We stayed at the Hotel Kriss in a lake view double room for 7 nights from Wednesday 22 to Wednesday 29 June 2011. Initially as it was our first time at Lake Garda we were a bit overwhelmed with the choice of resorts. We were looking for a mid price hotel, adjacent to the lake (so we could have a lake view room) and we wanted it to be either in or in easy walking distance to the town centre and we were very pleased with the Hotel Kriss as it ticked all the boxes. It is a small family run hotel with approximately 35 rooms, although they also own the nearby Hotel Aida whose guests can also use the Hotel Kriss’s facilities. We booked our room directly with the hotel’s own website. At the time of booking there was an offer on for free taxi transfers to/ from Verona Airport. So we sent the hotel our flight details, they emailed back to confirm that they had booked the transfers. When we arrived at Verona Airport there was a man with a paper with our names on it. He transported us and 2 other couples in a 9 seater vehicle. We were the first to be dropped off at our hotel and the transfer took approximately 30 minutes. Similarly on the day before our return reception gave us a piece of paper with our taxi transfer details on it and directions of where we were to pick up the taxi. We were picked up in a car park just off the main road, a 5 minute walk with our luggage from the hotel, this time we were the only passengers and the journey again took about 30 minutes. The journey is possible also using public transport as there is a shuttle bus from Verona Airport to Verona bus station, as we didn’t require that I do not have any details. From Verona bus station there is the 62 – 64 bus that goes to Bardolino which departs approximately hourly throughout the day time. We used the bus service for a day trip Verona and the journey took approximately an hour and from the bus stop it was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel without luggage.

When we arrived at the hotel we were welcomed by the lady on reception. Throughout our stay all the staff were friendly and courteous. We took the lift to our room. We had booked a superior room, with a lake view and we were very pleased with our choice. The room which was an average size for a European hotel was very clean (our room was made up by our return from breakfast each day) and comfortable. There was a double bed, bedside table, plenty of wardrobe space including space to store our 2 suitcases, a cupboard with shelves, desk, two chairs and flat screen TV (there were Italian, German and 4 English channels). There was a mini bar with a polite but clear notice that if found staff would remove any drinks in the fridge that wasn’t from the hotel. There was also a safe with a charge of 1 euro per day for its usage and the key was obtainable from reception. The ensuit bathroom had a lovely walk in shower, toilet, sink and bidet and there was a constant supply of hot water. We had a balcony with 2 chairs and a table which overlooked the lake which was very pleasant.

We stayed in the hotel on a half board basis. Breakfast was self service and there was a good selection of food. The buffet consisted of a selection of hot drinks, fruit juice, water, rolls, bread (there was a toaster available), pastries, a choice of homemade jams, cheese, meat, boiled eggs, a choice of cereals and I also noticed some special dietary products. Guest selected their daily dinner choices at breakfast. Dinner was a 4 course meal. The menu was in Italian, English and German but if you have special dietary requirements check with the staff. I am a vegetarian and on a couple of days I ordered food which when it arrived contained meat which had not been mentioned in the hotel’s menu but the waiters quickly arranged a substitute. On the days there was no vegetarian main course they prepared an omelette or a plate of different cheeses for me. The 1st course was a self service buffet with a choice of salads with a selection of different olive oils, rolls and bread sticks. The waiters served the other courses and took the drinks orders. The 2nd course was a choice of 4 dishes which would include a choice of pasta and soup and there was always a vegetarian choice. The 3rd course was a choice of 4 dishes of meat, fish and sometimes a vegetarian option and for desert there was a choice of about 5 - 6 puddings including tiramisu, panna cotta, cakes, fresh fruit salad, ice cream and cheese.

The hotel’s entrance is up a short flight of stairs where there is a very pleasant terrace which overlooks the lake. The is a large reception area, bar, dining room and a side room with tables and chairs, television and a small library with books arranged by language. The hotel’s bedrooms and communal areas have air conditioning. On the top floor is a hot tub and sun beds which were always empty when we went up. Directly in front of the hotel is a road (not very busy except on Thursday mornings until about 1pm when the weekly market is located directly along the waterfront). Opposite the hotel is a private area for guests with sun beds and umbrellas. The hotel provides towels which can be obtained from reception. The hotel also had a computer which guests could use to access the internet and a fitness centre in the adjacent building but we did not use these facilities during our stay.

The hotel is in a lovely spot adjacent to the lake and is a very easy and level 5 minute walk to the centre of Bardolino along the lake side walkway. Bardolino is a beautiful resort with plenty of cafes, shops and a couple of beautiful churches. We would recommend the tourist train that runs daily from the centre of Bardolino outside the Hotel Catullo, it costs 2 euros and is a 20 minute journey along the lake front, through the old town and passes the Hotel Kriss. The ferry is a 5 minute walk from the hotel which provides easy access to many of the other towns on the lake, alternatively there is the bus 62 – 64 which travels down the east side of the lake from Riva to Verona. Another option is the 50 – 60 minute mainly lakeside walk north through Bardolino to Garda, the neighbouring town or alternatively walking south to Casano and onto Lazise (which we didn’t do). Overall I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to others and would be very happy to return.