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7 nights
‘Our best holiday yet’: How Lake Garda won over a whole family
When Rich and his wife Jenny visited Lake Garda with their two children, Arthur, 6, and Florence, 2, they couldn't stop talking about their trip.
Theme parks, lake paddles, Dolomites day trips and delicious gelato (of course): this holiday seemed to have it all. And the Gasparina Village Apartments in Castelnuovo ticked all their accommodation boxes, too. We caught up with them to find out exactly why this was their best family holiday yet…
Theme parks, lake paddles, Dolomites day trips and delicious gelato (of course): this holiday seemed to have it all. And the Gasparina Village Apartments in Castelnuovo ticked all their accommodation boxes, too. We caught up with them to find out exactly why this was their best family holiday yet…
What made you pick Lake Garda?
Jenny: We'd actually been to Lake Garda once before, for a destination wedding – we stayed in Bardolino then. Since that trip, we kept seeing other people we knew going back and absolutely loving it. And then Gardaland theme park came onto our radar. It looked like so much fun for the kids, and it was the thing that made us finally book.
Rich: We knew from last time that the lake is pretty accessible from everywhere, so we were confident that wherever we chose to stay, we'd have a good time.
Rich: We knew from last time that the lake is pretty accessible from everywhere, so we were confident that wherever we chose to stay, we'd have a good time.
RichWe really got to balance relaxing with exploring and having adventures together.
How would you sum up the trip overall?
Rich: Well, we weren’t wrong about having a good time – it definitely exceeded our expectations. It was our best family holiday yet.
Jenny: It felt like two holidays in one – maybe even three – between the theme parks, exploring the lake, and visiting the Dolomites.
Rich: And we really got to balance relaxing with exploring and having adventures together.
Jenny: One big thing that struck us was how well set up the whole lake seems to be for families. Wherever we went, there was a playground. Everyone was so friendly – to us, and to Arthur and Florence, too. We never felt like a bother for having young children with us. Lake Garda just works for families – we're already talking about going back.
What were the Gasparina apartments like?
Jenny: We did a lot of research. What we were after was a place with a lovely pool that was also self-catering – somewhere with enough space to hang out in the evenings without needing to go out. We mostly had our main meal in the middle of the day, so the evenings were about winding down together.
Rich: The pool was brilliant – quite shallow, and because it was so hot, the water was really warm. The kids could enjoy it at any time of day – no extra layers needed. We could sit in the shallows and relax while they played safely.
Jenny: There was also just such an easy-going vibe. There was loads of space, it never felt crowded, and the apartment itself was a really decent size – two bedrooms, a kitchen and living room, and a lovely patio outside where we could eat and sit out in the evenings. It was so nice to be able to shut the door at the end of the day and have some quiet time once the kids were in bed.
Arthur: At the apartments I enjoyed playing in the pool the most – and the room and the playground!
Rich: The pool was brilliant – quite shallow, and because it was so hot, the water was really warm. The kids could enjoy it at any time of day – no extra layers needed. We could sit in the shallows and relax while they played safely.
Jenny: There was also just such an easy-going vibe. There was loads of space, it never felt crowded, and the apartment itself was a really decent size – two bedrooms, a kitchen and living room, and a lovely patio outside where we could eat and sit out in the evenings. It was so nice to be able to shut the door at the end of the day and have some quiet time once the kids were in bed.
Arthur: At the apartments I enjoyed playing in the pool the most – and the room and the playground!
Florence at the Gasparina Apartments.
And did Gardaland live up to your expectations?
Jenny: We bought the two-day pass [which covers both the theme park and nearby water park]. We definitely made the most of it. On the first day we went to the Legoland Water Park and did a bit of Gardaland, then headed back to the hotel for the afternoon. Because it's so close, you can nip back easily, which was perfect with little ones. On day two, we went back with a proper plan – we already had a sense of where we wanted to go and which rides we wanted to do.
Rich: We've been to Disneyland and Legoland in the UK, and honestly, Gardaland felt quieter than either of those – especially later in the day.
Jenny: Peppa Pig Land was a huge draw for Florence. She absolutely loved it.
Arthur: I liked the Legoland Water Park best – there were loads of slides!
Rich: We've been to Disneyland and Legoland in the UK, and honestly, Gardaland felt quieter than either of those – especially later in the day.
Jenny: Peppa Pig Land was a huge draw for Florence. She absolutely loved it.
Arthur: I liked the Legoland Water Park best – there were loads of slides!
Florence at Peppa Pig Land (Gardaland).
Tell us about the road trip you did
Rich: Hiring a car was a good idea. We'd originally planned to use the buses – which would have been fine – but we wanted to do a full loop of the lake, and having the flexibility of a car, especially with Florence still being young, made everything easier.
Jenny: First we headed up to Limone. It was really hot, so we'd looked up some good spots to swim in the lake – there's a beach there, stony so you need shoes, but there was a changing area and everything you needed. It was clearly a popular spot, and we could see loads of other places you could have a dip along the way.
Rich: We wandered around Limone afterwards, had a lovely lunch in the harbour, and explored the steep streets. We found a great playground there, too, so the kids could play while we sat and took in the views.
Arthur: There were loads of lemon-y things everywhere in Limone – because they actually grow them there.
