Hotel Palme & Suite

I don’t usually write reviews however upon reading previous reviews prior to booking I was very dubious about staying at this hotel but decided to take a gamble in that we weren’t planning on spending much time at the hotel and we’re mainly using as a base. I can honestly say it is really not as bad as some reviewers have reported, whilst it is somewhat dated I actually felt it gave it a certain charm. It is graded a 3 star and that is what it is, you cannot expect 5 star. It is very clean, sheets and towels changed daily. We stayed in the Palme suites which is separate from the main hotel. Reception staff were extremely friendly and helpful and restaurant staff too. We stayed on a half board basis, the pasta dishes were always excellent, the main course of either fish or meat were not always to our liking and with all the lovely reasonably priced restaurants in Garda in hindsight would have been better to have booked bed and breakfast. Location is excellent 5 mins to main bus station, supermarket just across the road and again only 5/10 mins to Garda town. The hotel was occupied mainly by elderly Germans who were out very early at 7.30am putting their towels down to reserve their sunbeds, maybe this is something that could be controlled by the management. Garda is very beautiful, and I am glad that I chose this town after reading reviews that it was the best town to stay in for first timers to Garda, it is very easy to catch buses and ferries to other towns which we did. Malescine is beautiful as is Sirmoine, was slightly disappointed with Jamaica beach in Sirmoine as it was extremely difficult getting in and out of the lake due to the huge flat rocks being covered in algae and making it very slippery. Monte Baldo is amazing and definitely should be visited, as is the thermal springs in Cola. We were planning on visiting Gardaland but did a one day ticket where you can go to Movieland and the water park next door which was fantastic, no queues apart from one jeep ride. We booked the Venice trip with the ATV bus which was great value for money compared to some of the guided tours and gave us plenty of time to take a gondola trip, wonder around and have lunch. Can highly recommend Europlan for airport transfers, punctual, keep up to date with messages about timing, very reasonably priced. The driver went out of his way to return a mobile phone to us that was in the vehicle. All in all a fantastic holiday in Lake Garda!

This was our 2nd stay here - the first one was pre-covid. The decor and facilities are all a little dated - they don’t appear to have been updated since our first visit. Our room this time was on the ground floor, and with a large terrace (with no view) that was in need of attention. The service is what makes this hotel, though. All the staff are helpful and friendly. It’s in a good position, about a 5 minute walk to the bus station, and 10 minute walk to the lakeside.

The hotel is perfectly located near Garda town, only a few minutes walk to the waterfront. Easy to find if you come by car. The hotel is worn due to aging, but it is still clean and cosy. Staff is very friendly and to me that made up for whatever "beauty defects" there were. Breakfast is satisfactory. Nice poolarea and good service from the pizzeria by the pool. Recommend for families with children.

So, let's start with the positives. The price is relatively cheap. I paid about £150 for 3 adults half board in high season. The pools are a good size and they allow inflatables. The staff are very friendly and efficient especially in the restaurant. It's a good location, taking only 10 minutes to get to the lakeside or the bus station. They have entertainment on 2 nights a week. We were on the 2nd floor of the Palme in Room 202 which had a balcony overlooking trees and with a view of the mountains. The give you fresh towels, bedding and shower gel and soap every day. Now the negatives. There is free wifi which did extend to our room and the safe in the room is free. The hotel complex is in need of some upgrading and repair. I think originally this has been 3 adjacent hotels which have been brought together as one. The one on the right as you come down the drive is now just offices. In the pool near the Palme Hotel part which is the quieter one, the steps down into the pool are very wobbly as they are coming out of the ground. They need reconcreting in. On our floor there were sofa beds on the landing which I would put in the tip. The TV has no English channels. The breakfast is OK if you just want continental but there is no toaster and the bacon and sausages were anaemic. Our room had 3 usable sockets which like all Italuan hotels have 3 prongs not 2 like you get elsewhere in Europe so make sure your adapter specifically mentions Italy. The evening meal arrangement is strange. There are 2 sittings at 6.30pm and 8pm. You chose on the day which one to go for. Its not 6.30pm to 8pm. Its 2 defined sittings. At 6.30pm or 8pm you help yourself to salad and soup. Then once everyone has finished their starter in the whole restaurant they come around about 25 minutes later with a choice of 2 pasta dishes which they serve to you. Then once all pasta is eaten they come around with your main course which is either fish or meat with 1 vegetable. Don't trust the descriptions of the food. Fish in butter is actually battered fish for example. Then you get one small piece of cake for dessert and a choice of mousse in a glass dish. It's a very slow meal. The food tastes mostly OK. Be careful if paying by card for drinks and check on your banking app. One night we were charged twice for the same drinks within a couple of minutes of the 1st transaction. When we complained they did refund us though. They allow you to leave luggage on your last day but there is no secure storage. You have to leave it in main reception just around the lounge chairs. They do have underground parking but we didn't have a car. The paving between the various areas of the complex is uneven and needs repairing. You could easily trip as the blocks are raised up here and there and are loose. There is a lift but the restaurant is on the floor below reception. You can get down by lift but you can't call it to take you back up which is weird and not helpful if you are disabl

A very basic hotel, the rooms are very outdated, uncomfortable beds and flat pillows. No sockets in the rooms that take the eu plug they all take a three pronged plug. The wifi does not reach the rooms it’s only available in reception which is always packed with children due to this. There were no tea or coffee facilities in the room or even a fridge to keep items cold. The aircon was good but cut out on us and they wouldn’t move our room. The breakfast is alright but basic and the coffee is undrinkable. The first night their we arrived around 8pm and just wanted something basic to eat, we went to the dinner provided in the basement, the staff made us feel unwelcome, did not explain the obscure way of ordering properly and the food was nearly inedible. The only saving grace of this holiday were the pools and Livia who works in the bar, she was the only staff member who made us feel welcome and happy to see us. The rest of the staff could learn a lot from her. The room and bathroom was also infested with ants and we woke up each morning covered in bites