Nothing goes above a short weekend getaway to Italy, especially when you live close by. While I wouldn't say, Munich Verona is one of the shortest distances, the atmosphere and ambience of a weekend in Italy always come up for the long drive. As soon as you pass the border, the coffee tastes delish, the food is better, and the air smells like vacation. If you aren't part of the Lake Garda crew and feel that Verona's hotel scene isn't for your fainted heart, you have only the choice of two hotels. On one side we have the Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais (which I haven't had the chance to stay yet), and then you have the Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista.

Speaking of Byblos Art Hotel, this old medieval villa has been completely renovated a few years ago and now perfectly combines a new contemporary Italian design with the typical Villa design for which the region Veneto is know all over the world. You may not be entirely wrong if you are familiar with the brand Byblos, thanks to the famous and favourite of mine Byblos Saint Tropez, however, the one on the Cote d'Azur is not in any way related to the Villa Amista in Verona. Actually, the Italian Byblos brand is a fashion label that initiated a kind of new design hotel era in Italy. Let's talk about location. Situated a roughly 15-minute drive between the centre of Verona and the shores of Lake Garda, it is an ideal overnight stop when you are planning to pass the Alps and head South. In case you plan Verona as your final destination, this is a great way to bed your head thanks to free parking and a complimentary shuttle service into town.

When you enter the hotel, a massive lobby welcomes you where you can already admire the most significant art pieces of this villa. Right behind the lobby is the staircase to the outdoor pool and on the side – in another fancy room - is the front desk. Just next to the main entrance, you can find the cool bar serving a refreshing Spritz along with some finger food for Aperitivo. Our room was situated in the left-wing of the hotel and had a spacious entrée when entering. A comfortable double bed made up the centre of the Superior Room, and there was a writing desk, a chic minibar along with a flatscreen television and an armchair. All in all the comfort of the bed was really good and thanks to black-out curtains in the window, I could get a good rest. Due to the quiet location, there is no noise during the night, opting another plus for this hotel instead of any city centre hotel.

Unfortunately, the bathroom has seen better times, with the wood being broken in some corners. I don't get their vibes behind the toiletries – they don't look nice (with neon colours), and the quality is very bad. I ended up using my emergency Acqua di Parma shampoo and shower gel that made me feel much better. The towels and rest of the amenities were alright, as was the lightning inside the bathroom. Housekeeping did an excellent job and kept the room very tidy. In general, the staff was present and friendly but not really attentive. I would say it's a standard five-star-hotel for Italian standards with all the hardware that's needed. Service-wise this wasn't a memorable stay, but compared to the price I have paid, it's exactly what I have expected.