48 Hours at the Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort
There is no need to state that South Tyrol is one of the prettiest places on earth: they have the Italian culture, the Dolomites, amazing food, friendly people and perfect diverse landscapes along best wines. Probably the only thing missing is the sea. Fun aside, South Tyrol is always worth a trip and for the special occasion of my mum’s 60th birthday, I wanted to give her the gift of time. Time spent together and exploring a corner of her beloved South Tyrol she has never seen. So I figured out we either go to the very south or we head to Saint Vigil which is the Southern end of the Kronplatz ski resort. It didn’t take long until I found the perfect place to stay. The Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort is a posh wellness resort with all the hardware we needed for a mother-sun weekend - admitting there was no need for the black-tie vibes and champagne afternoon tea. Even though I was in for a casual weekend at a fine four-star-superior rated hotel, Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort went beyond my highest expectations and turned this weekend into a very pleasant, yet unforgettable time!
I swear the arrival couldn’t have been more picturesque. We left the highway at Klausen, took a swanky road to Santa Maddalena (the famous picture spot of South Tyrol) and then continued over the stunning Würzjoch (Passo delle Erbe) to San Martino in Badia. From there we reached the town of Saint Vigil. Somewhat like in a Bond movie the hotel appeared out of nowhere at the real end of the road directing straight to the lobby. The lady at the check-in was very friendly and even gave us a tour of the property before she indicated the way to our room. Situated in the Dolomites Lodge (their latest addition to the resort) our room measured spacious 37 square meters and came with a beautiful terrace overlooking the town and valley. Generally, the room had a cool layout with an open-plan bathroom that came with double vanities, a walk-in shower, a separate toilet with a bidet and a wardrobe. In the main part of the room was a double bed facing the valley, a sofa that can also transform into an additional extra bed as well as a writing desk with a television on top.
Everything was flawlessly clean and the room felt very comfortable. I would say it absolutely matched the area of the hotel and had a very fresh touch which I really appreciate. Housekeeping was also doing a good job and made sure we had one bigger bathrobe for me and one smaller one for my mother. They also prepared two separate blankets and even offered an evening service which is not the norm for four-star-superior-hotels like the Excelsior Dolomites. Maybe it would have been nice to have a set of toiletries upon arrival as I am not the biggest fan of a wall-mounted unbranded dispenser, however, this is not a criterion for a hotel of this category and therefore didn’t disturb me in any way. They provided a bag with bath towels for the spa which is a nice gesture, and they still had a selection of towels available at the pool which is a plus for me. There is nothing worse than if you need to live with two towels for one full spa day, think of wet bathing suits.
Speaking of the spa, we were lucky with our room allocation since the adults-only sky spa was just above us and therefore not a long walk. While there is a family spa, basically their old spa area, in the building next to the main building, their sky spa (which opened in 2019) is the real killer. A fabulous infinity pool makes you float in the Dolomites paradise. No matter what time of the day, I loved this pool every second I swam my lengths in there. There is a beautiful relaxation area just next door overlooking a mysteriously uninhabited valley where we always found space for the two of us. On the same floor, there is also the panoramic sauna overlooking the town, an infrared sauna as well as a small relaxation room with a bar for wellness drinks. Overall I felt the Sky Spa wasn’t too big but had the exact right size for the kind of stay we were looking for. Before dinner time, I went to their family spa and was impressed by the size and offer they had there. Next to a spacious indoor pool, there was a heated outdoor jacuzzi and a few more saunas and steam baths. Basically, this hotel is perfect for a family wellness retreat.
While I would have never expected it, the dinner was the real highlight of the stay – including the stellar wine menu. There was a daily-changing four-course menu and yes, all indicated courses were served except the salad and ice which would have been courses five and six. On the first day, we have selected the beef carpaccio followed by delicious ravioli with chanterelles. As for the mains we chose the fish fillet with vegetables as well as the veal fillet with spinach and potato gratin. All in all the service was super friendly and very attentive plus the food was incredibly good and definitely reason enough to choose the Excelsior Dolomites for a stay in South Tyrol. Not to forget to mention the wine list which reads amazing rarities from Cantina Terlan (South Tyrol’s best white wine producer) or Tuscany. The best is yet to come: prices are almost the same as if you would buy them from the winery directly! It’s a rare occasion to be able to order old vintages of these wines but then not even needing to pay a premium on them is just fun!
As you see, I had a blast staying at the Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort and I can warmly recommend this property. I found the target groups to be very interesting and this is perhaps of the different areas inside the hotel. You have families with young children, you have families with elder children, couples and also mother-sun and mother-daughter gatherings. In fact, it is a hotel catering for a huge target group but in a very successful way since I never felt uncomfortable and I feel everyone has their own place at the Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort. Considering the value of money, this is a go-to-wellness resort in one of the most beautiful corners of the world.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort for editorial purposes, however the above written represents my own opinion and hasn’t been influenced.
