Funivia Bormio Active Hotel

The food and people were mostly a real plus. Reception and restaurant staff were friendly and attentive, breakfast had a wide selection and unlimited coffee, and dinner was generally very good: four courses plus a salad buffet. On BBQ night we were surprised there was no vegetarian alternative, though the salad buffet meant we didn’t go hungry. The cleaning staff worked hard and were efficient and friendly. There’s a secure bike room, a maintenance corner with plenty of tools as the website describes, and daily fitness classes at no extra charge. Outside parking is free; underground parking is available for a fee, I think €10 a day. I’d been drawn by the idea of a hotel for cyclists, but there was almost no information about guided rides at the hotel. The website mentions excursions with George on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and says Daniele, Elisa and Sara show guests hidden places and alpine landscapes. It took me a week to find out who George was; he told me he doesn’t work Sundays, and the next tour he was doing was apparently for mountain bikes. I never saw Elisa or Sara. I joined one ride with Daniele, the owner, after recognizing his riding companion. There was a board for fitness classes, so I wish they’d had something similar for rides. The location is ideal for famous climbs and I had some fantastic rides, but I’d have liked group rides too. Our first impression after a long journey was a strong cigarette smell in the landing, which came into the room as soon as we opened the door. It happened several times during our stay, despite this being a sports hotel that’s supposedly non-smoking. Maybe we were just unlucky. The room felt like a budget hotel charging boutique prices: cracked sink, tiny leaky shower, small windows, no balcony, a dead wasp in the woodwork, and two absurd pillows, one hard and about as thick as a house brick, the other ridiculously fat. There wasn’t much chance to unwind after riding. The bike park and summer Rodelbahn next door had a host constantly shouting over a loudspeaker, and nights weren’t much better. The pool and wellness area were small but pleasant; my daughter and I often had it to ourselves. The hours were oddly limited to 16:00 until dinner, though they were happy to open earlier when asked. The post-ride snack bar is a nice idea, but has very limited choices, especially for non-meat eaters. This could suit a group of riding friends, but I can’t recommend it for cyclists with families or anyone counting on group rides or guides. For much less money, I could have had the same or a better stay in a budget hotel where I could keep my bike in my room.

There’s plenty here for cyclists: bike storage, a work station and wash area, laundry for riding clothes, plus snacks, sandwiches, and bananas to take on daily rides. The hotel is in a great spot, backing onto the slopes, with restaurants across the street, and it also has on-site parking. Rooms are nice, with large bathrooms and mountain-view options. There’s a small pool and gym. Breakfast is a great buffet, and the dinners are fabulous with a menu that changes daily.

The only real drawback was the motorcycle noise, which could get quite loud. Otherwise, it’s a really nice place: friendly staff, a good location just outside the busy centre, a breakfast well suited to cycling, and very good dinner. I’ll come back on my next trip to Bormio.

It’s clean, in a good spot, and the staff are very friendly. The ski rental is a one-minute walk away, and the lift to Bormio 2000 takes about five minutes on foot. Breakfast was good, though I would’ve liked some vegetables. The pool is for kids, and the sauna facilities aren’t comfortable. I’d recommend the hotel.