Hotel Piroscafo - Desenzano del Garda

8.7

Hotel Piroscafo has a central location, just a few steps from the Lake Garda. It is a bit far away from the railway station, but can be found easily. It has a very kind staff and clean rooms.

9.4

We really enjoyed our stay in Desenzano. The city is conveniently located. We went by boat on the lake, by bike to Sirmione, and by train to Venice. Hotel Piroscafo has an excellent location at the old port, in the middle of the old town. The staff were service-minded and friendly and the rooms were clean with "fresh" interior and air-condition. One of us found the bed a little too hard.

8.2

Lovely location, charming hotel, very clean, and the staff were very helpful and obliging. The room was small, as was the ensuite - but we knew this when we booked. We had a view over the Porto Vecchio, which was beautiful (did Di Chirico ever stop here?). We had noticed from other reviews that the rooms overlooking the port were allegedly noisy, but didn't find this to be so at all - perhaps we were just lucky. The breakfast was not bad at all. I think this hotel serves older couples who want to be well located for local bars and restaurants, and for access to the lake (2 mins to the embarcation point), very well. Also, since we were travelling by train, it was important to be accessible to Desenzano Station. It's a very pleasant 10-15 minute walk downhill from the station - we got a taxi back, though! (around 10 Euros). All in all we were very happy with the hotel.

8.1

Lovely hotel, ideally situated. Rooms a little small but spent spent most of time out of them. No restaurant in the hotel but surrounded by places to eat. Staff were pleasant and helpful. Would return to this hotel.

9.7

This is a very nice hotel in a beatiful setting very near Lake Garda. The hotel has very nice sitting areas including a terrace and is very near the lake and many restaurants. The employees were friendly and helpful.

6.7

Nice hotel, very conveniently placed and very quiet. It is walkable from the station but we didn't have a map and despite the written location instructions got a bit lost when trying to find it. The room was very nice, super clean, with ensuite shower room and balcony. Also a flat screen TV, but only news channels in English, no mini bar so buy your own water or overnight refreshments. The reception staff all spoke English and were helpful with directions and information on how to get to Brescia airport. Much nicer than the grumpy woman in the Tourist Information Office, which is conveniently placed outside the front of the hotel. The breakfast is definitely not worth 9 Euros and the coffee was foul and tasted of chicory, also one tea bag for a pot of hot water doesn't make for a very strong cuppa. If you want a proper coffee it costs 2 euros but better option is to go to one of the numerous cafes nearby. Densenzano is a good location for getting around if you don't have a car. It's easy to get to Venice, Milan and Brescia (where you can get a bus to the airport) by train. We also got the Bus to a few local places but make sure you get bus tickets from the yellow newsagents kiosk in town first. Overall this is a nice hotel in a very picturesque setting, however the town, though billed as more of a authentic 'italian' town than places such as Sirmione, is still very touristy. For that reason I probably wouldn't stay here again. It is however a good venue for those wanting a quiet holiday in pretty surroundings, and a particularly good option if your Italian is a bit basic or non existent as nearly everyone both in and out of the hotel spoke English.

8.7

This hotel is located moments from the beautiful lake. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and helpful in recommending places to eat. The room was spacious and clean.

9.9

We loved this hotel and its location. I requested a room with a balcony - one was not available at the time I made my reservation, but the hotel contacted me a week or so later to say one had become available and would I still like it...I though that was a really nice touch. All the hotel staff were lovely and spoke excellent English, the hotel rooms are exceptionally clean, and sitting on a tiny balcony overlooking the little square and port with a glass of champagne was a perfect start to our holiday. In fact we liked it so much we booked another night there on the last night of our trip. Room 8 is a bit cramped, but 10 was a little bigger. The directions provided are a bit vague - it is easier to follow the town signs to the Centre and Old Port - when you drive along the waterfront I actually could recognise the hotel from the picture on the website. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in Desenzano, and it is only 45 mins from Bergamo airport, so we found it a perfect placce to start & finish our trip. You can park outside the hotel long enough to unload bags, and then they give you directions for a public car park which gives you a concessional rate - beware, the car park doesn't always open on time in the morning, so if you have an early start you might be better to park elsewhere. The hotel is excellent value for money, I wouldn't bother with the hotel breakfast though, there are plenty of cafes around for a cappuccino & cornetto. We loved it!

