Falkensteiner Resort Lake Garda

Falkensteiner Resort Lake Garda has no golf course and golf is not among the hotel's services. Golfers will still find several clubs in the surrounding area, and the resort itself mentions Golf Riviera, Franciacorta Golf Club and Golf Club Il Colombaro, all playable, it says, all year round.

Il Colombaro lies at Cunettone di Salò: 9 holes on flat ground, mostly par 3s, suited to beginners and experienced players alike, with free access to the driving range. For a tougher test there is Gardagolf Country Club at Soiano del Lago, 27 holes across 110 hectares designed by Cotton, Pennick, Steel & Partners, between the Rocca di Manerba and the Valtenesi hills. The club is independent of the hotel.

The resort stands, according to the hotel, in a peaceful, open and slightly elevated position with lake views, on Via San Francesco d'Assisi in Salò. It is designed to five-star standards and brings together a hotel with 85 rooms and suites, all with balcony or terrace, the 174 apartments of the Falkensteiner Residences and 4 villas.

Suite guests (Lakeview Suite, Salò Suite or Corner Suite) get dedicated services: a personal concierge, continental breakfast in the suite on request, free early check-in or late check-out subject to availability and use of the spa on arrival and departure days. Check-in is from 4 pm, check-out by 11 am; underground parking is free.

The Acquapura Spa covers 5,000 m² over two levels. The upper floor, reserved for adults, has a panoramic sauna with lake views, a biosauna, a hammam with navel stone, a cold plunge pool, a rooftop pool and a relaxation room. The ground floor is for all ages, with indoor and outdoor pools, a spray park, a water slide, a children's pool and a family sauna.

There are 7 treatment rooms for treatments with herbs, blossoms and essential oils, an indoor botanical garden and a garden bathing trail among olive trees. The products come from Pharmos Natur, Team Dr. Joseph and Bergila.

The resort describes itself as a true Familienhotel on Lake Garda. Falkyland measures 1,500 m² and combines a workshop, a climbing area, soft play and bowling. The Falky Rangers programmes offer themed camps and creative workshops, from the Botanic Science Lab to a MasterChef kitchen; the youngest have a Biberonia kitchen with fridge, steriliser and bottle warmer, teenagers a teen lounge with a DJ booth and table football.

Three venues, two restaurants and one rooftop bar. At Artigiani breakfast comes with barista coffee and pressed juices; Hoku serves handmade pasta and salads; the House of Negroni Salò, billed as Italy's first, is open from 11 am to midnight with a rooftop aperitivo. Vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free requests are met on request, to be communicated in advance.

By car take the A4 and exit at Desenzano. By train, travel to Verona or Desenzano, then a public bus runs to Salò. For airports the hotel cites Verona, Bergamo, Milan and Venice and offers a transfer service to book. Dogs are welcome in rooms but not in the restaurant, pool and wellness areas: 39 euros per night per dog, food excluded.

• Italy's first House of Negroni, says the hotel. It sits on the hotel's roof and looks over the Bay of Salò.
• Bowling at a lake resort. It is part of Falkyland, together with the climbing area.
• A spa with two personalities. An adults-only zone on the roof and an all-ages zone on the ground floor.
• Bathing among olive trees. The garden bathing trail, the hotel writes, is surrounded by olive trees.
• Sailing since the 1960s. The resort notes that Lake Garda has been a favourite with sailors since the Sixties.