The Rifugio mount Trieste is one of the smaller huts at the top of the mountain ideal to cool down…read moreafter a day well spent in the outdoors. It is right next to the chair lift to the mountain and it is cozy and accessible. There were Not a lot of vegetarian options and we tired the polenta with cheese which was too much. It was great for a bite but it was massive and it got tiring after a bit, it was a very large portion but not very appetizing. the Orzo soup had bacon in it and it was great to warm up on the cold day but it was forgettable at the end of the day. The apple strudel was great and very special with pine nuts and shortbread which gave it a specially unique flare that cannot be found in other places. The drinks were cold and cheap and the service was excellent and friendly. It is great place for a drink and dessert but probably not for a full meal.

I had to talk Gayle into this Summit Hike of Schlern (AKA the Witch's Mountain) on Day 2 of our…read morevisit to the Alpe di Siusi or Seiser Alm. We started at the top of the Seiseralm Bergbahn at Compatsch, continued up the Spitsbuhl Chair, meandered through the Saltner Dairy Farm, and then went straight up ~2000 feet (with switchbacks) just past the Saltner Hutte. Gayle still calls this the Death March, as this 12 mile (round trip) journey went slow but sure up the Hill. The ultimate insult was near the top, where a small grey dog passed her up while giving her a dismissive "look". Gayle also didn't appreciate lagging behind while her "mountain goat" husband clamored up the mountain (without poles). The payoff was the Rifugio Bolzano, where we were able to go inside, get warm, and enjoy a good meal and an adult beverage. Tip: Stick to the German selections rather than the Italian options. The sausage, bread, and potatoes are really good in the South Tyrol and you can always have pasta in other parts of Italy at another time. Service was good and I left the Schlernhaus with a real appreciation on what it takes to keep such a remote sanctuary seasonally going. You can stay overnight here too and maybe continue on to the next hut (Alpe di Tires), but suggesting that would have been seriously pushing my luck. From this dramatic setting, we also enjoyed the stunning views of the Rosengarten range. Oh Wow! was a repeated understatement. We walked down the mountain happy and with a real sense of accomplishment. That good will evaporated at the bottom, when Gayle discovered that we had about 5 km left to walk to get back to Compatsch. At that point, my dear Wife started jabbing her poles into the air, while shouting "Stupid Stupid Stupid!". Yet, with the beauty of Seiser Alm, we continued on and with the promise of another good meal in Castelrotto/Kastelruth and our comfortable room at the Hotel Cavallino d'Oro waiting for us to enjoy and cherish our experiences.

We were stoked when we finally made it here to Rifugio Balzano, as we had hiked around 10 miles…read morealong the ridge of the mountains above Seiser Alm by the time we finally made it here. It was pretty packed when we showed up, and we were lucky enough to snag a table just as another party was leaving. There's a smaller, more intimate room that we were in, as well as a larger dining area that had higher ceilings and was filled up. Like most of these spots, you simply need to get the waiter's attention, and they will bring over menus and eventually grab your order on their electronic tab-keeper (not sure that's quite the right word for it). The waiters were quite nice and able to accommodate requests (e.g. one of our friends wanted an egg on the side for her salad), and the food did some out relatively quickly. That said, I will say that we were pretty disappointed in the food here, especially since we had passed up a rifugio several miles back because the food here was apparently better. The speck was brought out simply as a chunk, forcing us to slice it by hand (not easy, given how thick it is) and definitely degrading our enjoyment of it, as our rough, thick slices were nowhere close to the soft, pillowy slices produced by a proper cutting machine. We noticed another party complaining about the presentation when it was brought out, so this was not something particular to us. As for my main, the spaghetti al pomodoro was very uninspired, with the biggest issue being that the pasta was soggy and cooked just like it would be in the U.S. Even at the cheap eats in Italy, my experience had been that the pasta was still prepared in excellent fashion, but at least here, it was cooked like the place knew they were serving hungry tourists. The tomato sauce was very bland, and the cubes of mozzarella were rubbery and devoid of flavor. The house red wine was too jammy and uninspiring, just like the rest of the meal. In all, while this might be a great place to hunker down if you are staying overnight, this was by far the worst meal we had during our time in the Dolomites, whether at a rifugio or at a restaurant. You don't have many other choices (you are on top of a mountain ridge, after all), but I would certainly have given Rifugio Alpe di Tires (the one we stopped by earlier) a closer look instead.

