Hotel Armin

The half-board package was excellent value, and this hotel offers much more than we expected from a 3+ star place. We stayed for seven nights and will definitely return to ski in the Dolomites. We’ve used hotels in Austria and France over the last 12 or so years, and this one ranks very highly. The five-course dinner, with a salad buffet, was a highlight. The food was high quality, plentiful and beautifully presented, with three main courses to choose from each evening. We picked our dinner at breakfast, and children seemed well catered for too. Thursday’s Tyrolean dinner included a delicious goulash stew. The wine list was extensive, and the local South Tyrol red was tasty and well priced. The elegant dining room had thoughtful details like linen napkins and clean cutlery between courses. Breakfast started at 0730 and had breads, pastries, fresh fruit salad, cereals, local jams and butter, streaky bacon, sausages, and boiled or scrambled eggs. The scrambled eggs were spot on each day. Fresh filter coffee or tea came to the table, and cappuccino or espresso was available on request. We had a spacious, comfortable double room on the first floor above the entrance level. The bathroom had a powerful shower but no bath. It seems all rooms have balconies. Ours was at the back and avoided the occasional traffic noise, while front-facing rooms and balconies would be more exposed. Reception and dining staff were friendly and helpful, and seemed to enjoy working there. We enjoyed the basement wellness area after skiing each day. It was clean and well equipped, with a medium-sized sauna, a great steam room and a few other facilities, and it was never crowded. Robes, slippers and towels were provided. Swimwear isn’t allowed in the sauna or steam room, but using a conveniently placed towel for modesty worked fine for us Brits. For skiing, Selva is right on the Sellaronda, and the Dolomiti Superski area is so vast that we kept finding new pistes. Arabba and Alta Badia were fun. The runs are generally wide and often tree-lined, with plenty of reds and blues, so there’s skiing for all levels. The slope-side huts are plentiful, mostly have Tyrolean charm, and serve good quality food at good prices, especially compared with France’s 3 Valleys. Their big sun terraces have lovely views of the Dolomites’ iconic peaks. Some lower runs into the resort get quite mashed up when it’s warmer. The hotel is on Selva’s main road, five minutes’ walk from the Champinoi gondola and another five to the Costabella chairlift. Both are up a gentle hill and give direct access to the Sellaronda. We didn’t use the hotel boot room and rented a heated locker at Intersport opposite the Champinoi gondola. We didn’t mind the walk, though the complimentary shuttle from 0815 would have been welcome with ski boots. The Champinoi and Costabella lifts open daily at 0830. The hotel is well placed for exploring the Dolomites on skis or on foot. The basement wellness area is open 1430-1900. No real complaints. There’s no swimming pool, but we knew that before booking.

We spent three nights here with our dog, and the owners and staff gave him lots of treats and scratches. They were incredibly kind and attentive to us as well. The spotless room smelled lovely, and we were pleasantly surprised by how delicious dinner was at the hotel each of the three nights. Breakfast was perfect every morning. Public transport is close by, and trails, shops and ski lifts are all within walking distance. We’d happily return and recommend it.

The staff were kind and the food was extremely good. Service was exceptional, and there’s a cute little wellness area. Cable cars and hiking routes are within walking distance.

The service and food were great, and it’s a really nice hotel. My main complaints are the €20-per-night dog fee and the location on the busy main street. There was a lot of traffic, and parking the car wasn’t easy.