The largest of the Italian Lakes is currently providing a stunning backdrop for the filming of the new James Bond film, The Quantum of Solace.
After recently spending a week at the lake I can honestly say it beats The Living Daylights out of a lot of other holidays I have been on.
And now The Travel Department have taken the stress out of getting to this area of northern Italy by launching direct flights from Belfast International Airport.
The seven day trip to Lake Garda, Venice and Verona is now available from £399 (ex tax). The package is exclusive to The Travel Department and includes direct chartered flights from Belfast which start on May 18.
When we touched down in Milan's Linate airport we were met by the Travel Department's very own Bond girl Renate who made sure we were directed onto the waiting coach for the transfer to Lake Garda's northernmost town of Riva Del Garda.
There is more than enough to keep you occupied for a week on the lake and you will never tire of the breath-taking scenery, especially at the northern end where the mountains plunge into the water with dramatic effect.
But with a wealth of attractions in this part of Italy the Travel Department have rightly included excursions to the famous cities of Verona and Venice into the price of their package.
So let me take you on a day by day synopsis of my week in Lake Garda. The rest of our first day was left for us to settle into the luxurious surroundings of the four-star Grand Hotel Liberty which is situated in the heart of Riva.
Day two was a tour of the lake with Renate, who over the course of the week, proved to be like a human version of Google due to her unsurpassed knowledge of the area.
On the excursion we stopped off at the pretty lakeside town of Lazise which is just stunning, especially the harbour area with its outdoor cafes and restaurants where you can watch the local fishermen come and go. Our next stop was Sirmione, one of the most famous towns on the southern end of the lake.
Having the tour on the first full day of the holiday left us with a good bearing of the lake and indeed gave us ideas about the towns we wanted to visit on our free days.
We were staying on a half-board package and all the excursions were timed so that we arrived back at the hotel just in time for the delicious three-course meals which were served in the Liberty's beautiful dining room, which is summer months caters for al fresco dining on its terrace.
Renate was back at the hotel bright and early on Thursday morning ready to take us to beautiful Verona for the day. Verona was just over an hour's drive from Riva and as we journeyed to the city made famous by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Renate filled us in on the history.
While there is no evidence to suggest Shakespeare ever set foot in Verona this hasn't stopped the Italians from making the most of this great tourist opportunity - even to the extent of tacking a balcony onto the family home of Juliet.
The balcony will never be described as one of the most beautiful sights in Italy but no visit to Verona can be complete without a stop off here. However Verona's real gem is the amphitheatre which is situated right in the heart of the city. The amphitheatre dates back to the first century and is one of the biggest and best preserved examples outside of Rome's Colosseum.
During the summer open air operas are staged here and the amphitheatre is open during the day from 9am until 9pm for tours. Admission costs three euro.
No visit to Italy can be complete without a visit to the shops. A trip down Via Mazzini, which is just a stone's throw from the amphitheatre, will take you past Italy's other tourist attractions, Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi etc.
Friday was a day of leisure and my wife and I spent it on the lake. We took the ferry to the picturesque town of Limone (12 euro for ferry day pass) where we pottered around the little shops and enjoyed a meal at the quayside which offers breath-taking views of the lake.
From Limone we made our way across the lake to Malcesine which, for me, is the most beautiful town on the lake. It has the tiny little streets you could happily spent hours strolling though but its two main attractions are the castle and the cable car which takes those people unafraid of heights to the summit of Mount Baldo.
The medevil castle is in almost perfect condition and from the ramparts visitors can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the lake. It is also a favourite location for weddings.
The 20 minute cable car ride to the summit of Mount Baldo is well worth it and that's coming from someone scared stiff of heights! The cars are well made and give the feel of being inside an aeroplane as opposed to be dangling in a plastic pod from a mountainside.
Saturday was an early start for the group as Renate was taking us for the day to Venice. It takes two and a half hours to get to Venice but spending this time on the coach is a small sacrifice to make for a chance to get to the city everyone in the world should visit at least once.
No picture has ever done Venice justice and nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of the Grand Canal. It may be a bit touristy but you can't visit Venice without a trip on a gondola and as you are visiting the city in a group it makes a trip in these iconic boats all the more affordable. We paid 20 euros each for the trip which took us along the network of canals before emerging onto the Grand Canal in front of the majestic Rialto Bridge.
Venice was the icing on what proved to be a fantastic holiday and one I could thoroughly recommend, especially now the Travel Department are offering direct flights to the region.
John Hooks travelled courtesy of The Travel Department who operate escorted holidays worldwide.
The Travel Department packages include popular city break destinations, touring holidays in a variety of European destinations, leading motor sports events including the Spanish Grand Prix through to Mediterranean cruises and packages to China and Egypt.
The seven day trip to Lake Garda, Venice and Verona is now available from £399 (ex tax). The package is exclusive to The Travel Department and includes direct chartered flights from Belfast International Airport starting on 18 May 2008.
Full details of all holidays are available on www.thetraveldepartment.co.uk or by calling on 028 9099 8395.