Hotel Savoy Palace

Hotel Savoy Palace has been sitting on the banks of Lake Garda since 1900, and has entertained the kings of Italy, Gabriele d’Annunzio, and Winston Churchill -- who has a conference center named in his honor -- among others. The hotel retains its period charm today, with a grand spiral staircase in the lobby and a great Art Nouveau chandelier hanging inside of it, and antique wood furniture. While the restaurant is a formal affair, decorated in shades of taupe, the bar has more casual, mismatched seating arrangements and a grand piano. Most travelers find the sophisticated, traditional decor charming, while others believe it's stuffy and in need of an update. Outside are two terraces, one with a freeform swimming pool, and the other edged with flowers of every color imaginable, looking out over the calm blue waters of the lake. 

Perched on the the quieter western shore of Lake Garda, the Savoy Palace Hotel is certainly serene, if nothing else. While there are a few hotels in the area, and some restaurants within driving distance, this area of the lake does not have the same amenities as busier areas. However, the center of town is a 10-minute walk away, housing restaurants and bars. The pretty town of Salo is a seven-minute drive in one direction, while nine minutes in the other is Toscalano Maderno, which has ferries that can take cars over the lake. Expect a transfer time of just over an hour's drive to Verona Airport.

The hotel’s 60 rooms are all spacious and bright, decorated with an air that might strike some as classically elegant, but dated to others. Rooms have dark-wood or patterned carpet floors, ivory walls, and cream furniture with a faintly regal air and gilded accents. Gold and blue shiny linens complete the traditional look. Classic Rooms have a desk and chair, an armchair, and bedside tables, while Superior Rooms make space for a pair of armchairs and a tea table. Deluxe Rooms are similar but come with a small balcony, while Prestige Rooms have a large, furnished terrace overlooking the lake. Most, but not all rooms have lake views; some overlook the unattractive main road that circles the entire lake. Bathrooms aren’t the most modern, but are nonetheless clean and equipped with a shower/tub combo, bidet, hairdryer, and toiletries. All rooms have a kettle, a flat-screen TV, minibar, and safe, as well as free Wi-Fi access.

The hotel offers a brief but well-thought through list of amenities -- primarily for couples. There is a freeform swimming pool set in a sunny terrace with loungers and a few umbrellas. A spa offers massage treatments and the use of a sauna, hammam, and hot tub, while a small but decently equipped gym has a handful of cardio and weight-training machines, plus free weights. A free buffet breakfast consists of the typical continental fare alongside some hot options. All meals are served in the hotel’s restaurant, which has a menu of Italian and international fare. During the summer months, guests can dine on a terrace looking out over the lake and edged with pretty flowers. Business travelers are catered to with four meeting rooms of various sizes, the largest of which can seat 140. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.