ABINEA Dolomiti Romantic Spa Hotel

The rooftop pool deck, with its panorama pool and sauna, was the best part of the hotel, and there was a good range of saunas in the spa. The bar server was pleasant, too, and the Marinzen gondola is nearby. But at €350-400, the stay felt underwhelming for a 4-star hotel, especially compared with other 4-star places we stayed in the Dolomites, like Arkadia Hotel in Corvara. Our room was small, had no air conditioning, and looked onto the ramp to the MPreis supermarket rather than a view. The linen and cleaning were the biggest letdown: during our 4-night stay, 3 of the 4 sets of bedsheets had holes, the floor towels were torn and worn, and some towels were stained. Dinner service often felt rushed and impersonal because there weren't enough servers. The pool and spa are nice, but the hotel could do more to make the whole experience feel worth the price.

Drinks by the rooftop pool and the view were a highlight, and the food was incredible. Dinner was nicely presented and full of flavor. The spas and saunas made the place feel relaxing, with a real luxury feel. We also loved the short walk to the quaint neighboring town, and it was a 15-minute drive to Orteisi for the cable car and its scenic Dolomites views. We booked at the last minute and arrived after reception had closed, but staff helped us contact reception and get checked in. They went out of their way for us, taking the included dinner off the bill and giving us an extra spa day for free without us asking. There were a couple of downsides. Our room faced a grocery store parking lot, which got a bit noisy in the morning. The wellness bag came with a limited number of towels, and there wasn't an easy way to get fresh ones at the spa, so sometimes we had to reuse them.

The receptionists were nice, and the location is central for anyone staying in Castelrotto. I tried the hat bath and a massage, but found them disappointing compared with other places in the area. The massage therapist didn't use enough pressure, and when I asked for more of a sports massage, she wasn't trained for it.

The spa and pool areas were great, and the staff were kind and went out of their way to help. From check-in through checkout, we had a wonderful stay. Our room was lovely, with a balcony where we could sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. I really liked having an assigned seat in the dining room, so we could come in and sit down without guessing when it would be busy. Our server was a younger gentleman with great English, and he was so nice and kind. They also provided a bus ticket that covered most of the main hikes in the area, which saved us from having to look for parking. Just be aware the garage is very tight, so you need to be comfortable parking in small spaces.