From the welcoming glass of wine on arrival to the staff's thanks and goodbyes on leaving this was an excellent choice for a week in Garda. Far enough away from the town to be quiet but close enough (5-10 minute walk) to get there easily for the bus station, ferry landing or bars and restaurants.
We travelled with Thomson and were first drop off on arrival and last pickup on return, so no unnecessary driving around the town and beyond. Six steps up to hotel entrance may be a problem for some elderly people carrying cases, but there is a rear entrance to the hotel that is wheelchair accessable.
Mid-September weather was great: first 4 days @ 34 degrees C; 1 rain day; 3 days @ 27 degrees C. Ferries to other towns stop at Garda on a regular basis.
Hotel 'Optional Extras' on arrival: (in euros) 10 for hire of air conditioning control, 20 for two pool towels, 10 for safety deposit key (these are all refundable on return) plus 1.50 per day for safety deposit - which incidentaly is in the lobby, not in the room.
Room was a basic hotel room but clean, with regular changing of towels and bed sheets. Free Sky TV with hundreds of channels, about three of which are in English.
Breakfast (0700-1000) was basic buffet but a good range of food - except that the hot food is not replaced regularly enough for my liking. Relatively small number of guests means no rush, or fighting over the toaster. Each day's Dinner menu choices are made during breakfast (3 choices for each of the three dinner courses, using pre-printed forms) this means that, at dinner (1900-1830), our choices were served quickly (waiter service) and they were always freshly cooked leaving little or no waste. I'm a fussy eater but I enjoyed every evening meal we had - always something to enjoy and it was always cooked to perfection. Everyone else appeared to turn up for dinner on the stroke of 1900; we always arrived later at about 1945-2000, but no problems with that because you keep the same table for all meals from day 1.
Thursday night was Gala night, seating around the pool for a four-course BBQ. this lasted 1930-2200 with some large gaps between courses resulting in a stampede for the main course because we'd waited so long before and after the soup course. Nevertheless the food was, again, excellent. 'Entertainment' was an old guy on the piano accordion - with super backing tapes of all the expected favourites.
Never had any trouble getting a pool-side lounger, and although the sun moves behind neighbouring trees in mid-to-late afternoon it was warm enough to sit out until just before dinner. Pool was always cold - really cold - but refreshing. Excellent bar service and not expensive.
Short walk down the road to the underpass and you are in the Old Garda Town with its narrow streets, bars, restaurants,shops and the Lake. Varied entertainment at bars along the prom. Also about a 45 minute stroll along the prom to Bardolino town centre.
Overall an excellent hotel with a good location, friendly staff and good food. ****

Before booking, our 3 main requirements were, balcony, air con, and pool. That combo threw up the Imperial. Are we glad we chose it.
From the sparkling wine on arrival to the handshakes on leaving it was excellent. We had a room at the front of the hotel (the pool is at the rear), on the third floor. The street below is a cul-de-sac with very little traffic. There is a small bakery and every night at 1.00am the smell of freshly baked bread wafted upwards,
Once used to completing the menu at breakfast it became a sensible idea. Your food was quickly served on the evening and the hotel only needed the food for that meal. No waste.
The Gala night is great. Good carvery style eating around the pool. The 'act' was a hoot. He sang all night while holding a piano accordion. He dabbled with his fingers a few times but even when he took them away, the music continued. Priceless!
Location is excellent. Short walk to the underpass and on emerging the other side you are in the Old Town with the narrow streets, bars, restaurants,shops and then the Lake.
Finally, Dan, our Thomson Rep. If Thomson need an example of how to do the job correctly, they need look no further. From his welcome meeting up until departure he was always available. Knowledgeable, friendly,efficient. I even booked 2 tours and I never book tours.
Lake tour a must.
Travel to Verona on public transport.
The boats keep to the timetable - the buses don't.
Rooms were immaculately clean. The restaurant staff and bar staff polite, friendly and efficient.
We hired 2 towels for the sunbeds 20 euro deposit, remote for the air-con 10 euro deposit and the safety deposit box 20 euro deposit and 1.50 euro per day hire.
A bit of an outlay.
A couple of areas we think would improve the standard:
Air- con is definitely needed in the restaurant and lounge area,
A light on the balcony - we like to sit out on an evening.

With it's unassuming entrance from the road, the Imperials archway reveals one of Garda's hidden little gems! Far enough away from the enchanting lake side to be quiet, but within a 5 minute stroll when needed. A small, but perfectly formed, family run hotel that offers all you would want from a Lake Break. The best Aperol Spritzers in the resort and best priced!! 3 Euros, where most places charged between 4 and 5.

Friendly welcoming greeting on arrival.The hotel is very well kept and very clean and tidy in all areas. The bedrooms are basic and you do have to pay 10 euros deposit for air-con(which was a must as it was 38 deg). The beds were very uncomfortable and very hard with 1 flat pillow, we struggled to get a decent sleep the whole 10 nights we were there. The food was nothing special and at times we thought that it was rationed as the portions were so small and at breakfast time which was from 7am-10am, if you weren't in early enough then basically you really only got the pickings that were left as the hot plates were not re-filled once emptied. The staff throughout the hotel were all very friendly and helpful the two barmen in the bar and bar area were particularly friendly and cheery. We would be happy to return to the hotel if we knew the food had improved as it was generally a lovely little place, close to the lakeside and bars and shops.