Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

Traveling to Lake Garda from North Europe is pretty cheap, as the lake surrounding area is being served by low cost carriers flying to Brescia, Bergamo and Verona airports.

However take care of the airport transfer. Arranging transfers from Brescia, Bergamo and Verona airports to the main resorts of Lake Garda could cost you much more than how you would pay for the flight.

- Free transfers -
A lot of hotels offer free transfers arranged by the tourist board. When you book your accommodation ask if they offer the transfer service as they will book it for you..

- Private transfers -
A private transfer is quite expensive; you would have to email the hotels direct about a transfer.

- Transfer by public transport -
- Train and bus
Trains (from Bergamo or Brescia to Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano) and then (more…)

Among the beaches awarded with a Blue Flag, some are lake’s beaches. Sirmione well known locality along the Lake Garda’s shores with its beaches of Lido Galeazzi and Punta Gru is among them.

Lake Garda, is among the Italian lakes, the only that combines Alpine and Mediterranean beauty. Desenzano, Riva, Malcesine, and of course Sirmione, are just a few of the places that make this area well-known to worldwide travelers.

A special offer, including 3 nights in a 4 star hotel room and return flight from London (LGW-Gatwick), give you a chance to visit this area, starting from £ 289 (GBP). The offer ends July 25, 2006. See details, following the link ‘Special offers’, at

- Travel Brief -

See Lake Garda on the map.

- Getting there
- By plane: Brescia and Verona airports also served by the low-cost RyanAir and EsyJet.
- By train: Peschiera del Garda and Desenzano del Garda stations.
- By car: driving along the A 4 motorway that goes from Turin to Trieste, exits: Sirmione, Desenzano, Peschiera d.Garda.

- Accommodation
Accommodations in Lake Garda area

‘I sensi in gioco a Malcesine’ is an event celebrating the spring arrival on the Lake Garda, taking place in Malcesine, delicious center located on the lake shores, April 22 and 23. The festival is a sort of senses travel among the local flavours. Wine and local specialties tasting will play a major role.

- Wine Tasting
Wine tasting in the shops of the old city centre; approx. 50 wines will be available including an extraordinary “guest” from Piedmont: “La Barbera”. (Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 03.00 p.m. to 07.00 p.m.)

- Food Tasting
Four local specialties as cheese, bruschetta, polenta carbonera and lake fish will be served in as many stands.(Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and 05.00 p.m. to 07.00 p.m.)

- Know herbal essences
A sensory experience to get to know multiple herbal essences and enjoy a herb tea at Lympha herbalist’s shop in the courtyard of Teatro Furioli.(Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 03.00 p.m. to 07.00 p.m.)

- Music and theatre
Classical music concert by the lakeside at sunset, theatre performances, dance and Argentinean tango show, music and band concerts in the streets of Malcesine.

Visits to Castello Scaligero (free admission), sculpture, painting, and photo exhibitions will enrich of art and history this 2 days festival of the senses on the Lake Garda shores.

A new flight will connect Lake Garda area to Rome.

Swiss carrier Solinar, will operate the flight Brescia - Roma Fiumicino, under the label VoliAmo, with Boeing B737-200QC (130 seats in Economic class) starting from March 27.

The Brescia airport gave the announcement about the new flight, after the Ryanair’s decision to suspend its flights on the same route.

Main difference with the flight operated by RyanAir, is the replacement of the Ciampino’s airport with Fiumicino.

Below, some information about the flight operated by Solinar

- Timetable:
Brescia 8.10 AM - Rome Fiumicino 9.10 AM (Mon - Tue - Wed -Thu - Fri - Sat)
Brescia 5.45 PM - Rome Fiumicino 6.45 PM (Sun)
Rome 7.30 PM - Brescia 8.30 PM (Mon - Tue - Wed -Thu - Fri - Sun)
Rome 10.00 AM - Brescia 11.00 AM (Sat)

- Ticket price: 59€ (tax included)

- Booking starting from March 1st

(Source)

Carolyn asked us advice about a holiday in Italy including seaside, lakes, and art cities:

“…My husband and I will be traveling to Italy in July to attend a wedding in Verona.
We are thinking of hiring a car and driving to the lake district.
We have 4 days and then take the car back to Verona and then take the train to Cinque Terre for a week. Travel from Cinque Terre to Rome by train with an overnight stop in Florence. Does this itineray sound ok?…”

4 days for the lakes is ok, if for “lake district” you mean Lake Garda and surroundings only. By hiring a car, you’ll be able to comfortably visit the several towns and villages that are worth to see, located along the shores of Lake Garda.

From the lake to the seaside: a week for Cinque Terre is enough to enjoy of sights, hiking, walking, and any other activities this land has to offer you.

If I were you I would extend one more day the stay in Florence; in order to do that, you may cut one day from your Cinque Terre stay.

However your holiday seem to be well planned; no any rush , car hire just when it appear to be necessary - Lake Garda surroundings would be hard to visit by public transp. .
It includes lake, sea, and art cities, such great destinations as Lake Garda, Cinque Terre, Verona, Rome, and Florence. The only downside could be the crowds; by choosing very common travel destinations, in July you could encounter any crowd, especially to the lakes and sea.

Accommodation in Italy: more than 5,000 Hotels, B&B’s, Agritourism, and Apartments bookable online