Italians Love This Lake Como Different — and It Has an Unimaginable Luxurious Lodge

After I first noticed Cape of Senses’ lake and mountain views from the floor-to-ceiling home windows main from the foyer to the terrace (my welcome glowing wine in hand), I virtually needed to pinch myself. The setting was so dreamy.

Whereas close by Lake Como is extra “identified” amongst Individuals, Lake Garda is a worthy under-the-radar gem. It’s usually a less expensive and fewer touristy space than Como — although no much less beautiful. “That is the place Italians come for trip,” Alena Deutsch, the resort’s common supervisor, tells me.

The adults-only fairytale escape is simply two hours north of Milan, and whereas Cape of Senses remains to be an indulgent luxurious keep, equally luxe motels on Lake Como, like the enduring Grand Lodge Tremezzo, begin at properly over $1,000 per night time for lake-view rooms on summer time weekends.

Cape of Senses opened final Might and is aptly named: All 5 senses might be pampered and indulged all through your keep. Each room has beautiful lake views to feast your eyes on; contemporary mountain air fills your nostril and lungs, and delicate notes from the on-site olive timber waft by way of the breeze. You’ll be able to take heed to birds chirping and friends splashing within the pool out of your personal room terrace or take pleasure in absolute silence for deep and peaceable relaxation; get each kink labored out with a therapeutic massage adopted by enjoyable within the sauna or indoor-outdoor heated spa pool; and relating to the style, every part on the menu is native, contemporary, and divine. Even easy dishes like a prosciutto and melon pool snack featured a number of the juiciest melon I’ve ever had and melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto — to not point out the contemporary, heat bread paired with olive oil from the olive timber.

Even the water is particular right here — and I don’t simply imply that discovered within the lake or the heated swimming pools. A brand new bottle of housemade infused water is delivered to the room each morning, with a tag — “Selfmade with amore” — tied across the bottle with a white ribbon. Whether or not it’s the love or the fruit and herbs, it’s additional scrumptious, and I appeared ahead to greedily gulping down huge glasses of it each day.

Elevated touches like this are, dare I say, infused all through the complete property. From the luxurious his-and-hers down comforters to the domestically made, natural tub merchandise to the cozy solar loungers dotted with black and white pool towels and all positioned for optimum views, each element is rigorously curated and lovingly thought by way of.

As testomony to this, when the resort was nonetheless underneath building, Deutsch took one of many tabletops in her automotive whereas driving across the space to make sure the cutlery she picked out would go completely with the colour of the wooden. “Not everybody at all times notices these small particulars outright,” Deutsch tells me, “however I believe when every part is particular and thought out, an enduring impression is left on the friends.”

Having simply stayed right here for 3 days, I can affirm firsthand that this resort certainly leaves an enduring impression that can make you wish to return many times. Learn on for my full resort assessment of Cape of Senses on Lake Garda in Italy.

The Rooms

There are not any unhealthy rooms right here. Since that is an all-suite property and each room has panoramic lake and mountain views, you don’t have to pay additional for a room improve to see a sliver of the principle attraction.

Room decor contains a impartial however luxe palette: hardwood flooring, slate-gray chairs and mattress frames, cozy, sand-colored loungers, and gold accent pillows. Terraces function cozy couches and small black steel tables with wicker chairs, that are excellent for beginning your day with a heat espresso from the in-room moka pot whereas having fun with the view.

The king-sized mattress was extremely cozy, with two fluffy duvets and opulent down pillows. Although our room and terrace have been fairly near one of many on-site swimming pools, we couldn’t hear a peep from exterior when the sliding glass doorways have been shut.

The bogs are equally luxurious, with deep sinks, marbled showers with overhead and handheld showerheads, and separate areas for the bathroom. The primary rooms even have small, built-in wood desks with spherical vainness mirrors and a swivel chair, making for a super additional getting-ready spot.

Even entry-level junior suites are virtually palatial at 540 sq. toes and include massive personal terraces besides. Upgrading to an ordinary or spa suite will internet you 100 or 200 additional sq. toes, respectively, nevertheless it’s the resort’s Sky and Sky Pool suites the place the improve ‘wow’ issue comes into play. Positioned on greater flooring, the Sky suites function expansive personal out of doors terraces full with daybeds and sizzling tubs, whereas Sky Pool and Deluxe Sky Pool suites, as you’ll have guessed, function beautiful personal infinity swimming pools. Different upgrades on this class embrace bigger rooms and deep soaking tubs positioned to absorb the lake view.

