Residence Merk

The reception lady was very kind, and the apartment was clean and well equipped. The building looks nice, though some floors and furniture are showing their age. Communication with the host was difficult, and they didn’t arrive for check-in despite our agreed appointment. Our ground-floor unit was right by the parking lot and sidewalk, so it felt exposed and lacking in privacy, almost like being in a fishbowl. That wasn’t mentioned in the listing. It’s also directly beside the busy road to Passo Gardena, with a lot of traffic noise.

The owners were friendly, helpful, and hospitable. They thoughtfully ran a morning shuttle to the lifts in Selva and picked us up in the evening at our convenience. The skiing area is among the best the Alps have to offer, and we had a wonderful stay. The modern apartment was spacious and well equipped, with everything in excellent condition. We also loved the cozy, beautifully designed sauna.

We arrived on 12 April, out of season, at about 5 pm. Residence merk and the village were empty, and there was no one at reception to check us in. After 20 minutes of knocking on doors, a lady who didn’t speak English came out. We’d booked what was described as a whole apartment with a kitchen, but the unit she showed us didn’t even have a mini fridge. We tried to explain that we needed the kitchen and fridge because all the restaurants were closed, but she couldn’t understand, so she called the owner. He arrived ready for a fight. Before we could explain or try to find a solution, he insulted us, saying things like, “I know what kind of clients you are” and “here is Val Gardena, not the Greek Islands that you are begging the tourists to rent your room,” along with other very rude comments and sarcastic laughter. We asked to cancel, but he said we wouldn’t get our money back. He then yelled at the lady, who had told us we could cancel for a full refund. We asked how much extra the kitchen room would cost. He said 30€ per night, but we never got an invoice or anything for it. When I asked about the sauna, which was included in the price, they laughed and spoke to each other in Italian. One night, they even locked us out in freezing temperatures, and we rang the bells for 10 minutes before they let us in. By far the worst experience and worst person we met in Italy.

The bus stop is right in front of the hotel, and they also offer a private shuttle to the slopes. The aparthotel is beautiful, set in an exquisite landscape and very close to the ski runs. Special thanks to the kind lady at reception, who did her best to help with everything we needed, even though she didn’t speak English. Highly recommend!