Hotel Malcesine

Built in the early 1900s, Hotel Malcesine, with its central, lakefront location, draws many tour groups, and is popular with couples and families. Despite clusters of white leather sofas, the lobby is rather dark, with gray-tile floors and dark-wood paneling. The ceiling is white painted wood, but it’s low. Chandeliers with several orbs illuminate the space. A grandfather clock sits between the registration desk and the lobby bar, which have the same wood facing. A short, white marble staircase is adjacent to the elevator, and tourist information hangs from two glass doors. This is typically a quiet area, except when tour groups arrive or depart en masse. Guests are naturally drawn to the huge deck that’s right on the lake, which is a highlight of the hotel -- it's a wonderful place to have a drink or take in the views from the lounge chairs.

The hotel is in the center of historic Malcesine, directly on Lake Garda. It’s surrounded by narrow streets filled with shops and restaurants, and the surrounding old town can be a bit noisy at times. A pizzeria adjoins the hotel, which is next to the dock for the ferry that runs between Limone and Malcesine. It’s a three-minute walk to the medieval Castello Scaligero, and nine minutes to the cable car in Malcesine that goes up to Mount Baldo, which has amazing views and lots of hiking trails. The medieval town of Lazise is a 45- to 50-minute drive away, and it’s a 50- to 60-minute drive to the Gardaland and Movieland theme parks, and the Caneva Aquapark at the southern tip of the lake. Verona Villafranca Airport is about an hour's drive, and the train station at Rovereto is about a 45-minute drive.

Hotel Malcesine's 60 rooms are small and dated. Their wood furniture shows obvious signs of wear, and the mismatched floral-print bedspreads and upholstered chairs look old-fashioned. Drab yellow walls and exposed electrical cords do little to liven up the space. Floors are either wood laminate or light blue tiling. While rooms lack air-conditioning, they come with oscillating fans, but opening the windows lets in significant street noise. Many rooms have balconies, some of them large and furnished with lounge chairs, which have lake or city views. Wardrobes replace closets, and there are small dressers but no desks in the Standard Rooms, which include one double or two twin beds. Triple Rooms have lofts and sleeper sofas on the lower floors. Bathrooms are brighter, with white-and-blue patterned tiling, white pedestal sinks, and walk-in showers with frosted glass doors. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, safes, and hairdryers, but there are no mini-fridges or coffeemakers. Wi-Fi does not reach the rooms.

While features are limited, a full hot breakfast with eggs and meats is included in the room rates. The restaurant serves lunch and a multi-course dinner is included in some packages. The hotel also has a bar, and a large deck that juts out onto the water. Free coffee is available in the lobby. Wi-Fi comes with a fee, and it's available only in the lobby. There's no on-site parking.