Rifugio Genzianella

The spa setup was a letdown compared with what the hotel website suggests. There isn't a wellness area or fitness room, and there's no ski room for storing skis and boots. You can book a half-hour in an outdoor barrel sauna, but you get an ordinary ground-floor hotel room to change in before stepping outside. It has two loungers and tea if you want to relax, though the 30-minute slot doesn't leave much time. Massages happen in a room set aside for that purpose. The rooms are nicely decorated with a mountain feel. Breakfast was okay, but there wasn't much healthy food, such as fruit, chia, nuts, or whole-grain bread. Both restaurants served very good dinners, with excellent pasta whether ordering à la carte or choosing the set-menu dining experience. The wine list was nice. We had a pleasant stay, helped by the excellent weather.

The mix-up over dinner plans on my wife's birthday really spoiled the experience for us. At check-in, we were told our booking included full board, which came as a nice surprise since we'd booked through a third-party service and hadn't noticed that detail. So we changed our plans and decided to celebrate at the hotel restaurant. After we'd arrived, ordered a couple of drinks, and asked for the full-board menu, the restaurant staff said we weren't on full board. I went back to reception, and the manager admitted they'd made a mistake: our booking included breakfast only. I had to return to the restaurant and order from the regular menu at full price. The cost wasn't the problem. We'd rearranged our evening based on what we'd been told, then had to sort it out awkwardly on a special occasion. The way management handled it left us disappointed. We did like the hotel overall. Its location is beautiful, the atmosphere was nice, and we especially enjoyed the sauna. We hope management takes this feedback on board and improves communication and customer care. With better handling of situations like this, the hotel could easily earn a higher rating.

The mountain views from our quiet terrace were lovely, and the room was spacious and spotless. We also appreciated the free summer parking. Breakfast was delicious and had plenty of variety, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. The hotel itself is beautiful, modern, and stylish, with a cozy lounge and delicious cocktails at the bar. The location works perfectly for hiking and cycling. During the heatwave, though, we really noticed there was no air conditioning, and it would have been great if there were a pool.

We stayed two nights as a family of four and had two connecting rooms, both with a balcony. The rope park near the hotel was fun. It's a fantastic little place in the ski town of San Domenico, clean and nicely presented, and the staff are lovely.