Friendly Husband and Wife owners, very helpful. We booked through Venere .com and had no problems at all. The room was on the first floor with a view of the town and mountains but not the lake. We came and went as we pleased with access 24 hours a day using a swipe card. The room and bathroom was clean and comfortable. The breakfast was self service and yes if you arrived late things ran out, however if we asked for more we got it no problem. The swimming pool and Gymn were clean and in good condition, the water was a bit chilly but that didnt stop us swimming. We had no complaints at all. We treated the owners with respect and friendliness and got the same treatment back. My wife went paragliding off Mount Baldo with a hunky German instructor called Peter and that was amazing.

We booked flights and hotels back in March and April hoping to reserve nice rooms for a special 60th birthday holiday in September. When we arrived at the Catullo the lady owner told us our room was not ready, which we expected as it was 11:30 a.m. and we just wanted to leave our suitcases and go for a walk. We returned later that afternoon to be told by the owner that, yes, we had a reservation from Sunday but we could not have the room until Tuesday and would have to go to another hotel down the road. We felt we did not have much choice as we had paid 150 euros deposit and would probably lose this if we left and found another hotel. The hotel he took us to was right on the busy main Gardesana road so we opted for a room on the back. However,although a basic "no frills" garni it was spotlessly clean, modern and with a new ensuite shower room so we stayed. After a whole day out on Tuesday we returned to the Catullo only to be told that, actually, we still could not have the room we had booked but that we could have another room at a discount. This room turned out to be a single room with one single bed and a put-you-up bed for the second person. This hard "bed" did not have a head board, bedside table or bedside lamp and there was not room for them. One bed had a bedspread only and the other had a blanket only over the sheets. The price we paid for this room was lower than for the booked room but we were hoping for a comfortable double room for which we would pay the going rate. A couple larger than us would have had difficulty passing each other in the room and getting in and out of the bathroom.

Found the Catullo to be be an excellent place to stay. Owners were extremely friendly and helpful and always enquired about our day. All areas of the hotel were very clean and the gardens full of olive trees. Our room had a castle/lake view but Iappreciate that this is not the case for all rooms. Breakfasts were always very good with cereals, fruit, bread, cheeses, meats and always wonderful tomatoes. There was even bacon and egg - ok they were not British breakfasts but surely one of the pleasures of going to Italy is to eat different food. Yes it is a quiet hotel but that made it an excellent place to relax after a long day or to have a pre dinner drink overlooking the garden. Surprised to see that some reviewers commented on traffic noise as the hotel is on a relatively quite side street with occasional buses going to and from other hotels or the cable car station. The main town is only a short walk away - there is an underpass but the main road is not a problem to cross anyway. There is an incline coming back but both my wife and I found this to be no problem. Anyway Malcesine is full of small streets that go up and down and this is one of the things that makes it such an attractive place to stay. I would have no hesitation in recommending the Catullo to my friends.

The Catullo is a relaxed modern hotel a stones throw from Malcesine resort centre. On arrival after a warm welcome from the manager we were helped with our bags to a comfy and spotless room with a large balcony offering great views of the mountains, the lake, and the very top of the castle.

Set back from the main road in its own gardens full of old olive trees, the Catullo really is a haven to get back to after a long days sight seeing. The pool is a good size, very secluded, and there was always plenty of sun loungers available.

Access into town is very easy, you really are there inside a minute either via the underpass (which has wheelchair lifts), or the crossing above (believe it or not the Italians did stop for us most of the time).

The manager and his family were always friendly and helpful and imbue the place with an easy going atmosphere. They seemed accommodating to all, both couples young and old, children, and even the chocolate Labrador who was staying at the time.

Breakfast although simple is very tasty, and served outside on the garden terrace it’s a great way to start the day.

Now the downsides….

Only one and that is the lack of air-con in the rooms, although this looks like it’s getting sorted soon. However I was actually quite surprised just how quickly I got used to sleeping in the heat. Just make sure you put your shutters down when you pop out for the day and you‘ll be fine.

I would honestly disregard any of the three star reviews I read regarding the staff. As for the location, if you can cope with a slight incline for about 20-30 yards (literally!) then you will be fine!