Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside

The following is an excerpt from my daily journal on the trip. “Arrived at lake Garda. Very disappointed with the hotel we’re staying at for the next 5 nights. On the side of a hill. Too far from the water and very difficult to get around. Many steps to get to our room. This is a resort made for families with pools, game room, etc. two holes of golf but you need to have your own clubs to play. “ That was my first impression upon arrival and it went downhill from there. The resort shuttle times were limited and didn’t coincide with our times so we never made it to the village at lake Garda. Another disappointment. The included meals were not good. The farewell dinner was inedible. And talking with others around the table I knew that many of us shared the same opinion.

Included meals were subpar. Location of hotels were remote. Nothing was within walking distance. Once you got back to the hotel there was nothing to do. The optional tours should have been included. If you didn’t pay for optional tours you were stuck in the hotel. One hotel was on the side of a hill. Many stairs to get to and from the restaurant and to get on the daily bus. Average age of group was 70. I can’t believe that someone thought staying at this place was a good idea. Farewell meal was just awful.

1. Highlight Experiences I chose this itinerary because it was advertised as the “Best of the Italian Lakes”, but unfortunately the time by the lakes themselves felt far too limited. The majority of the schedule was spent in towns such as Bergamo, Modena, and Verona. While these places were pleasant, they were not the focus I expected when booking a lakes-themed holiday. This mismatch between what was promoted and what was delivered was disappointing. In addition, the farewell dinner felt flat and muted, with no entertainment or sense of occasion to round off the trip. 2. Dining Dining was another area where the experience fell short. The included meals did not reflect the richness of Italian cuisine, and at times it felt as though cost-cutting was the priority. For example, at the “Be My Guest” experience, I had requested no red meat and was given only a small slice of frittata as my main course. When I asked about this, the explanation was that Trafalgar had decided not to provide chicken alternatives, citing increased costs—a disappointing and unconvincing reason. On another included dinner, I was served burnt chicken. Overall, the quality and variety of meals did not do justice to Italian food, nor did they meet the standards I expected from Trafalgar. 3. Accommodation Accommodation was one of the biggest let-downs. The tour began well with Hotel Simplon in Baveno, which was comfortable and aligned with expectations. However, the subsequent five-night stay at Hotel Paiano was very disappointing. Most guests, including myself, were placed in serviced apartments rather than hotel rooms. These apartments felt more like dated three-star motels, with 1980s-style decor and very poor cleaning standards—the floors were dusty and covered in fluff, and cleaning was only superficially improved after complaints. It was disheartening to see some guests in proper hotel rooms while many others were relegated to these apartments. The overall impression was that Trafalgar had promised hotel accommodation but delivered something sub-standard. 4. Loyalty Recognition No gift or acknowledgment was offered for repeat customers. This lack of recognition was disheartening, especially given the loyalty to the brand. 5. Optional Experiences Finally, many of the optional experiences seemed like they should have been included as part of the base itinerary—especially the walking tours with local guides. These added little beyond what I would expect in a standard guided tour. Having to pay extra for what felt like “basic inclusions” left me questioning the value of the package. ________________________________________ Overall Experiences ★★★☆☆ (3/5) While there were some enjoyable moments, overall, the tour did not deliver on the promise of showcasing the best of the Italian Lakes. Between limited lake time, uninspiring dining, sub-standard accommodation, and optional experiences that felt like inclusions, the trip did not meet Trafalgar’s usual reputation for quality. I hope this feedback helps in reassessing the design and delivery of this itinerary, so future guests can enjoy a more authentic, well-rounded experience.

Itinerary was great, hotels very good, tour leader *personal info removed by Feefo* was knowledgeable experienced and very engaging

I deal taster of the Italian lakes and Sud Tirol. Excellent informative guide and tour director. Our driver was very good too.

Too much time in a bus to daily destinations. The Polina resort is old and tired and way too many steps! No, we will not book another bus vacation!!

Had to walk long distances from where the bus parked.

We were thoroughly impressed and delighted with every aspect of the trip—from the highlight experiences and dining options to the accommodations, coach travel, and optional excursions. The destinations selected exceeded our expectations and left us eager to return in the future. Stresa, in particular, captured our hearts. We truly wish we had an extra night to soak in more of its beauty—it's such a stunning place. The Dolomites were absolutely breathtaking, and visiting La Scala Opera House in Milan was a memorable experience. This tour was the perfect choice for us.

The tour was awesome . The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that they were some people with mobility issues which held us back a bit . , the travel director was awesome . I did feel he needed to attend to those who couldn’t keep up with the pace of the tour .unfair to him and others

Had a good experience, our leader was the best along with our bus driver

Absolutely loved it. Our guide, *personal info removed by Feefo*, was excellent. The itinerary was also good in my opinion. It was nice to stay in one hotel for 5 days, with day trips every day. Optionals were well worth it. Best hotel was the first, Hotel Dino in Baveno. Would not have minded another night there.

