IHR Hotel Villa Emma

I've stayed here three times with a friend, always in a twin room booked through Crystal Ski. It's very convenient for skiing. We leave our skis and boots at the rental shop by the main lift in Canazei, and the walk is easy, better than risking a wait for the ski bus. The rooms are perfectly adequate, with plenty of hot water. The food and beer are excellent, and all the staff are friendly and helpful. I'm dismayed that the Google review rating is only 3.6. That's so unfair.

For us, the location worked well, even though it was a 10-minute walk to the city center. The place was cool, big and clean, and the staff were really nice at check-in, breakfast and checkout. We were even able to have breakfast later at the bar, where the cappuccino from the usual machine was better. The food felt more like a big resort than something local. Breakfast was disappointing: no authentic bread, eggs that weren't great, and no natural items such as local marmelade. The included dinner came in handy on the first night in a pinch, but I'd recommend trying a local place like the other pizzerias. It also felt like a family place, which didn't suit my romantic trip. It was noisy, not very clean during feast time, and our table was right in the middle of everyone.

The atmosphere was warm and relaxed after dinner, with people chatting, playing board games and swapping stories about the day's snow. The hotel is family friendly, and everything seemed to run smoothly. Staff were welcoming, warm, helpful and efficient throughout. Its position between two ski lifts is convenient but busy. The ski bus stops right across from the hotel, with the return stop close by, and you can buy tickets on the bus or at the hotel. We chose to drive about 20 minutes to Pellegrino, where the slopes were less crowded. The bus only runs there once an hour and can be crowded at day's end, while parking is free. The slopes had impressive variety and quality, and as a blue/red level snowboarder I had no trouble. There are family parks for younger snow fans too. There's a warm gear room for boards, skis and boots, but no individual lockers, and it can fill up. Check-in was organized and quick, and ski passes were issued then. Reception staff were helpful and efficient. The younger staff may not speak English, but they quickly find someone who does. Drinks use a prepaid card system, which is convenient and also makes checkout quick. Our first-floor room, number 116, was functional, clean and comfortable. We could access the balcony that runs along the length of the hotel and had a fantastic view of the sun on the mountains each morning. Breakfast is a buffet with an excellent range, and staff can prepare hot items such as omelets. We found it better to order coffee at the bar than use the local machine. Dinner is also buffet style, with lots of hot and cold dishes and desserts, so there was always plenty to eat. The kitchen is extensive and clearly well managed. The bright, comfortable lobby was a nice place to spend time. The hotel is ideally placed for the ski lifts and slopes, and I'd absolutely recommend it.

The rooms are a little dated, but I had a great week here and would highly recommend the hotel. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the buffet had something different every day, and the gondola was only a three-minute drive away.