9.0

Professional staff always willing to help. Rooms were fine for us.

5.6

the hotel in general was good but the beds were the worst that i have ever tried to sleep in (that includes IBIS hotels). I or my wife did not sleep for the duration of our stay. The beds consisted of a hard mattress and a wooden base. could not recommend this hotel on that basis. TG

9.7

very well situated 2 mins to ferries 15 to railway station. very helpful staff. easy access to Verona and Milan by train.

10

This was our first time to Desenzano; we were looking for a quiet place to spend the night en route to Venice having flown from Calgary that day. What we found was all that and more! We had taken the train from Milan, walked down the hill to the hotel (10 min). Our room was great - spacious and clean. We also went for a walk along the harbour and lake that evening, relaxed with a coffee at one of the many cafes, and totally enjoyed ourselves. Would have liked to have stayed longer, but had a time constraint for the next day.

9.0

l'hotel è esattamente come descritto sul sito, la posizione fantastica così come la vista sul vecchio porticciolo. Il personale molto cordiale ed accogliente.

2.7

I would not recommend this hotel to anyone because of the small size of the room and the depressing decor.

8.8

The hotel was everything we expected excellent no complaints. We enjoyed our stay in the hotel and Desenzano it was very central to other towns on the lake, to the opera in Verona and indeed its only a short journey by train to Verona where you can spend a pleasant day or evening, the last train is around 10pm. We are sorry that we didn’t use Hotel Piroscafo as a base for a visit to Venice.

8.4

My husband and I booked this hotel on line after reading other people's reviews. The hotel was fantastic. We tried to book a balcony room for the week but it was not available at the time. The Hotel owners e-mailed us later and said there was one available if we still wanted it which was very helpful. The room was quite small but we were not in it for long. The room was spotlessly clean and was cleaned every day. It had a balcony view which was worth the extra money though there is a terrace with loungers on the second floor overlooking the harbour. It was in the centre of the old town and overlooked the harbour. You could also see the lake. It was one of the hottest days when we arrived and we welcomed the air-con. Slightly noisy at night but worth it!!! The room was quite sound-proof with the doors shut. We booked breakfast, which was a continental breakfast. If they ran out of anything they went out of their way to get us what we wanted. It was really handy for getting ferries to other places on the lake. There were some lovely restaurants around the hotel, so we didn't have to walk far. The cafe across the road, with the swingchairs, was a lovely place to relax on an evening after dinner with a coffee or glass of wine. The receptionists spoke good english and were very helpful and friendly. We would recommend this hotel to anyone.

6.0

Excellent location very close to a choice of restaurant. Fabulous view if you have a balcony at the front. Breakfast good & hotel good. Would use again.Desenzano probably best Garda town. WARNING - Took advice from previous view of visitor on website that passports are taken away on registration and left later for collection on main unattended desk with room keys!!!!Saw this happen during stay & being prewarned wouldn't leave passport but they accepted photocopies I provided.

9.4

We were very pleased with the hotel and would definitely return and recommend to others. Actually the hotel's website doesn't do it justice. We found it to be prettier than pictured and more modern than expected. While the room (waterview double) was a bit 'snug' it had all the comforts incl. A/C which several guidebooks stated was not available. Many european hotels only have the 'bath sheet' instead of towels. Not here; there were huge fluffy terrycloth towels that were a pleasant surprise. The buffet breakfast was one of the best we've seen and the variety was appreciated. Staff was wonderfully accommodating and we were able to check in before noon - another nice surprise. Hotel was extremely clean and well kept. Location was perfect. Rail station is walkable even with luggage (mostly downhill) but we recommend a taxi to go back uphill with bags! All in all, this was a terrific hotel and our first stay in Lake Garda. We enjoyed everything.

8.4

The central and picturesque location was beyond expectations.The staff was always welcoming,friendly and helpful. The view form the balcony was enchanting. A small minibar type of refrigerator would be usefull to keep water, fruit etc cold in the hot weather. Breakfast was ample and of good variety for the price. Highly recommend this hotel

8.9

Just at the harbour. Perfect.