Rifugio Sennes was our first overnight stay along the AV1, after taking buses from Cortina and…read moremaking the climb up from Lago di Braies. It was an afternoon that started hot & sunny and ended with wind and rain; and those of us who arrived first were able to duck under the canopy on the back deck just as the bigger drops started to fall. There were cows grazing everywhere - The sound of their collar-bells rang out in all directions. After changing to sandals, dropping off my pack, and grabbing a lager, I sat out on the back deck to enjoy the atmosphere. It was one of the many highlights of my trip. The rifugio itself was charming, with a good layout and a friendly staff. Compared to rifugios we would visit later, it felt quite spacious. And it was one of two huts on our trip to offer an extensive menu for dinner. (Others were prix fixe-style). My main course of polenta with mushroom sauce was delicious and hearty. Rifugio Sennes also felt the most 'germanic' of the AV1 huts; it was a mere score of miles from the Austrian border. I noted the staff spoke both German and Italian (in addition to English). There was even a visiting quartet that played a short, wake-up 'oompah' song in the morning (I just missed the photo op). After breakfast I was a little sad to leave. But the next rifugio was beckoning. Rifugio Summary: - Setting: Sheltered behind a ridge and overlooking high meadow; surrounded by cows and long-distance views - Rooms/dorms: Good size; very clean - Food: Excellent - Potable water: Yes - Wi-fi: weak

A charming spot in the Dolomites, friendly and welcoming. The food was excellent, the service…read morefriendly and prompt, and the prices very reasonable. I highly recommend this delightful mountain hut!

After a full day of skiing, it is an amazing experience to arrive at this spectacular Rifugio…read more(similar to a B&B) located in the Dolomites. The only way to get here is by a snowcat that picks you up at the lower part of the mountain and slowly takes you for a 5 minute drive to the Rifugio. The other option is a 30-40 min hike from the nearest town. The family run establishment has a 4 star restaurant, bakery, wine cellar and luxurious overnight rooms. Our beautiful room had a private balcony and a private sauna with a view of the mountains. Our bathroom was like a mini spa! We had dinner and breakfast in the dining room. I can hardly describe the decadence of homemade pasta, cheeses with fresh bread, wines from local wineries and desserts made in house. The highlight of the breakfast was the homemade pastries. Everything was amazing.

This is an outstanding hotel. Just be aware that if you do not have a car you have to walk about a…read more1/4 mile up a hill to get to and from the center of town. This was not a problem but if you have limited mobility it could be an issue. As to the hotel itself I cannot say enough good things. First, the room was very spacious and had a great view. Second, we got the half board which included breakfast and dinner. The breakfast was outstanding and offered a large variety of items including yogart, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, a variety of breads. My only complaint is that it did not begin until 7:30 a.m. I like to get an early start on hikes so I would prefer it start at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. Third, the dinner that came with half board. Each night we had a different menu Every night they had a very good salad bar and then a 3-4 course meal with at least 2 different selections for each course. Usually the main meal included either fish, meat or a vegetarian option. Fourth, the hotel works with Val Gardena Active which offers a variety of daily activities. Their fees are covered by the hotel. We used them to go on 3 different hikes. Fifth, the staff was very helpful and accommodated all of your needs.

