Discovering the Garda Lake from a hostel

Here's our interview to Silvia Borsotti, one of the managers of the brand-new Meet Garda Lake Hostel in Peschiera

With summer having just begun there could be no better news here at HostelsClub: pack your things and head to Peschiera del Garda, awesome Meet Garda Lake Hostel has recently opened!

To celebrate such great news we decided to interview one of the hostel managers, Silvia Borsotti, who revealed us what opening a hostel actually means and why she started her business right on Garda Lake. Enjoy!

1. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea of opening a hostel in Peschiera del Garda? Did you find it difficult? What makes you proud of your project now?
   
   
   
   Meet Garda Lake Hostel is the first hostel on the Verona side of Garda Lake. In the lake surroundings there are only hotels, farm holiday houses and B&Bs... we wanted to reach a different target and accommodate young people, backpackers and travellers on a budget alike. We found many bureaucratic difficulties though, as administrative offices in our area are not familiar with this kind of hospitality business. However we are so proud of our hostel now that it was worth all efforts.
   
   
2. What do you think of hostels in Italy? Can you say there are cultural differences if we compare them to European hostels or more generally to hostels worldwide?
   
   Not long ago hostels were run only by non-profit organizations such as local administrations or the Church. Therefore they preserved a completely different spirit compared to hostels in other parts of the world. Now the situation has improved and new hostels in Italy are more and more similar to their European "older brothers".
   
   
3. Have you already experienced any bizarre or funny situation at your hostel?
   
   We haven't been opened for that long. Everything's been cool by now, but we'll soon see some good ones! :-)
   
   
4. Any suggestions for those who are willing to open a hostel?
   
   Perseverance. In Italy it is not so easy to open a hostel because we don't have the right attitude, yet. But once you overcome all difficulties there's no greater satisfaction than welcoming travelers from all over the world and making them feel at home.
   
   
5. Lake holidays always seem to be lazy and relaxing. However at Garda Lake there are so many opportunities to be active as well. Whether it is an outdoor activity, a party, an amusement park, there's always something to do... Tell us what makes this area so special.
   
   
   
   Garda Lake has an incredible potential: beaches, gorgeous landscapes and a delicious cuisine with some popular oil and wine brands locally produced. There is also a great influence of all historical periods in the Garda Lake architecture: there are Romanesque churches, castles and marvellous Venetian villas. Garda Lake is also great for sports: you can try sailing, canoeing, wakeboarding, kite surfing, windsurfing and paragliding. Stand up paddle and cycling are also very popular. There is also a great number of amusement and water parks, there's a zoo, a famous botanic garden and many spas. From Peschiera del Garda's ideal location also Verona is an easy reach (15 minutes by train), Mantova is 30 minutes by car, Venice 1 hour and a half by train, Bologna 1 hour by car, Brescia half an hour by car, Bergamo 1 hour by car and Milan 1 hour by train. Borghetto sul Mincio is also very close and you can even get there by bike, it is one of the most impressive old towns in Italy. All Meet Garda Lake Hostel guests are provided with all the possible assistance and we are more than happy to help them with hints and tips about what to do in Peschiera, on the Garda Lake and in the surrounding areas. Feel free to ask when you check in, or even write us before your arrival. We'll happily inform you about where to go and what's going on here.
   
   
6. Peschiera del Garda is a small city but there's a lot to do and see. How many days do you need to explore Peschiera at best?
   
   
   
   Peschiera del Garda is a wonderful little city surrounded by canals and Roman walls. All our guests book for one night and end up staying for longer as soon as they get to know how much they can do around here. An Argentinian guy extended his stay for as much as two weeks and a Norwegian girl for 10 days. Let's say one week could be the ideal lenght for a stay, however there are countless activities waiting for you if you intend to stay longer.
   
   
7. When is the best time of the year to vist Peschiera and Garda Lake? Is there a special occasion that you suggest taking part into?
   
   The best time is from spring to autumn. Wine festivals are really interesting and maybe from September to October the Bardolino festival is one of the most popular. All summer long there are concerts of famous groups at Verona Arena and Villafranca Castle and many local festivals where you can eat typical local food are held.
   
   
8. Where do guests of Meet Garda Lake Hostel come from? Are they mainly Italian or do they come from all over Europe or all over the world?
   
   Our guests come from all over the world: we have Australians, Neo Zealanders, Argentinians, Senegaleses... By now we've hosted a variety of different nationalities.
   
   
9. Do you only host young backpackers or do you also have families, groups and older travelers?
   
   We have all kinds of travelers... backpackers of all ages, families, couples and groups.
   
   
10. Are there any future projects for Meet Garda Lake Hostel? Do you have anything in mind to improve your business and stand out among other accommodation options in the area?
    
    
    
    We'd love to turn our bar into a meeting point where locals could get to know tourists and their cultures. During the summer we also open our rooftop terrace for happy hour drinks and that's the perfect melting-pot location.

We hope that Silvia's interview inspired you to visit Garda Lake and Peschiera. And if you still have any doubts, HostelsClub will help you make up your mind: get a 15% discount at Meet Garda Lake Hostel with our Membership Card for a minimum 4-night stay . No more chatting now... Choose your discounted room from the form below, pack your things and set off!