Pension Sonnenhof

The rooms and bathrooms were very clean, with amazing views, and there’s an easy walk to the chairlift. The sauna is lovely, so don’t miss it. Kids have a small indoor play kitchen and toy area outside the sauna, plus an outdoor playground for four-season play. It’s a great place to stay, run by a super friendly family. Breakfast was great, and dinner was delicious, cooked from scratch.

We weren’t there for skiing. Pension Sonnenhof was our base for visiting nearby places, and the Unterkircher family and staff treated us warmly from our first phone call until we left. We stayed for about a week in January (2023), after the holiday period, in Maranza, a hamlet of Rio di Pusteria. The location is a useful base at the western start of the Puster Valley, about 63 km from San Candido, 60 km from Lake Braies, 20 km from Bressanone, 60 km from Bolzano, 37 km from Vipiteno, 35 km from Brunico, 51 km from Brennero, and 91 km from Innsbruck. There are lots of hotels and tourist accommodations in the hamlet, but not much else, so you might get bored if you stay put. The clean rooms had a welcoming, wood-cabin style. My first room had no bedside tables, but worked for one person. Later, when I joined my parents in a triple room, the bed I slept in was a bit too short for me, probably better suited to a child. The pillows were too low in every room. We had half board. Breakfast offered sweet and savory food, and the cafeteria waitress was efficient and friendly. Dinner was good, but the menu was simple, with just one choice each for the first course, second course, and dessert. On Friday there was also a fish choice. The kitchen staff were accommodating with small changes if we told them in advance, though I think you can find better food in the area. Given the excellent value for money, the friendly service, and the good location in South Tyrol, I’d gladly return to Pension Sonnenhof.

It’s a small, family-run place in a lovely little town. My balcony had a beautiful view, the family were great fun, and the food was very good.

Excellent food and reasonable prices at this family-run business.