Hotel Sant'Orso - Mountain Lodge & Spa

After eating dinner at the hotel four evenings, I found it beautifully maintained, with excellent décor and a strong sense of tradition. The meals were enjoyed by other people in my group, and I’m not criticizing the food quality. But if you’re vegan or have food intolerances, there doesn’t seem to be much flexibility. Butter and milk are used a lot, and there appeared to be little room to change recipes or how dishes are prepared. This traditional family hotel may not meet the needs of modern travelers who require dietary flexibility. If you’ve prepaid for half board, keep in mind that a travel agent’s assurances about accommodating your diet may not match what’s possible at the hotel.

Breakfast was ample and tasty, and the view was nice. Staff were friendly, but the rooms and spa are quite small, much smaller than the online photos suggest. The pool chemicals were so strong that I could smell them throughout the hotel, and the fumes made my eyes burn in the indoor bubble bath. The open air one was better. I also found hairs on the shower wall in my room. I complained, but staff didn’t remove them. The walls are very thin too, I could hear my neighbors talking quite clearly.

The bar and restaurant were great, and we finally encountered friendly, welcoming staff there. The spa, though, was our biggest disappointment. Children were running around and making lots of noise. I’ve never been to a four star hotel where kids are allowed to play like that in the spa. The pool has only six loungers, and the outside hot tub fits four, so you have to book a spot. It’s a joke, especially since we visited in low season. My wife and I came in early December 2025. We have very busy lives, and it had been ages since we’d taken time out, so I booked the most expensive suite for three nights. We arrived mid afternoon on Sunday and got the coldest reception I’ve ever had. The receptionist didn’t even look up to say hello, just asked for our documents. My wife and I exchanged a glance, thinking, “Great start.” The room was fine, but had hardly any windows and absolutely no view. Remember, this was the most expensive room. We politely told reception we’d be leaving a day early, and I was charged in full, including for breakfast. I emailed the manager to explain my disappointment. The response was that it’s a family hotel and children are welcome in the spa areas. If you want a child friendly spa hotel for your kids, this might be the place. But I’m a father of five wonderful children, and when I’m looking for a rare moment of peace, I’d keep looking. I’ve stayed many times quite nearby in much more charming places.

The pools were nice, and dinner was very good. Staff were polite, the manager was often around making sure things ran smoothly, and the family’s care showed everywhere. From check in to check out, I felt welcome and looked after, right down to the chocolate on the pillow and the good quality shaving extras. Even the waiter who didn’t recognize any of the dishes was polite. After hundreds of hotels on my booking app over more than 10 years, this was the first time I gave a place a 10. I’ve stayed in places for 40 euros a night and others costing 2000-3000 euros, but few have stayed with me like this one. A few small things could be fixed easily: the gym could use more equipment, like an exercise bike or treadmill; the bedroom balcony doors didn’t close easily; and a peg was missing to hold open the door to the garage. None of that changed the overwhelmingly positive stay. I highly recommend the hotel and will definitely be back.