Jenny: Then we got back in the car and drove over the top of the lake and all the way round the edge. The driving's not that different to the UK apart from being on the other side of the road, and we had air con, so everyone stayed cool. Seeing the whole lake like that was one of the highlights.
Rich: It really was. I'd hire a car again without a second thought – the best bit was getting a taste of everything.
Jenny: First we headed up to Limone. It was really hot, so we'd looked up some good spots to swim in the lake – there's a beach there, stony so you need shoes, but there was a changing area and everything you needed. It was clearly a popular spot, and we could see loads of other places you could have a dip along the way.
Rich: We wandered around Limone afterwards, had a lovely lunch in the harbour, and explored the steep streets. We found a great playground there, too, so the kids could play while we sat and took in the views.
Arthur: There were loads of lemon-y things everywhere in Limone – because they actually grow them there.
Jenny: Then we got back in the car and drove over the top of the lake and all the way round the edge. The driving's not that different to the UK apart from being on the other side of the road, and we had air con, so everyone stayed cool. Seeing the whole lake like that was one of the highlights.
Rich: It really was. I'd hire a car again without a second thought – the best bit was getting a taste of everything.
Lake swimming near Limone.
How was your day trip to the Dolomites?
Jenny: It was about a 2-hour drive, so a long day, but absolutely worth it. Such a beautiful journey, and the scenery just gets more dramatic.
Rich: We'd done some research beforehand and chose a spot high up in the Dolomites. We'd read that the many of the mountain huts up there have playgrounds – so we knew we should find somewhere good for the kids to play.
Jenny: And they did – we found an amazing playground right up at 2,000 metres. It was so much cooler up there than at the lake, which felt really refreshing. You could hear cowbells in the distance. It was a magic moment.
Arthur: I loved the mountains – especially riding up in the cable car!
Top tip: Want to explore the Dolomites on your trip, but without the driving? The TUI Grand Dolomites Tour takes care of everything – just sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Rich: We'd done some research beforehand and chose a spot high up in the Dolomites. We'd read that the many of the mountain huts up there have playgrounds – so we knew we should find somewhere good for the kids to play.
Jenny: And they did – we found an amazing playground right up at 2,000 metres. It was so much cooler up there than at the lake, which felt really refreshing. You could hear cowbells in the distance. It was a magic moment.
Arthur: I loved the mountains – especially riding up in the cable car!
Top tip: Want to explore the Dolomites on your trip, but without the driving? The TUI Grand Dolomites Tour takes care of everything – just sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Arthur in the Dolomites.
Were there any other standout moments?
Rich: We loved wandering around Sirmione – it's got these beautiful winding little roads. We went to some of the beaches, explored, and of course we had to get ice cream.
Jenny: The ice creams there were the size of the kids' heads. We bought them to take away, but they were so enormous we had to sit down to eat them. A very big highlight.
Arthur: Mine was strawberry.
Florence: Chocolate!
Jenny: We said if we ever went back without the kids, we'd stay in Sirmione itself. It's one of those places: just so beautiful, with so much to see.
Arthur and Florence tasting local treats.
What was the food like overall?
Jenny: Food was actually one of the reasons we chose Italy – pasta and pizza are such staples for our family. Our kids aren't that fussy, but they're not the most adventurous eaters either, and everywhere we went they could have a nice easy meal. Florence's favourite meal of the whole trip was actually a lasagna she had in Limone.
Rich: I had a lot of seafood and really enjoyed trying the local fish. And in the Dolomites, we had amazing alpine food – dumplings, that sort of thing. A lovely change from pizza and pasta, though the mountain huts still had children's menus with pasta and chicken.
Jenny: The supermarkets were also fantastic – great salads, lots of fruit, and you could find everything you'd need for a relaxed evening back at the apartment.
Rich: Some of the best food we ate was at the restaurant at the Gasparina itself – being able to take it back to the apartment and eat it out on the patio was such a treat.
Rich: I had a lot of seafood and really enjoyed trying the local fish. And in the Dolomites, we had amazing alpine food – dumplings, that sort of thing. A lovely change from pizza and pasta, though the mountain huts still had children's menus with pasta and chicken.
Jenny: The supermarkets were also fantastic – great salads, lots of fruit, and you could find everything you'd need for a relaxed evening back at the apartment.
Rich: Some of the best food we ate was at the restaurant at the Gasparina itself – being able to take it back to the apartment and eat it out on the patio was such a treat.
Out and about in Sirmione.
So, would you go back?
Jenny: Without a doubt. We'd maybe try a different part of the lake, use the boats and ferries to get around – they looked brilliant. And I'd love to try one of the thermal spas next time. We spotted a few that looked great for kids too.
Rich: Absolutely. None of it felt like hard work. The kids were really happy and smiling the whole time, and we got loads of chill-out time too.
Rich: Absolutely. None of it felt like hard work. The kids were really happy and smiling the whole time, and we got loads of chill-out time too.
Lock in your holiday and make holiday memories under the Italian sun this summer.
Want to know where’s best to stay? Check out these kid-friendly resorts and hotels around Lake Garda.
Author: Matt Robinson
Last updated: 22.05.2026
Want to know where’s best to stay? Check out these kid-friendly resorts and hotels around Lake Garda.
Author: Matt Robinson
Last updated: 22.05.2026