Gardastar La stella del Lago DesenzanoLoft Official Partner Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy

The location was perfect. It was lovely having such a lovely terrace with views of the lake. The property was nice and clean

The air conditioning wasn’t great - we were still quite warm at night and the single unit in the main living space wasn’t very powerful. It was okay and kept the room at nice temperature most of the time but struggled with the size of the space. The showers are not great. The second shower in the house bathroom was not usable as it sprayed the whole bathroom. The shower in the adjoining bathroom to the main bedroom was okay but not great.

Outstanding property, 10/10. Three things instantly made an impression on us when we walked through the door: - Superb air conditioning: individually-controllable in each room via remote control. We stayed for two weeks during the recent heatwave, with temperatures reaching 38°C on some days, and the system worked flawlessly throughout. Top tip: make sure you close at least the east-facing shutters before going to sleep, so direct sunlight through the windows doesn't warm the living area too much during the morning. - Cleanliness: the apartment had clearly been expertly cleaned. Every surface gleamed and there were no signs of leaks or unpleasant smells in the bathrooms. - Size: the living area in particular feels much larger than it appears in the photos. The same goes for the terrace, which is massive, with plenty of plants and comfortable furniture. Overall, it's a great place and I wouldn't change a thing. It has really interesting decor, comfortable beds and furniture, plenty of privacy and a welcoming host. There's also an underground parking garage with a fob-operated door and gate, plus a communal swimming pool that never seemed too busy to enjoy. The lake is about 10 minutes away on foot, or closer to five minutes if you exit on foot via the parking garage, which brings you out partway down the hill. Desenzano itself is wonderful, as are many of the surrounding towns. Sirmione is beautiful, but go in the morning to avoid the crowds. Ferries between the towns are cheap and frequent. Also take advantage of the free train tickets to Venice provided by the hosts. They're only available for specific days, but it's still a very generous gesture. The hosts also send you a suggested one-day itinerary if you've never been before, which we followed and had an excellent time as a result. And go up the bell tower! (Don't worry, there is an elevator to the top of the tower.

Nothing particularly negative to say; I just ran out of space in the " What did you like" box. Now, I know 10/10 implies perfection, but nothing is perfect, so don't expect that. Even properties that cost 10 times as much aren't perfect. There is some normal wear and tear, but nothing that detracted from our stay. I looked at some of the more negative-skewing reviews though, and I can't help but feel I need to cover our experiences of the same issues: - AI photos: I do dislike the use of AI in listings, but nothing is materially misrepresented (just used to e.g. populate the dining table with crockery, wine, etc.) The genuine photos are also included in this listing, so you can at least make an informed decision. - Stairs: the property is on what we would call the 2nd floor in the UK, but are generally shallow and the property isn't that high up, so it only became tiring after repeated trips up/down. Fitness levels may vary, obviously. There is a stairlift, although I don't know if it works and didn't see anyone using it. - Supplies: this is an apartment, not a hotel, so don't expect toiletries and consumables to be replenished. Aldi is 5–10 minutes away and the host provides enough to get you started. - Kitchen: plenty of utensils, pots, pans, dishes and glasses, and a dishwasher. The oven markings are worn, but it's easy enough to work out (left: function, middle: timer, right: temperature). Maybe the host could include a copy of the instructions in the welcome pack though. Everything else worked perfectly. - Sunshade: one review from last year said there wasn't any shade; there is now a large parasol for the outside table. - Responsiveness: a lightbulb failed in one of the bedrooms. They sent someone fix it straight away when told. - Recycling: straightforward once you know the system.

The size and comfort

Joao was friendly and helpful

Instructions as to location of property were confusing