Phi Hotel Bellamonte

The wellness area is open only from 1 pm to 8 pm, which is a short window and my one negative. The hotel has a wonderful view, and the rooms were clean and tidy. I didn't find any other shortcomings.

The hotel doesn't feel like a 4-star place to us, more like 3. The heating followed what seemed to be a standard ski hotel schedule, twice a day, but sometimes didn't come on for days, without any obvious connection to the outside temperature. There are small parking areas in different spots around the hotel. Ski equipment can be stored in boxes, but unfortunately they aren't heated. Rooms are small for living, though they do have balconies. Service during dinner looked excellent at first, and the maître d' at the dining room entrance was polite to everyone. But we repeatedly had pre-ordered hot appetizers and main courses missing from our table of four, including two children. After the first time we thought it was an accident, but it happened again. Wi-Fi didn't give access to Russian information sites or media. Drinks, including bottled water, cost extra, even at breakfast. Coffee, hot chocolate, and one bottle of water cost 3.0 €. The December 31 dinner cost more than usual, so we expected some sort of celebration. Instead, it was shocking. Dinner was moved an hour and a half later, with an aperitif offered half an hour before it began. The usual cold appetizers weren't in the hall at all, and the courses came after very long pauses. We got hot appetizers, then waited an hour and a half for the main course. There were only two dessert options, pastries, compared with five or six on normal days. There was no festive mood or atmosphere, quite the opposite. The Christmas festive menu also cost more, and what stood out was simply the large number of desserts. One thing I appreciated was the consideration for vegetarians. At dinner they always offered one hot appetizer and one main dish especially for them, marked with a green leaflet on the menu.

The location is lovely, but the customer service feels dated. We were only moderately satisfied, as we’d expected a warmer, more family-oriented atmosphere. The hotel is quite large, yet the only place to sit outside the room is the bar, with just 15-20 seats. The restaurant stays closed except at breakfast and dinner, and guests can’t sit there to read, even though there’s plenty of space. The pool doesn’t open until 2 PM, with no way to use it earlier, and I don’t know why. Rooms feel old and haven’t been refreshed in a while, though they were cleaned daily, with fresh linens and towels.

The staff were so friendly, the food was delicious, and our room was really comfortable for three. The location was amazing too.