Lake Garda

You will stay in the 3-star Hotel Benacus which sits in an elevated position with splendid lake views. This hotel has long been a favourite of Travelsphere and our guests. With such a warm welcome from the staff it is little wonder we choose to return year after year.

Facilities include a bar, restaurant, swimming pool (open May to October) and garden. You can look forward to a delightful gala dinner and there is also an Italian themed evening with the opportunity to sample all kinds of local, traditional food.

All bedrooms feature private facilities. The hotel has a shuttle service to the lakefront and marina from where it is a 25-minute walk along the lakeside promenade to the historic centre of Riva.

You can also choose to upgrade to the four-star Savoy Palace hotel in Riva del Garda. Run by the Tonelli family and situated just a short walk from the lake and marina, the hotel offers a high standard of accommodation. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, bar, lounge, lifts, plus indoor swimming pool, outdoor pool, small fitness room, sauna and whirlpool. All bedrooms are well appointed and feature private facilities, satellite TV, telephone, hairdryer, safe and air-conditioning (high season only). Lake view rooms available for a supplement of £80 per person.

Day 1: UK/Italy

Transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Italy. Upon arrival in Italy, transfer to your hotel for a seven night stay.

Days 2 - 7: Italy

The next six days are yours to enjoy entirely at your own leisure. You can relax at the hotel, explore the surrounding area, or join us on our four optional excursions.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Lake Garda (optional)

Full-day tour to see some of the beauty spots of this fabulous lake, surrounded by lush groves of olives, vines and citrus trees. We will stop at one of the many delightful resorts where you can shop, relax, enjoy a glass of wine and the spectacular scenery. Also included is a relaxing cruise on the lake.

Venice (optional)

There is nowhere on earth like this extraordinary city of canals, palaces and Renaissance architecture. See many of the main sights on our full day optional excursion. Visit St. Mark’s Square, where you will find two of the most important buildings in Venice, the Doges’ Palace, once home to the Venetian rulers and the Basilica di San Marco with its Romanesque carvings and beautiful mosaics.

Take a walk over the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most famous sights located in the heart of the city, an ideal spot to watch the activity of boats on the Grand Canal below. Enjoy a stroll around the hidden piazzas or perhaps relax on a gondola ride through the network of canals.

Verona (optional)

This three-quarter-day excursion takes you to one of Italy’s most beautiful and historic cities. Don’t miss the impressive square, Piazza Bra, with its ornate fountains and delightful pavement cafés, dominated by the magnificent Roman Arena, the third largest in the world.

Continue through to Piazza Erbe, the old Roman forum, where nowadays you will find a large open-air market selling an assortment of local produce. There’s plenty of time to stroll around this delightful town and browse around the varied selection of shops in Via Mazzini, or even visit the famous balcony, as featured in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The Dolomites (optional)

A spectacular full-day tour taking you through dramatic Alpine landscapes to view this rugged range of mountains which stretch from Lake Garda north to the Austrian border and reach a height of 11,000ft.

Day 8: Italy/UK

Today we depart your hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. We arrive in the UK later the same day.