My boyfriend and I stayed in Ivan’s cabin for 3 nights and had an incredible time. Firstly, Ivan was very communicative when we were planning our trip and responded to any questions or concerns we had before booking the place. It made us incredibly confident that we were choosing the right place.
We didn’t have any transport of our own when visiting. If you’re somewhat fit, the walk to and from the cabin is steep but manageable (20 min up, 15 min down). You can also take a nearby lift located at the Bastione di Riva (Ascensore Panoramico), which takes you up most of the way (it costs €7 for a return ticket, €4 for one-way; open 10am-midnight), there’s a path which takes you to the cabin road. Ivan very kindly gave us a lift back down with our luggage when we were leaving so we could catch our early ferry.
The cabin is situated in a beautiful location amongst the trees overlooking Riva del Garda and Lake Garda. We were warmly welcomed to the cabin by Ivan, who gave us a lift from town, and recommendations on where to explore and go for dinner. The cabin itself is beautiful and fitted with everything needed for short stays. There is a wood stove which Ivan provides wood for, free of charge, which warms the whole cabin easily. We visited at the end of September and had no problems with the temperature. The bed and mattress are wonderfully comfortable – different quilts and bedsheets were also provided. The bathroom is small but stylish and clean, with an amazing shower, which has both a large ‘rainfall’ showerhead and a normal detachable head you can switch between. There’s also a well-equipped ‘kitchenette’ with hobs, toaster oven, sink, fridge/freezer, Moka coffee pot, plates, cups, spices, and oil. A little surprise was a high-quality Bluetooth speaker which we made use of. There’s no TV – but kindly provided is a very nifty stand which can hold a phone/tablet and be suspended over the bed.
The immediate surroundings of the cabin are beautiful and relaxing. It’s incredibly quiet and peaceful, with loads of trees, wildlife, and fruit being grown. There’s a ping pong table (which Ivan provides paddles and balls for), plenty of tables and chairs, and a beautiful seating area overlooking Riva by the edge of the hill. It’s also delicately lit at night and I’m sure in the height of summer it would be an amazing place to sit out late at night (but a tad cold for us in late September). The cabin is perfectly situated for access to beautiful hiking trails, climbing, and mountain biking.
Overall, we couldn’t have asked for better holiday accommodation or a better host at such a good price and we both hope to return some day. We wholeheartedly recommend booking Ivan’s cabin if you’re spending a few days in or around Riva del Garda!
Sam & Arianna