Alpenhotel Rainell

Rainell Retreat has plenty going for it. The staff, from the front desk to the restaurant team, were consistently friendly and welcoming. Our top-floor junior suite was spacious enough for four people and had a couch, desk, table and absolutely incredible views over Ortisei. Breakfast was another highlight. The buffet was generous and delicious, with made-to-order omelets and other options available. We also enjoyed finding the hotel’s “Daily Frog” newspaper at our table each morning, complete with the weather forecast, local activities and that evening’s restaurant menu. The lobby also displayed a thoughtfully planned schedule of suggested activities for guests throughout the week. Unfortunately, one major issue overshadowed much of what we loved. The hotel has no air conditioning because, we were told, it is usually cool outside. During our stay, however, the temperature reached 85 degrees. After a long day of hiking, our room was hot and stuffy, so sleeping comfortably required leaving the balcony door and windows wide open. That worked until a neighboring guest arrived and spent hours on his balcony smoking one cigarette after another. The smoke drifted directly into our room, forcing us to choose between fresh air and secondhand smoke. We closed everything and spent a hot, miserable night trying to sleep. At about 2:00 a.m., assuming our neighbor had finally smoked himself to sleep, I reopened the windows. By 6:42 a.m., he was back at it, and our windows were closed once again. I asked the front desk if we could borrow a fan, particularly since one was sitting on the desk behind the clerk. I was simply told, “We don’t have any.” Apparently, that fan had achieved staff-only status. For a property marketed as a spa and wellness retreat, allowing smoking on balconies directly beside open guest-room windows seems completely inconsistent with the experience being advertised. A designated smoking area away from guest rooms would make an enormous difference. There were also several smaller annoyances. The bathroom provided one all-purpose soap for hands, body and hair, with no conditioner. Call me demanding, but I prefer not to wash my hair with something strong enough to tackle whatever my hands encountered on a hiking trail. Towels were also allocated with military precision: two guests, two bath towels and not one extra. We received two pillows each, although one was so hard and thin that its intended purpose remains a mystery. The rooms are clean, the staff is friendly, the breakfast is excellent and the views are genuinely spectacular. Unfortunately, the smoking situation prevented us from enjoying our room, balcony and a decent night’s sleep. Until Rainell Retreat adopts a more considerate smoking policy, I cannot recommend staying here.

Our first time in the Dolomites for our honeymoon and we stayed at Rainell for 7 nights. To say it was special is an understatement. We didn’t know much about the area before booking, but the staff were incredibly kind, helpful, and offered recommendations for hiking/biking trails and other activities. The resort sits high on a hill (that you do have to walk up but it really wasn’t an issue) that overlooks the whole valley, making for breathtaking, unencumbered views of the mountains. We were upgraded to a larger room for no extra cost upon arrival, which was a lovely surprise. The room and the resort in general were very clean and curated a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for a mountain vacation. We were very active on this vacation, which made this the perfect resort for a home base. It’s located very close to many hiking trails, right next to the Alpe di Siusi lift, and a short walk from the town center that had other lifts available. The bike infrastructure made exploring the Val Gardena area very accessible as well. The spa/wellness area was perfect for us, might not have been the most robust in the area but it had enough space to accommodate the guests and was a nice way to relax for a few hours after hiking/biking all morning and afternoon. There were some children but it was still relaxing, and kids under 16 weren’t permitted in the saunas, only the pool. The wellness area was impeccably clean, mostly quiet, and very refreshing. We booked half board and the food was locally sourced, fresh, and delicious. The dinners had 4 courses with more food available at the buffet before the meals came out. There was a nice selection of wines, aperitifs, and digestifs. The servers were attentive and friendly. The breakfast buffet was basically the same every morning, but that was fine for us as it was mostly a means to fueling up for the rest of the day. Lunch was not included, but we were out and about during the day and got to eat at the huts on the mountains. All in all, this was a lovely spot for our honeymoon. The price for everything included was absolutely worth it and still more affordable than many other resorts in the area. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone and hope to come back here someday soon!

Beautiful hotel located near the center, excellent location, very attentive to details, very clean and with the preparation of excellent meals. Furthermore, the owner family is very present, empathetic, and assisted by staff who are always available and smiling. Highly recommended