Ortisei is a lovely town to visit and while hotel Grones is not located in the center of town…read more(...that a good thing!) it's perfectly situated up top and is really only like a 5-10 minute was to the town center. Grones is family owned and super charming. What's even better, is there are only 25 rooms. A lot of the hotels in Ortisei are cater to families, which is fine but also a lot more chaotic. Grones is certainly family friendly but the rest and relaxation aspect is not lost here. The family is fully involved and you see them daily, which is wonderful. They are personable and literally greeted each once us (there were five people in our group) personally when we arrived. The rooms: We booked a superior room and had views to the valley which was lovely! Our room was decently sized, although the standard rooms are on the petite side and not all of them offer a view. Rooms were very clean, offer complimentary water and wifi. The food: The rates are half board (if you choose), meaning that breakfast and dinner are included. This is common in Europe and often quite good. We ate all of our meals here because they were excellent! Breakfast offers a gorgeous and fresh array of fruit, bread, pastries, charcuterie, cereal, nuts, granola, eggs, and the list goes on. Dinner is four-five courses nightly. The menu also changes each night, so you won't get bored. They are very accommodating to any dietary restrictions as well. The food is fresh and inventive. You get the same table for the duration of your stay which is so nice! You literally don't have think of anything on your stay! Amenities: The hotel also has a pool and jacuzzi in addition to a spa sauna, turkish bath, and steam room. The facilities are really nice and peaceful. Perfect to chill out after a day of hiking or skiing. Hotels in the area are equipped for all summer and winter mountain activities, Grones ensures you have access to everything you need to make your stay in Val Gardena amazing. They're a Val Gardena partner, meaning that hotel guests can take advantage of specials and discounts offered by the Val Gardena visitors bureau. Every morning, the hotel provides a one-sheet at your breakfast table with hiking suggestions, weather provisions and local activities. What makes Grones special is their attention to detail and care for their guests. It's one of those places where you just feel relaxed. Ortisei attracts a lot of tourism for good reason! There are a lot of hotels to choose from, but this one has a genuine feel to it that is hard to come by. We'd stay here again!

This high ropes course is relatively new and put up by the local guides just off the main road…read morebetween Corvara and Colfosco. It has three courses of varying difficulty nestled in the trees some 5 metres above the ground. The courses themselves aren't overly difficult if you have a head for heights but beware the nervous as some bits are a bit hairy and although you're always safe and fastened onto a safety wire it's easy to get a bit scared when the trees sway or you have to do one of the zip wires. It's not expensive though and to do all three grades of course is only EUR12 including all the kit so it is well worth a visit.

Great place to stay for a winter vacation in the Dolomites…read more Our host Daniel was very helpful with everything. Perfect service at all times of the day. The food was great where you before the dinner is served a buffe with some snacks and after that there is served a 3 course dinner where u make your selections from the menu the day before. The food is a mixture of Italian, german and french food and has a lot of flavor Pros: - Location - 2 minutes away from the lift up to the skiarea. - Service - The food, both dinner and breakfast. All great. Will fill you plenty for a day out skiing and refill you when you get back Cons: - old interior - some of the bathrooms at the hotel need a bit of renovation. This is definitely a place i would recommend for anyone going skiing in the Dolomites.

What a great place to stay and motorcycles welcome…read more The food was just like Italian family cooking as the lady was a chef. We were there in May a few years ago so I was checking if it is still open and hopefully the same people are in charge, Anne VOC

I located Nature Hotel Delta after scouring multiple review sites and trying to find a good price…read morein the area as well. I am so happy I choose this place. One minor down side is that it is not right in the village. You can't walk out the door and to restaurants or stores but you won't care! It more than makes up for it. I swear. You can easily walk a small trail that is about 1/4 mile to get to the village though. It is recently remodeled and the rooms are nicely done. A lot of natural wood. If you are fortunate enough to have a room with a balcony, the view is stunning. We took advantage and sat outside multiple times. We went back for lunch one day and ate there. The family that runs the hotel is also so welcoming. They are friendly, easy to talk to and willing to make suggestions on where to go, what to do, etc.... Breakfast had a nice selection of cereals, pastry, yogurt, meat, cheese, fruit. There was juice, water and milk to drink. They also would make you eggs, if requested. You can also order an espresso, latte, cappuccino, etc... We plan to return to this area and this will be where we choose to stay. One side note, in case you have never traveled in this region. There is only a fitted sheet and duvet. As it was August and warmer, I needed something lighter. You can request a top sheet and light blanket and they will provide it. There is no AC in the room but the nights cooled down quite a bit and we just opened the window and that was sufficient.