When wellness means a welcome cocktail and a moderately portioned plate of pasta, clearly, Italians know best. Lefay Lake Garda is a place where you can choose your own route to health, which sometimes means just slowing down.
Atmosphere
Lefay Lake Garda sits in the hills high above the town of Gargnano. What this means is that there are views for days. Lefay plays up these views every chance they get, starting with the lobby of the hotel. The space is light, airy and contemporary with full-on windows to display the view. It almost doesn’t matter the bar and lounge area that lead out to it are decorated with a soothing neutral palate that speaks spa in its design. I say almost because the lobby is one of the prettiest parts of the entire complex. Clearly Lefay understands that first impressions are everything.
The grounds of Lefay Lake Garda are another aspect that make it optimal for a wellness center. Lefay sits on 27+ acres of its own mountainside land. The grounds range from an infinity pool which anchors the hotel, to manicured laws, to fields of wildflowers and a natural wooded area for hiking. For me, one of the best parts of Lefay, besides the view, was the land that it sits on. We did hikes everyday.
The nutshell on the atmosphere of Lefay is that it felt fresh, lively and energetic. It’s not just the grounds that contributed to this vibe either. On the weekends, you’ll find groups of friends and couples who are there to enjoy wellness with a side of La Dolce Vita. People are cocktailing in the hot tub, lounging by the pool and spa-ing like it is their job. During the week you’ll find it a tad more calm, with more couples looking for some peace and relative quiet. In general this isn’t a place where people come to starve themselves on bone broth. Instead, it’s relaxed wellness, which everyone needs from time to time.
Wellness Programs + Spa
The beauty of Lefay Lake Garda is that you choose your own wellness program. That could mean not being on a program at all, and just enjoying the vast saunas, steam, cold plunge and spa facilities. For many during our weekend, wellness meant hot tubbing and swimming in the infinity pool while taking in the views.
Otherwise, Lefay has a comprehensive menu of structured programs to achieve your goals. Stress management, sleep, weight and detox are just a few of what they have to offer. The spa treatments are especially notable and go beyond basic massages. Of course they have the softer treatments that just make you feel good, and put you in a Zen frame of mind. Beyond that though, they have a top of the line cryotherapy chamber and medical equipment to work deeper within your body for more permanent health benefits and change. I did the Velasmooth Pro on my abdomen and thighs and got my thigh gap back after one treatment. I should also disclose that I ate pasta all week too. My week at Lefay Lake Garda wasn’t about losing weight for me, but rather taking a pause and supporting a friend who was with me. It never ceases to amaze me how our mental frame of mind can produce direct impact on our physical health.
The other aspect of the spa and wellness programs at Lefay Lake Garda worth noting are all the classes they offer. Everyday there are complimentary classes, including pilates, yoga, core, HIT and weights. What I appreciated about these classes is that they were real exercise classes that got you results like you would at your home gym. I think my abs are still burning from the core class I took, in the best of ways.
Food + Beverage
Whenever you go to a wellness center, food, or lack thereof, is always a consideration. I didn’t know what to expect so I loaded up on a lavish lunch at Villa Feltrinelli down the hill before arriving at Lefay. What I found though was that I wasn’t going to go hungry for the week. I wasn’t on a weight loss program, which thank goodness as the breakfast buffet was ample. Also generous was the servings of the three-course meals that we signed up for with our meal plan. I mostly didn’t make it past the first two courses. There were menu items like pasta, but also vegan options for those who wanted to go the “healthier” route. I’m not sure what it is about pasta in Italy, but I ate it almost every day and didn’t gain weight or bloat.
If you’re looking to starve for the week, I don’t think that this is the wellness center for that. People are partaking in the food as well as the cocktails and wine too much around you. For me, I decided to lean into it and just enjoy myself. And yes, this meant aperitivo hour with a glass of wine and snacks each day.
Rooms
As far as the rooms go at Lefay Lake Garda, the outdoor terraces and space are where they shine most. I shared a room with a girlfriend and while we had so much fun, sleeping on a twin was hard for me. Next time I would get a two-bedroom suite or separate rooms in lieu of sharing. You also don’t spend a lot of time in the rooms but rather in the facilities with all Lefay has to offer.
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