9.6

In my opnion this hotel is outstanding for the quality of service and the location. Very friendly staff, rooms are small but clean and cosy. I would visit the hotel another time. Polecam - nie jest najtańszy, ale to i tak najlepsza cena w okolicy - i dobry punkt wypadowy - w pobliżu przystań promowa i jachtowa. Bardzo miła i profesjonalna obsługa, czyste pokoje. Oczywście nie jest najtaniej, ale jak na okolice to bardzo dobra cena, więc warto!

7.8

Optimal location, directly at the small old harbour. Fantastic view from the terasse and room also.Only in the morning there was some rumor because of the cleaningmaschine around the harbour. Very friendly staff and receptionteam.Only minuspoint is that the parkingarea is some minutes away.It takes 5 minutes to reach the hotel...not so much problem! gladly come again!

9.5

What a fantastic hotel! Great location overlooking a small square. Definately opt for the balcony option if it's avaliable. We did and sat out on the balcony in an evening with a bottle of local wine. We stayed in loads of hotels as we travelled Italy and this was one of the best - if not the best! Lovely area but make sure you get up early if you want to get the boat as it takes quite a long time to get to the top of the lake.

9.5

we had such a wonderful time at the Piroscafo - however this requires a room out front towards the little harbor, as we had.No question: If we ever should return to Desenzano (and there is every likelihood we shall), there is only one place to go: Piroscafo. We wish managemet and staff all the best and success. J. Pueschel

8.3

One complaint- the parking for the hotel was 3/4 mile away. Had difficulty getting luggage unloaded because festival time and streets closed off. Need to make customer aware , specially if handicapped.

9.4

Hotel Piroscafo is an excellent value in an excellent location. We were given a room on the second floor from which we could walk out on a terrace with a beautiful view over the water below. We sat out on the terrace both nights of our stay and drank a bottle of wine. Rooms on floors above us on that side of the hotel had balconies. The staff was very friendly and helpful and they all spoke English. The hotel is a 10-15 minute walk downhill from the train station. When we checked out we took a cab to the station for 10 euro rather than walking up the hill. The room itself was rather small, but adequate and the restroom was modern and clean. We enjoyed our stay very much.

5.9

buon albergo, con gadevolissima posizione prospiciente il lago. ottimo il rapporto qualità-prezzo. Piccola la stanza

7.7

Bello e tranquillo dove passare un week end rilassato

7.4

The welcome to the hotel was warm and nice. The hotel is located perfectly to the center and very close to the lake that you don't need a car. Unfortunately the parking situation is a bit mad but not far away the parking area is always good for a walk. However the hotel is simple but quite nice. The towels and the bed are perfectly clean. We would not stay longer than a weekend because the rooms are too small and noisy although our room showed to the opposite side. All in all we can recommend the hotel and for a short stay we would come again.

8.1

This is a nice hotel. The staff are very welcoming. I would stay again. Easy to get to from the train station. The only downside is the breakfast was very expensive. Other than that, we were very happy with this hotel.

8.0

Hotel centrally located next to old harbour - good views from front rooms. We were at the back facing a small, quiet courtyard. We liked the look of the place immediately and the check-in staff were friendly. There is no parking on-site so there is a concession at a secure car-park which is 5-10 minutes walk. You can park outside the hotel for loading/unloading. From the evidence of information packs, this hotel is used by some of the English-speaking tour operators (e.g. Inghams)

8.1

fantastic location and staff were extremely welcoming.

5.1

Surrounding is wonderful, very nice, but the room too tiny and build/decored when I was born or before that (60'-70'). I have been for 10 days in northern Italy and I have stayed in much better hotels for less money... but of course they were not in desenzano nor in that nice place as Piroscafo is.

8.8

Very warm welcoming. Everything was ok but it is a pity there is no car park close to the hotel.

10

We would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone. It was our first visit to this part of Italy and we wanted a restful quiet resort, easily accessible to people not hiring a car from which to explore the Lake Garda area and this situation and hotel suited us perfectly. Well done.

