When one spends as many nights in hotels as I do, it’s rare to stay in a place that has every last detail done right, even better when that stay is in a UNESCO-listed area where breathtaking views are visible from every window (even from the plane!). The Adler Spa Resort DOLOMITI checks all the right boxes…and then some. I was delighted to be able to experience this luxurious place recently, and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to escape to a part of Italy that’s often eclipsed by Rome or Venice. Here you can really dive deep into a part of Italy that few North American tourists get to see. The Adler Spa Resort DOLOMITI will be a luxury you’ll keep wanting to come back to.
First, let’s talk about the region.
Tyrol, on the Italy/Austria border, was actually once a part of Austria and was only given to Italy after WWI, so there’s a decidedly Austrian feel to the buildings here, and people speak German, Italian, Tyrolean, and Ladin, depending on their family and heritage. There’s a strong sense of individual identity, that this is not just Italy, not just Austria, some have even pushed for the region to have independence and be given its own passport.
Overlooked by the incredible crags of the Dolomite mountains, the autonomous province of Ortisei lies nestled at the bottom of ski slopes — you can literally wake up at the Adler Spa Resort DOLOMITI, cross the street, and be skiing in moments. Skiing is just one of many activities for visitors, who have something to enjoy any time of year. Go snow-shoeing, hiking, biking, mountain climbing, trekking, bird watching, or just take a stroll through the rolling hills and fertile farmlands.
But some may not even need to leave the comfort and luxury of the Adler grounds. There is so much to do, see, experience, all there in the expansive resort. Enjoy swimming or Jacuzzi-ing in large, immaculate, indoor and outdoor pools. Visit the gym for a workout, have a relaxing massage, or enjoy the therapeutic heat of an Aufguss sauna, a ritualized combination of heat and aromatherapy that will leave one feeling rejuvenated and energized. (More about that below!)
When you stay at nice hotels as often as I do, you start to realize what sets a family-owned (7 generations!) resort apart from the conglomerates. It has a warmth, a coziness, a real appreciation for the guests that the impersonal chains can’t match. My room, with a lovely balcony, a beautiful bath, a writing desk (always nice for a writer when there’s a desk to use in the the room!), sofa, plenty of space, and storage for my suitcase and clothes. It instantly felt like home.
I did not use the workout facilities, but walked through them daily on my way to the restaurants and bars. Exerbikes had viewing screens so you could bike with a partner along the banks of the Seine or wind up and down a virtual mountain trail. Pilates and yoga were available as well.
Perhaps the most interesting was the Aufguss, a mix of aroma- and heat therapy that is slowly making a name for itself outside of Austria, but which has been around for ages in this part of the world. One sits around a glowing box of heated rocks while a “master of ceremonies” (of sorts) proceeds to place invigorating aromas (such as lavender, tangerine, grapefruit, pine, eucalyptus, or mint) and ice onto the rocks. He then fans the superheated steam around the room with a towel, dancing, spinning the towel in creative ways. It’s part sauna, part therapy, and part performance — a delightful addition to the stay. And it’s become so popular in this part of Europe that there are even Aufguss competitions to see who is the most creative in their mastery.
After the Aufguss, the more daring (or courageous!) guests can take an icy dip in a plunge pool. I opted for the heated indoor and outdoor pools, and discovered a fun feature: Start inside and swim to a narrow channel, where a doorway opens up allowing you to swim out to the outside pools. From there, you can explore the giant, gorgeous pools or hop from the pool to a warm, bubbling Jacuzzi with inviting sunken seats that let you lounge in the bubbles and look out at the scenery below.
Last but certainly not least, the Adler Spa Resort DOLOMITI has an interesting “half board” system, where guests have both the benefits of a buffet and a menu, with both breakfast and dinner included in the price of the room. It’s a spectacular deal if you’re at all a foodie: The problem isn’t what to eat, but what to leave untasted that you just won’t possibly have room for. (But be sure to leave room for the desserts! Near perfect tiramisu, sublime pistachio choux, and all sorts of other delights await you!) Finish off the evening chatting with newfound friends in the classy ambiance of the bar, sipping a grappa riserva or other such digestif.
If there’s one regret I had it’s that I couldn’t have stayed longer. Lucky for me, I’ll be visiting the Adler resort’s Sicily location in a few days. Can’t wait to enjoy that one…and see how it compares to this one. Stay tuned!
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