 Poster: A snowHead
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OK....so this one isn't about the snow. But before we Snowheads park our skis for the season, advice would be most welcome. Mr P and I found ourselves increasingly drawn to the mountains in summer...all in the interests of winter "research" of course. We thought we should check out the Dolomites. Question is...where should we stay.?
Criteria : nice hotel, possibly even a bit swanky with pool etc, or quaint boutique mountain hut; awesome scenery on doorstep (preferably visible from bed  ), fab grub (yes yes...I know...where in Italy would it ever be unfab?), unspoiled village but with a bit of summer life, and access to open ski lifts...mountain bike hire, maybe a cookery lesson or two....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Perty, you are asking a lot. I go to the Dolomites every year for for 10 days travelling around visiting moutain huts etc. To me the Dolomites are more about summer than winter. We never stay in one place more than a couple of days. We are there for the rock climbing and via ferrata.
OK some suggestions:
Misurina, probably the most beautiful location in the Dolomites - we stay in the Sorapiss hotel, which is probably a bit low buget for what you want and the Fonda Savio hut which is a proper climbing hut, not "boutique" ie a 1:30hr hut grind, communual dormatories, good company etc.
Hotel Ciclamino in Alleghe has superb food and very friendly propritores. We stay there a couple days each year.
The hut at the cinque torre is good, but still really a climbing hut, not a plush hotel up a mountain.
For real luxury try SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA, 5* hotels abound with good lift access to the Pala mountains.
I also doubt if you could could go far wrong with Canazei or Cortina, but to me they are just a bit too far from the action
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Selva excellent in the summer or Ortise or some of the other villages around the area
Be aware places like Arabba are very quiet other than August
A bit further on if you are going DIY is Molveno which is a nice village with a lake and also a lift to help get into the mountains
There are some lifts operating in the summer but check with local tourist site to confirm whats open
We are trying out Merano this year but cant give much info as we have only been there for a day in the past
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Just to add a bit re Cortina we were a bit disappointed with it
I think the place is a bit on the shabby side
This is just my thought on the town as we didn't do any walking in the area
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I would have thought Ortisei/St. Ulrich in the Val Gardena valley would be ideal. It's the prettiest of the three towns in the valley imv (Ortisei/St Ulrich, St. Christina and Selva/Wolkenstein) and has some excellent hotels with pools, and in addition the Mar Dolomit indoor and outdoor swimming pool complex and spa. There's direct gondola access to the beautiful Alpe di Suisi/Seiseralm which is the largest high altitude alpine meadow in Europe with many summer walking and cycling trails.
I don't know whether you intend going with a Tour Operator or DIY, but Ortisei is quite easy to get to from either Innsbruck or Verona airports.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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We've spent 5 summers in the val Gerdena/ Grödnertal. I'd say there's nothing much to chose between Ulrich/ Ortisei and Wolkenstein/ Selva. Wonderful scenery, walks and bike trails. Great mountain huts. Weather in August has been mid 20s. Walk through the middle of the Langkofel is brilliant. For a swanky hotel option the Adler in St Ulrich and Gran Baita in Wolkenstein can't be beaten in my view.
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Madonna is lovely and has very upmarket hotels. Try to avoid Italian national holidays as the whole of the Dolomites get very very busy in summer.
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Would agree with either Selva or Ortisei in the Val Gardena valley. Both places will have gondolas open during the summer. Another option would be Corvara in Alta Badia which will have two gondolas open. Both areas (Alta badia/Val Gardena) are ideal bases for you to visit nearby areas and mountain passes etc. Val Gardena valley is easily accessible via car or public transport from Innsbruck or Verona airports. Alta badia is accessible easier from Venice airport.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We had a week in Corvara last August and thought it was lovely. (Not in a hotel, so can't help there).
We took MTB but hired road bikes for a day from a very friendly shop. Not sure if I'm allowed to name names here (though I gave them a good tripadvisor review) and rode the Sella Ronda.
Good food both in the town and up on the hills, great walks, did some via ferrata. Really had a great time.
I nipped over to Cortina (to get some parts from a Cannondale dealership who were also very helpful) but I wasn't that impressed by the town.
LR
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