Meals and Drink

Begin your morning with breakfast on the terrazza from the buffet or a la carte menu. Or, go for a non-public meal in your balcony with room service. Recent seasonal fruit, deliciously flaky pastries, eggs and milk from native farms, and Italian sausage are all on the menu.

Later, seize a chunk at Osteria La Pergola, the place you possibly can sit poolside or upstairs whereas having fun with a membership sandwich or bowl of spaghetti with cherry tomato sauce and buffalo stracciatella. Even easy favorites right here, like prosciutto with melon or a Caesar salad, are distinctive variations of the classics.

At Restaurant Al Tramonto, the distinctive sundown view from the eating terrace is the principle course. Nonetheless, high quality dining-worthy choices like potato dumplings full of roasted cuttlefish or duck leg in an anchovy sauce will go away your abdomen lots satiated, too.

Actions and Facilities

Cape of Senses affords two swimming pools. Loosen up and float within the indoor-outdoor pool that begins inside on the spa degree and ends as a beautiful out of doors infinity pool, trying instantly at the very best mountain and lake view, or swim a couple of laps within the close by out of doors sports activities pool. In fact, sitting within the lounge chairs across the swimming pools and backyard garden with a great e book can also be an possibility.

The gymnasium has every part it’s essential to hold your physique wholesome, from stationary bikes and treadmills to weight machines. Non-public yoga classes and private trainers are additionally out there for reserving.

Whereas I actually loved my blissful therapeutic massage and a dip within the pool, maybe my favourite amenity was the cherry purple e-Vespas, out there to hire by the hour or for the half or full day. I lived out my Lizzie McGuire Italian fantasies, zooming down the winding roads and zipping across the lake. Although, if the Vespas aren’t fairly your velocity, the resort additionally has an electrical Fiat 500 and several other bikes out there as an alternative.

The resort concierge can also be very happy to rearrange excursions and actions for you, from tastings at close by wineries to a day crusing out on the lake or a trip in a classic automotive.

The Spa

Wellness is on the coronary heart of the property, so the spa doesn’t disappoint. Seven remedy rooms supply a spread of choices, from basic massages and anti-aging facials to anti-cellulite physique remedies and massages that incorporate Tibetan singing bowls. Manicures and pedicures are additionally out there on the spa, plus a leisure room full with a spa library and a sauna and steam room.

Earlier than or after your remedy, I like to recommend stopping by the tea nook and cozying up within the comfortable indoor daybeds, which overlook the pool and the lake view past.

Household-friendly Choices

The resort is open to friends 14 and up. Small canines are allowed in devoted dog-friendly rooms for these touring with four-legged relations.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Preserving the encompassing space’s pure magnificence was ingrained within the resort idea from the start. The resort was additionally constructed with sustainable applied sciences in thoughts and makes use of warmth pumps, photo voltaic panels, and rainwater collectors to reduce the vitality footprint.

In the meantime, interiors rely closely on regionally sourced supplies, and the resort homeowners and designers prioritized 100% made-in-Italy merchandise, from wood out of doors furnishings to stone tiles. The resort additionally works with environmentally pleasant corporations for its cleansing merchandise and works to reduce plastic consumption as a lot as potential throughout the complete resort.

Cape of Senses additionally has ADA-compliant, handicap-accessible suites and bogs out there.

Location

Cape of Senses is roughly two hours from Milan and fewer than 40 minutes from the Verona airport. It overlooks the city of Torri del Benaco, and different small cities like Garda and Bardolino are inside a brief drive. Nonetheless, the resort’s actual draw is that it’s secluded and never proper on the town. Being greater up within the hills above the lake permits for optimum views, however bear in mind that you just gained’t be proper on the lake, and also you’ll have to drive down some steep and winding roads to get there.

Sirmione, a historic city the place you possibly can discover Thirteenth-century castles, makes for a wonderful day journey. It’s about 40 minutes away by automotive. We additionally spent a beautiful afternoon arrange by the resort concierge at Zeni vineyard close by Bardolino, having fun with a wine tasting of their stunning cellar.

When you can at all times hire the resort’s Vespas or Fiat for the day to go into city or all the way down to the lake, I like to recommend renting a automotive for ease and adaptability.

The right way to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Breakfast-only and half-board (breakfast and dinner) choices can be found when reserving. When you plan on consuming most of your meals on-site, go for the half-board to scale back a la carte meals costs.

The resort additionally affords particular packages designed round wellness or staying lively, together with spa remedies or actions like e-bike excursions. Cape of Senses additionally has a sister property within the Dolomites, ALPIANA, and you may pair the 2 collectively as a five-night keep in a particular Mountain & Lake package deal.