Hotel Angelo Engel

Perfect (of course). Four consecutive generations managing a hotel that welcomes its guests as a family would welcome its closest relatives. The location is ideally suited for hikes and excursions, as well as a short walk into town. The facilities are impeccable, recently renovated with careful attention to every detail that a modern traveler has come to expect: large and airy rooms, windows overlooking the mountains, very comfortable beds and pillows, big bathrooms and strong water pressure in the shower, and ample closet space. The staff at every level is courteous, friendly, and professional. By the second day, they know the guests’ names and preferences, and every interaction is always accompanied with a warm smile. In our case, we were a very large family, with small children and were treated extremely well throughout our stay. The breakfast buffet is abundant, with a wide variety of products, All of the freshest quality and inviting presentations. Dinner menus offer a choice of the regular menu or a vegetarian menu, and of course the dining staff is always willing to change this, add that, include something else at mealtimes. The dishes are creative, tasty, and very gratifying. Children are offered (if they prefer) pasta with a variety of sauces. The hotel has two swimming pools, one outdoor and the other indoor, connected by a sliding door, which is always a source of immense fun for children. There is a spa, a gym, and a large garden with chaise longues to relax outdoors. Ideal space to recover after a day of hiking. The indoor lounge features a barman with equal measures of bartending skills as well as amusing storytelling, and that is always a plus to go after dinner. Again, it is a PERFECT hotel in every sense of the word, one to which we will certainly return next year, and the ones after!

First, while Ortisei is pretty, scratch the surface and it's a soulless tourist town with too many apparel and souvenir stores and no stunning mountain views. It does have quick access to the Seceda, the Seiser Alm, and another meadow. Go there for that. We liked the physical facility at AE, but did have concerns. Unless we kept our windows open all the time, the room smelled like sawdust. So, we kept the windows open and had no respite from a loud, not particularly charming creek and heavy road traffic. The towels were thin and doled out one ar a time. We did enjoy the pool and the lawn, which have a rural hillside view but no mountain views. We took half board, but the food was not to our taste. Check the menus before you register. Breakfast is monotonous and more perfunctory than designed to delight. Dinner was heavy on a perfunctory (again) salad bar, unimaginative first courses, and red meat. While they offer vegetarian dishes, they won't be winning any awards for them. Desert was usually two offerings plus ice cream. I expected a generous buffet for the tariff. Overall, I sensed an OK chef on a very restrictive budget. The owners flit around the property asking guests is everything is OK. It isn't, but it's awkward to tell them that. I suggest they put uniforms on and serve guests directly so they real feedback. I don't recommend this property and have no interest in returning to Ortisei.

What a super hotel this is. We stayed for 4 nights in June and loved every minute. It’s not enough that it’s surrounded by the glory that is the Val de Gardena, but it offers the perfect respite after a wonderful day walking in the mountains. You never escape the fact that this is a family run hotel. The pride and attention to both detail and above all to the guests is quite superb. All the staff are fabulous but special mention to young Daniel in the bar, the very special Dando in the restaurant and to Margrit on reception. Literally a 2 minute walk from the town centre but a sanctuary from the noise and bustle, you just don’t hear anything. And on top you have an indoor and outdoor pool plus spa. Sitting on the terrace in the vending with a nice glass of wine looking up towards the hills was a perfect end to the day. The food is admittedly a bit limited in choice but I can assure you that every night my meal was different and it was excellent. And here’s the real coup. It offers the most unbelievable half board value versus some of the more expensive 5 star alternatives and is better than many I have stayed in in Italy. We will return without question. One tip, book a superior room facing over the garden, the view is better, they have a terrace and it’s quieter than the other side which faces a road. Also, be aware that the rooms do not have air conditioning. Whilst this was not a major problem, with night temperatures sometimes now staying in high teen in the summer, this could become more of an issue.