to find my room (my floor and the one below was only wide enough for three doors each)
My room was to the left, after yet another flight of stairs that I later found out ends in a single door - beyond which (I’m guessing) is the roof as mine is the top floor.
Every day I descent two flight of stairs, walk down the corridor, and descend the circular stairs to come out behind reception. It a maze!
Between the ‘lift’ and the circular stairs to reception is another set of traditional stairs which, after some exploring, I found led to more floors that like mine contained only a few rooms on each (as though the place has two towers with rooms that are touching yet independant of one another?) but these floors have entrances for the ‘lift’, why don’t we get something? My bag is very heavy!?
I will add here that the terrace on first floor gives brilliant panoramic view of the port.
Room.
My room is what you’d call ‘basic’ really, a desk with two chairs (just plain black plastic things that look and feel like those in a primary school), a decent sized wardrobe (but for the lenth of my stay its 5 hangers sort), and twin beds that make granite a comfortable alternative.
The pillows are as flat as they can get and the sheets are thin (but in this heat thin sheets are a positive!)
The aircon is very noisy at night, even on its lowest setting, and sounds like rain - I got a better nights sleep by turning it off entirely and sleeping ontop of the sheets.
It’s very quiet (besides the air-con) no complaints of hearing the neighbours or noise from outside.
The tea & coffee facilities in the room are good, a decent kettle and good coffee. I’m not a tea drinker but there a huge choice - 8 varieties!
Catering for all tastes here!
Inside the wardrobe the safe looks quite old at first, a simple key box - but that key is to a hefty looking deadbolt (loose that key and it will probably take a competent locksmith a while to open it again!)
It is quite small though - I put my travel documents in a standard A4 plastic wallet (that I’ve never had a problem with anywhere else) but here you have to angle it to fit in the box widthways, and even then the box is not big enough lengthwise - after only one day of getting it in and out (rather gently mind you) the folder split open!
There is a minibar in my room although it’s quite sparsely stocked - 2 cans of beer (both Heineken eww, why not a good Italian beer instead?), 3 soft drinks and 2 bottles of water.
The prices are on the wall by the door, not that pricey compared to other places I’ve been to (except to say that the water is not complimentary)
There’s a TV too, but looking at the printed chanel guide on the desk there are only 2 channels in English so I never even turned it on, I listened to music or watched films on my iPad instead.
My room has its own balcony, overlooking the alleyway between the hotel and the next building, in fact my balcony overlaps that of the next door building.
I can just about see the port looking down the alley!
Bathroom.
The bathroom is ok, a decent sink and toilet (and a bidet of all things?)
Not much in the way of towels, but the cleaners do give fresh ones daily.
There’s a decent shower (if a bit narrow) with a handheld shower head which I like, and good water pressure. In this heat it got daily use!
They also supply the usual soap, shampoo and bath wash.
But mind the step! It’s not a small incline into the bathroom, it’s at least the heigh of a standard stair so be careful going in and out at night (or after you’ve had a few)
Breakfast.
Breakfast at the hotel was not great - a few overcooked pastries, cereal, a few bits of fresh fruit (the choice changed almost daily - I liked the melon, kiwi and peaches) and the typical ‘cold cuts’ of hams and cheeses. I was disappointed that afterTuesday (market day) there wasn’t an influx of fresh items at breakfast.
The coffee at breakfast is awful (unless you ask specifically for a latte or cappuccino- both too milky for me though!) The coffee in the room is much better so I drank that then stuck to fruit juice at breakfast!
I will add though it is nice start to the day to get your breakfast and eating/drinking outside watching the Porto Vecchio with the chattering of birds.
On the odd occasion it was raining and I had to sit inside they only had the same plastic chairs as in the room (and I felt too low down compared to the table - proper patio furniture outside!)
In conclusion its a mixed bag really - soley for its location the hotel isn’t bad for a short break by the lake, but it is very basic so if you want something more luxurious maybe look elsewhere.
The same goes for breakfast, its ok in that its a little something to eat in the morning, but its in no way filling.
I had the best time in Lake Garda, and Desenzano was a perfect place to stay in, I’d love to return one day, but I don’t know if I’d stay here again.