Vinumhotel Feldthurnerhof

The rooms could use an update in the next few years, though here they’re mainly somewhere to sleep. The rest of the place is hard to fault, and we’ll happily keep coming back. We’ve visited the area around Brixen since I was a child, staying everywhere from farms to upper-class hotels, and this is easily our favorite. It’s family-run, well located, and has e-bike rental, spa facilities, a lovely garden with a view, and everything we wanted for a summer in the mountains. The family are great at being personal without intruding on your privacy. Dinner is a superb 4+1 courses each night, with special requests handled without hesitation. The wine list is made up of locally selected wines, and they recommend a pairing for every course.

We had a great time overall and would love to come back. The location is great, and you can get around without a car thanks to the hotel’s activities, though I’d suggest having one if you want to explore on your own instead of joining big groups and rushing around. The staff were lovely and easy to talk to. The hotel is large, clean, and beautiful, with a breathtaking view. The wellness and spa area is clean and well laid out, but it’s a shame people sometimes shout in the quiet areas. Treatments are quite expensive and need improvement. I wouldn’t recommend them: my massage felt superficial and quick, and the facial did too. Breakfast was delicious, with lots of sweet and savory choices. Dinner was good, though some nights and meals were just okay. The hotel runs different activities each day, some free and some for an extra charge. The wine tasting was only €9 and was amazing. The wines were excellent, the sommelier was interesting to listen to, and we bought some bottles we tried. Be careful about joining the organized hikes. The guides rushed, didn’t take breaks, and could be arrogant toward slower or injured people. It was unpleasant to see. After a snowshoe hike of over three hours, they didn’t give some people time for lunch because they wanted to head back. Josef, one of the guides, made rude comments and mocked a participant in German because of their physical impairment and slower pace. That was highly unprofessional.

Once we got past the location, our stay turned out to be absolutely wonderful. The staff were friendly and welcoming, everything was clean, and the small pools were perfect for a swim after skiing. The menus all had meat, but when we asked, they made us amazing vegetarian dishes. Dogs were allowed in the outdoor dining areas for €11 per dog per day. There was also a breakfast buffet with homemade jam, free saunas for ages fourteen and up, and massages from €35. When we arrived, the outside of the hotel was discouraging, and we were put off by having to drive down one mountain and up another to reach the Plose ski resort.

The spa area was really nice, and the food and service were great. It’s clean and modern, and the location works well for skiing if you have a car. Val Gardena is about a half-hour drive away. I’d definitely recommend the hotel for a vacation.