Leonardo Da Vinci Hotel

The Leonardo da Vinci Hotel seems to have a clientele composed mostly of German and English tourists with package deals, who are willing to look past the outdated shared areas and tatty rooms in favor of a generous all-inclusive deal and outstanding location. The lobby is an outmoded area, with blue pleather bucket seats, a checkered stone floor, and cut-out ceilings housing small chandeliers. The hotel’s restaurant is more simple with peach linen and floor-to-ceiling windows. Outdoors is a pool terrace that overlooks Lake Garda, and has views of the hills over on the other side of the lake. 

Only a two-minute walk away from the shores of the lake and a shingle beach, the hotel is sandwiched between Lake Garda and the Bresciano Hills. It's in a mostly residential area, and reaching the town center's shops and cafes takes about 15 minutes on foot. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the center of town. The ferry ports to towns like Riva and Malcesine are the same ditance. Other attractions like the Limonaia del Castel lemon grove and Chiesa di San Benedetto church are three-minute drives away. Expect between a 75- and 90-minute transfer to Verona Villafranca Airport. Free on-site parking is available.

The high point of the 240 rooms at the Leonardo da Vinci Hotel is easily the exquisite view that many of them afford, looking out over the lake and over to the mountains on the opposite shore. Unfortunately, the Single Rooms and Economy Standard Double Rooms lack outdoor space. Inside, rooms as a whole are less appealing, with whitewashed walls, chintzy bed linens, and aging floors -- either faux-terra-cotta tiles or carpet. All rooms have a desk that doubles as a stand for an old tube TV, while larger rooms have sitting areas. Located in a separate building are the Villa Lucia rooms, which are given a rustic feel by wood-beam ceilings and terra-cotta tile; they have large, furnished terraces offering panoramic lake views. Bathrooms are similarly dated but decently equipped, with shower/tub combos or stall showers, plus hairdryers and bidets. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, a mini-fridge, safe, and air-conditioning in the summer.

Guests come to the Leonard da Vinci Hotel not only for its stunning lake views but for its generous all-inclusive policy. The plan includes three buffet meals a day -- although some guests remain unconvinced about the quality of the food -- and free, self-service drinks in the bar. The hotel has a small, shingle private beach on the banks of Lake Garda, just a two-minute walk away from the main building. Also outside is a sunny terrace with views of the lake, housing a large lap pool and a shallow pool for kids. A spa has a hammam and sauna, plus there are a sizable indoor pool and hot tubs. Guests looking to work up a sweat can hit the hotel’s well-equipped gym, which has bicycles, treadmills, and various pieces of weight equipment. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.