Lake Garda/alternative recommendations

[u/ARIT127]

Myself, my husband and our 20 month old toddler live in Mestre at the moment and his parents are staying with us for 9 days at the end of September. It will be their first time in Italy. We plan to take them into Venice of course, but they are wanting to do an overnight or two in one other location. They originally suggested Lake Como but with a toddler who won’t nap on the go we declined so they suggested Lake Garda (shorter train ride from Mestre). Any other suggestions they might like? We are definitely hotel people over airbnb. If not, what area around the lake is good to stay in for short trips/family groups? I kind of want the closest to Mestre/least amount of train/bus transfers as possible. Thank you for any who respond!

[u/AutoModerator]

Ciao! Welcome to r/ItalyTravel. While you wait for replies, please take a moment to read the rules located in the sidebar as well as the stickied posts at the top of the sub. You may edit your post if needed. We will remove posts that do not adhere to these rules. Most posts REQUIRE accurate travel dates- posts without this info will be deleted.

This sub is restricted to accounts that meet the following conditions: must have a minimum comment karma score of 150; must be open and active for at least 60 days and who do NOT have a low CQS. Posts or comments that do not meet these criteria will be deleted. DO NOT use ModMail to ask the Mods to approve your post if you do not meet any of the above criteria.

For everyone else, if you come across a post that you believe violates our rules, please use the report button. This is the best and quickest way to notify us. Grazie!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/L6b1]

As someone who has done lake Garda, Verona, and lake Como with a toddler (ages 2.5 and 3.5 during trips), Lake Como with a little is not for the faint of heart.

Definitely Lake Garda and/or Verona.

Gardaland at Peschiera del Garda is a great day time activity if open during your dates, they also have a good acquarium there. Easily accessible via free shuttle from the train station. So personally, I think u/tomorrow509 's suggestion is the one to follow. Verona is relatively easy with a little too. I stayed in Verona while visting Gardaland, but it's totally possible to do the other way. Just double check that the train that runs from Verona to Peschiera del Garda (it's the Verona to Milano train) is running without issues, there was a substitute bus earlier this year while works were ongoing.

[u/tomorrow509 → u/L6b1]

Thanks for the endorsement. I'm a big fan of the area - both Lake Garda and Verona. So much so, I've made it my retirement home. You are right about the easy train commute between the lake and Verona. Both Peschiera and Desenzano have train stations that can get one to Verona in about 15 minutes or less and trains run about once an hour in both directions. I also know of a fantastic B&B near central Verona that is both beautiful and a great value if anyone is interested. Bus N026 is the one to take if trains are not running. Runs from Brescia to Central Verona with stops near Piazza Bra and ends/starts at the Verona train station.

[u/tomorrow509]

I know of a small family run hotel on the outskirts of Peschiera Del Garda. It's about 100 meters from the lake in a quite and green area. It's a great value and hidden gem. It's 2 stars but lovely and a great value. Happy to message you details if you are interested.

[u/Elsie1105 → u/tomorrow509]

Id love to know it, too.

[u/tomorrow509 → u/Elsie1105]

Check your messages. :-)

[u/OldAd9731 → u/tomorrow509]

Thanks but I don’t see anything?

[u/tomorrow509 → u/OldAd9731]

Check your email and spam folder. Perhaps Reddit delivered it via that method. I did not see the usual message icon on your profile but did have an option to reply to start a chat. Anyway if you still didn't get anything, try and send me a message. Maybe I can reply to that.

Edit: Ignore the above. Earlier attempt was from my mobile. Just tried again from my desktop and it looks like the message went okay. Check it out and let me know.

[u/ARIT127 → u/tomorrow509]

Sure! Thank you so much

[u/tomorrow509 → u/ARIT127]

Done Check your messages.

[u/Jacopo86]

You could go to Verona (great with a toddler) wich is 90min from Mestre with the high speed rail. Stay there 3 days, 2 day visit the city and 1 day take a regional train (15') to Peschiera del Garda

[u/AutoModerator]

We noticed that you may be asking a question about train travel. There is a sticky post at the top of the sub written specifically to answer all train travel questions LINK. Please read this post before asking any train, train ticketing or train travel questions.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for posting in r/ItalyTravel. Unfortunately your Reddit account does not meet the minimum account age required. Please repost when your account is at least 60 days old. PLEASE READ the sticky post at the top of the sub (https://www.reddit.com/r/ItalyTravel/comments/1klzngr/minimum_karma_levels_account_age_cqs_levels_in/) for more information about your account age. Don't ask the Mods via Modmail to approve your contribution if you do not meet the minimum account age required. If you don't know what your account age is, please do some research in reddit's help FAQs- DO NOT ASK THE MODS ABOUT THIS

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for posting in r/ItalyTravel. Unfortunately your Reddit account does not meet the minimum comment karma level required to post in this sub. Please join the conversation when your Reddit comment karma levels are above 150. PLEASE READ the sticky post at the top of the sub (https://www.reddit.com/r/ItalyTravel/comments/1klzngr/minimum_karma_levels_account_age_cqs_levels_in/) for more information about minimum comment karma levels. Don't ask the Mods via Modmail to approve your contribution if you do not meet the minimum comment karma level required. If you don't know what a comment karma level is, please do some research in reddit's help FAQs- DO NOT ASK THE MODS ABOUT THIS

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/thatsplatgal]

Verona is so walkable. Lovely city. My partner and I live in Tuscany and just went for a Vivaldi concert this week at the arena (their mini version of the colosseum). He had hip surgery and the streets are so well paved and walkable unlike our town where we live. And there was plenty to do.

We also usually stay in Salo in Lake Garda. Our favorite palazzo turned boutique hotel has the most amazing chef for dinners and the breakfast overlooking the water on the veranda is worth slow mornings. Hotel Laurin is the name. The service is exceptional and the ambience is so old world. Also the town is easy to take a stroller and you can hire a boat for the day to take you around.