With the exception of the first hotel, the hotels were awful. They were too far from anywhere and not updated nor clean. The meals at the hotels were not good. The meals included in the tour were not exceptional. The itinerary made the tour seem much better than it actually was. For example, it said we would see the Dolomites but we only saw them from hundreds of miles away. The time at each excursion location was much too short. This was my first Trafalgar tour and I don’t know if I will do another. We had 30 min to 90 min at each location, basically just enough to lunch or shop a little and not wander around and explore the areas. The bus was terrific, new and the driver Giuseppe was great. The tour director, Lorena, was very knowledgeable and kept the group organized. She was also very helpful and knowledgeable!

Hotel locations were too remote from center of town. The chosen hotel for five nights was remote and meant considerable travel time back and forth.

This was a wonderful trip. Our director was absolutely fantastic in every way. She was knowledgeable, made every day interesting and fun, took great care to make sure every guest was satisfied, and showed that she truly loves her work. The places we visited were beautiful and we saw many beautiful cities, sites and unbelievable landscapes. My only complaint was the choice for the accommodations for 5 nights near Lake Garda. The rooms were very poor in condition, the air conditioning did not function well in one of our rooms, and the toilet did not flush and had to be repaired several times. I would NOT recommend this hotel in the future.

A) From the beginning of the tour to the Lakes District; (the Tour Guide) allowed a lady to belittle me in front of everyone on the bus. The lady raised her voice with all sorts of aggressive hand motions. My allocated seat was to sit next to her. She didn’t want me next to her, she wanted the seat free for her bag and personal items. She “bullied” me, yelled at me, and did absolutely nothing about her behaviour. She got what she wanted, and I sat at the back of the bus. did Zero to encourage the group to work together and look out for each other; and to make sure everyone enjoyed their experience. At the end of this particular tour asked us all to sing happy birthday for this controlling woman and he gave her a gift. This only confirms to this woman that her abhorrent behaviour was ok. B) Because I felt intimidated and uncomfortable on the bus, due to the bullying I’d experienced; I fell on the step at the back of the bus. I tripped and fell and hurt my arm, causing soreness and bad bruising. C) At the end of the Tour I needed to ask a simple question about the timing of getting to airport. I waited for him to give all his guests their room key etc before I interrupted and approached him. He yelled at me very loudly in front of other people in the foyer of the hotel. He was very aggressive. I felt bullied, and he belittled me in front of all the other Trafalgar guests, and implied I was unintelligent. He yelled at me while hitting his forehead; telling me I should take more responsibility for myself. The Trafalgar driver can confirm my accusations, he witnessed this abhorrence. Apparently has been with Trafalgar for 20+ years and this has become a normal behaviour for him. I am a 78 year old lady; travelling solo. I don’t expect any special attention; but I do expect to be treated like a good human being. Surely should assist where he can; it’s basic care, common courtesy and customer service. I would like to request a refund for this section of my tour. My holiday was ruined and I wanted to go home after day one. I would like a response to this email, letting me know what you propose to do for me, and what you will do to resolve this situation. This feedback can only help you, (Trafalgar) improve its reputation and services. I have copied the following organisations. In Australia, travel organisations are primarily governed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state and territory fair trading agencies under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Additionally, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) plays a significant role through its ATAS (Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme), promoting industry standards and consumer protection. Sincerely

Would have like to spend more time by the lakeside - this would mean choosing tour meals near the lakes we were stationed at and eating by the lakes. Would have also liked for the hotel by lake garda to be by the lakeside as well and the Milan hotel to be within the city proper. Food that was inclusive within the tour was just an ok experience when food in Italy should have been 50% of the experience and trip!! We felt like we were eating the same meals. We’re in italy! Would have liked more variety of pastas, mains and even pizza specialties. We had tiramisu once, desserts were either fruit or a crumbly pastry.

Our accommodation in Garda was below standard. For the price of the tour I expected better.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED HOTELS, I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING WITH TRAFALGAR SINCE 2006 AND THE QUALITY OF HOTELS HAS DECREASE, IN POIANO HOTEL THE ELEVATOR DID NOT WORK FOR 5 DAYS, ALSO THE BREAKFAST WAS VERY SIMPLE WITH A FEW CHOICES; IN MILAN HOTEL WAS LOCATED FAR FROM THE CENTER AND ALSO THE BREAKFAST WAS VERY LIMITED, PERSONAL WAS NOT FRIENDLY AT ALL.

Trafalgar rip you off because you pay for your tour which turns out to be extremely basic. Once the tour starts there are additional extras which you have to pay for to make the most of your tour. Each day you keep forking out more money which I found disappointing. Why can’t Trafalgar be more upfront & honest in the first place with their pricing?

The hotels were quite nice and the locations were good. All optional tours should be included as part of the tour. If you did not take an optional tour, you were basically dumped in the hotel. The transfer from airport to hotel should accommodate all tourists not just run at a certain time as people on our tour were coming from different countries T different times on different airlines.

Wonderful tour that provides an authentic italian experience. The convenience of multi night accommodation at same location meant you were more relaxed and able to make the most of your time to explore local sites, food and culture.