9.8

Very friendly, clean property.Will be back!!!

9.7

Well sited on waterfront. Handy to services such as bus, ferry, restaurants. Welcoming staff. Rooms clean and well serviced.Breakfast adequate but croissants appeared to be rationed to one per person. Would stay here again.

9.2

A very comfortable hotel in a very convenient location. We stayed in a double room at the front of the hotel, which had a balcony overlooking a small marina. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. A very pleasant stay.

9.5

This hotel was a real 'find' and excellent value for money. Although the rooms are small they were clean and comfortable, and the balcony overlooking the harbour made up for it!The staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful and the location could not be better, near to the bars, cafes and restaurants, the ferry terminal and bus stop, while a cab to the station (uphill and a longish walk) was only about 10 euros. Overall we were very impressed and would definately go back.

9.5

This hotel is in an ideal location in the centreof the town about 10-15 mins walk downhill from the train station. The hotel rooms are very well decorated and furnished, although a little small. Bed linen and towels are changed every day. I would suggest paying the small supplement for a harbour view room with balcony. The town has many good restaurants and bars, and there is an excellent steamer service to all parts of the lake. the terminal is about 5 mins walk from the hotel. Desenzano station has a good rail service to Milan, Verona and Venice. Altogether an ideal place for a short or medium term vacation.

7.8

The Hotel Piroscafo is a clean and modern hotel just a few metres from Lake Garda. The beds are comfortable, the rooms and bathrooms are clean and tidy though compact. You should sleep well though as Desenzano is a quiet place, equally, expect to be woken by the tolling of the Duomo bells at 7am! Reception staff were helpful and spoke good English, they will gladly provide you with information on travelling around the region by boat, train, car or bus. The buffet breakfast provided was good, with a reasonable variety to choose from, though perhaps a little pricey. Location wise, the hotel is approximately 10-15 minutes walk from Desenzano train station, perfectly feasible if you are fit and your luggage is minimal as you are walking downhill. Should you need to leave Desenzano by train, you will not need me to advise you to take a taxi or bus UP the hill! As a destination, Desenzano is quiet, though pleasant, having good vistas across the lake. There are a good number of shopping opportunities however, with shoes, leather goods and designer clothing stores prevalent. Trattoria Alessi provides good value food and is close to a rather incongruous Irish Bar, should you, like me, feel in need of a Guinness!

9.8

Superb wee hotel in the middle of Desenzano. Service excellent: all round great wee hotel, highly recommended!!

6.6

Breakfast is not included in the quoted price it is 9 euros extra so you may want to have a brunch in the many good eating places in the town instead of having the breakfast in the hotel. Other than that an ok place to stay

7.9

A pleasent hotel with helpful management in a good location in the centre of descenzano

10

wonderful hotel ... easy walk from train station + beautifully situated on the lake and with a boat dock view. we loved our stay!

10

We spent 4 days in September at the Piroscafo and had a wonderful time. We walked down from the train station almost directly to the hotel taking about 10 minutes. Our balcony overlooked the old port with the tourist office on one side. The ferry terminal was just around the corner, bus stop a bit further on. The hotel staff were great and very helpful despite our poor Italian. Altogether a very enjoyable place to stay.

5.3

This is a basic hotel with a good location. It was difficult to park the car near the hotel and we had to pay for our parking overnight ten minutes away. The decor in the hotel is basic and very oldfashioned and the breakfast was middle-of-the-road. Fine for a one-night stay.

8.7

a neat, cosy hotel in a lovely location

8.8

Easy walking distance from rail station and right on the lake front, next to an attractive marina. Highly recommended base for Lake Garda. Quieter and less over-priced than other destinations there. Good food, great strolling and shopping.

9.6

found the hotel to be clean and well maintained and staff to be of a very pleasant nature and helpful in every way. the location is central in desenzano and near to ferry terminal, but would be a 10minute[up hill] walk to the train station from the hotel. plenty of good restaurants and cafe/bars close at hand. found the town to be quiet and very family oriented. would recommend this hotel to any one staying in desenzano, it would be a good base for sight seeing on the lower lake [by ferry/bus]and day trips to milan/verona/venice etc[by train].