My spa break on Lake Garda was the perfect way to welcome in autumn

19.10.2024 - 23:41 / euronews.com / Lake Garda / Ruth Wright

Many people travel to escape the daily grind but I love nothing more than a holiday routine. Call me boring, but I fully let go when I know how the day will unfold and all the little bits I can look forward to.

At Quellenhof Luxury Resort near Lazise on Lake Garda in northern Italy, my husband and I rose early so we could have the steaming hot outdoor pool all to ourselves. We meandered to breakfast - no rush with the buffet staying open until 11am - and went back for multiple courses, of course.

Our afternoons were spent napping in between the sauna, plush relaxation room and daily spa treatments. We rounded off the day with an evening ‘aperitivo’ in the bar before dinner at the very respectable 7pm - reflective of the majority German clientele rather than Mediterraneans.

I came to Lake Garda looking to switch off and recharge after a busy few months. The shores of one of Europe’s most famous lakes cover 160km so I had plenty of destinations to choose from. 

Lazise, on the south-east shore, suited me perfectly as it’s only a half-hour drive from Verona airport and the last thing I wanted was a lengthy or complicated journey. 

It’s a cute town of cobbled streets lined with restaurants, gelato shops and Italian-themed souvenirs. The Navigarda ferry across the lake stops in Lasize’s harbour making for an easy way to explore other towns. 

Lazise is also halfway between the popular Garda towns of Bardolino and Desenzano, allowing for easy day trips by public bus or car. 

If you want to explore further afield, Quellenhof offers guided tours to nearby cities, like Verona, and boat trips and e-bike tours around the lake. But don’t feel guilty if you can’t bring yourself to leave the warm and cosy cocoon that the hotel so expertly creates.

The sauna area is one of the best I’ve been in, with a whole circuit you can do from sauna to plunge pool to sumptuous relaxation bed. While some fellow guests were clearly regulars, I was glad of the instructions provided to help you reap the full benefits of the sauna experience.

Most of the other guests were families with children or teenagers while we were there, probably because it was school holiday time. The hotel has rooms, spa treatments and a sauna specially designed for families. So don’t worry if you’re coming as a couple wanting a romantic break - the adults-only sauna and relaxation area is a child-free zone. 

We only crossed paths with our fellow guests at mealtimes, though, the rest of the hotel was quiet and tranquil. If, on the other hand, you come with kids or teenagers, you’ll appreciate the waterslide next to the hotel’s outdoor swimming lake and three theme parks within a 20-minute drive (Gardaland - Italy’s largest - CanevaWorld and Legoland).

As with all the