Very nice, but too much time in the coach. Hotels were far from most things.

Busy but great all round trip Good guide and driver All side trips excellent apart from one Monteva

The itinerary let us gave provided a great overview of the lakes region. The areas we visited weren't distanced very far apart but the experiences were diverse.

Itinerary fine. Ferry and boat trips good. Optional tours enjoyable. Local guides knowledgeable. Trafalgar Tour guide and fabulous. However, Poiana apartment accommodation in the top back row for 5 nights totally unsuitable, not up to Trafalgar standard and ruined the tour for me and my hysband. Trafalgar you should have booked us into Poiana Resort HOTEL. The resort is dor family holudays, who will have recreatikn fun in the poor, playgroind and tennis.

I would love to tell you just how fantastic our guide and our driver were on this trip. I loved all the special spots that we went to and the excursions were fabulous.

To get the most from the trip you must pay for the optional tours.

It was a wonderful trip. Our tour guide was very professional and caring to the needs of everyone on our trip. weather was beautiful. Our bus driver was the best. Couldn’t ask for a better trip. Oh I forgot to mention the food was delish😋

Great tour of the Italian Lake District. Very happy that we only had to move once from one hotel to another.

The cities we visited were excellent - maybe 5 nights in the one place (Garda) was a bit too long but we did go to different places each day from there. Alessia Crostia was a very good tour director and very helpful. Guiseppi (our driver) did an excellent job - how he managed those very narrow roads was amazing. We loved all the cities we were taken to. Some maybe we could haave had longer time but we loved the itinerary.

Interesting places but a lot of time spent on the bus.

Most was excellent except for the second accommodation hotel Poiano it was too far from the lake Garda and there was sewerage smell within the room,it was quite clean but it was not really a hotel it was like a holiday camp. Our director was great and very informative with a sense of humour, our last supper was very special I say this as I went and did another trip in Paris with Trafalgar and it was not, so have something to compare it to but all in all I enjoyed it another thing is it was not overcrowded on the bus whereas in Paris there were too many people in the group.Allin all I enjoyed it. Regards Jill Pastine

Our tour Director was Awesome!!! And our Bus Driver was excellent!! The only issue I had was they switched our hotel for 5 nights, I felt like I was at a camp, to walk to Hotel lobby, you had to walk down cement stairs , down a hill. When you arrived at the bottom of stairs, you had to walk down a long driveway on a steep incline or again stairs. If you had to eat dinner at the Hotel, good luck, very limited menu. The Tour and was excellent, not happy with the 5 nights in the Hotel.

Accomadation in Garda was appalling .It was last minute change that even caught tour detector unaware The place was dirty ,smell of sewage Some guests had to take suitcases up to rooms from drop off point up two flights of steep rough steps toget to rooms.age range of guests 65 to 80s im 74 &as for bathroom ,it was third world &pillow like bricks

It was good to visit (with an excellent driver) all 3 main lakes and several interesting villages and cities. However, our base for 5 nights (Poiano) was totally unsuitable for a party of over-65’s. The steep walk from the breakfast room to our own room was potentially dangerous with stairs that had no handrails. Poiano was a long way from lake Garda, though your literature implied that we could go for gentle walks along the side of the lake before/after dinner. It was not a 5*establishment.

Bitterly disappointed with one of the Hotels, the Poiana. We were expecting to stay at Palace Hotel Desenzano Del Garda, TRAFALGAR changed this venue. The Tour Director informed us that the hotel was closed, in actual fact it was open. The ‘title’ Tour Director is somewhat over the top, certainly did not carry it out well. I did not book a self catering holiday, total insult. We were no where near Lake Garda!!!

The Tour title misrepresents the trip reality. With the exception of the accommodation location and the optional extras, this tour has very little to do with the Italian lakes. I took this tour for the lakes and mountains--not tourist traps like /Verona, Mantua &Moderna. In addition the latter two were full day trips--

Great travel experience, seeing a different, quieter side of Italy.

The itinerary, the Tour Director and the Driver were excellent, but the second hotel, Poiano Resort, is a scam. It is not even a 3-star hotel, and you have to spend 5 nights in the middle of nowhere. It's too far away from town and the lake. The room was filthy, the seats coverings, drapes, bathroom and floors, and there was a terrible smell of mold. We complained with Federico, the Manager, and he promised that next day they will replace or wash the drapes, buy they never did. The A/C was broken, and we could not open the balcony door because of the mosquitoes and the awful noise of the teenagers and the music. The hotel in Milan, Starhotel Business Palace, is located in a bad area too far away from city center. To be fair, the first hotel in Baveno was excellent. Unfortunately, we only spent two nights there. Trafalgar should give me a refund because of all the inconveniences we endured spending 6 nights in these shabby hotels.

Very busy agenda. Loved staying in the same hotel multiple nights, less packing. Both were terrific. Knowledgeable and fun. Loved the less touristy restaurants and local attractions. Even made time for Easter mass in Bergamo! A bucket list item!