Savoy Palace Hotel

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Visited Lake Garda last year, staying at the north of the Lake at Riva del Garda.
The area is stunning with gorgeous views of the Dolomite Mountains and the lake itself. It is very easy to get around the lake to other resorts using the ferries, which are cheap, and also local buses. Other resorts easy to visit include Garda, which has a great market (can’t remember which day), Malchesine (cable car up the mountain there), Limone, Lazise, Sirmione, Torbole (about half hour walk away from Riva), Bardolino and others. Regular buses go to Verona (don’t miss Juliette's Balcony) and Venice (about 2+ hours away). We did not do the Dolomite mountain tour but others told us it was wonderful.
In Riva del Garda there are plenty restaurants, pavement café’s and a selection of bars. As in all Italy the food is fantastic. There are also a couple of theme parks, which can be easily reached by bus. Great boat trips seeing all the wind surfers around the lake. There is a main square and there is usually some form of entertainment on. When we were there, there was a jazz festival on and the music was really good, ending in a musical parade around the resort. Also in the resort are the usual tourist shops and also some lovely clothes shops, shoe shops, leather shops, etc. Better shopping at nearby Limone, only 1 ferry stop away.
We stayed at the 4* Savoy Palace Hotel. It is at the further end of the resort, but still only about a 10-15 minute walk along the lakefront to reach the main square, or slightly longer to go the main road.
The hotel was brilliant. Lovely pool in surrounding garden, very clean, great restaurant with friendly staff. The food was also great. Hot or cold breakfast, surprise "hor douvres", choice of starter, main course and sweet, salad buffet and lovely fruit. The is also a gala evening every week with the restaurant staff putting on a lovely display and demonstration.
The hotel has free mountain bike hire (they are quite old though, but adequate for the less than serious biker). If you take the road around the back or the hotel, it takes you to vineyards for a lovely walk or cycle.
Overall, this holiday was great and have booked again for the area this year.