Some hotels stay with you because of the service or the food. ADLER Alpe stayed with me because of the setting.
We spent one night here during our week in the Dolomites, staying in a two-story chalet overlooking the meadows of Alpe di Siusi, with the Sassolungo mountain range stretching out in front of us.
What made the view even more special was that we’d hiked Sassolungo the day before. Less than 24 hours later, we were sitting in our chalet, looking out at the very trails we’d just climbed.
It’s a pretty incredible feeling to see a landscape from an entirely different perspective, especially when you’ve just spent the previous day exploring it on foot.
A night above the meadows
There were a few moments at ADLER that I know I’ll remember for a long time.
At one point, someone was preparing dessert outdoors, with the mountains as the backdrop. It was almost impossibly picturesque, and exactly the kind of unexpected detail that makes a hotel feel special.
That night, we slept with the windows open, listening to the cowbells from the cows roaming the surrounding pastures. It’s such a simple thing, but I’ll never forget it.
The next morning, we woke up early and walked out into the meadows to watch the sunrise. Afterward, we came back and settled into Adirondack chairs with coffee and tea, looking out over the mountains.
Nothing elaborate, just a beautiful view and a quiet morning. Sometimes those end up being the best parts of a trip.
The trade-offs
As memorable as the setting was, there were a few things that kept ADLER from being one of our favorite hotels of the trip.
The biggest was the food. Dinner left a lot to be desired, particularly compared with the meals we had at our other hotels in the Dolomites. The wines included in the all-inclusive stay also weren’t particularly memorable. We didn’t explore the additional wine list, so there may have been better options available, but what was included didn’t quite meet our expectations.
The other drawback was the lack of air conditioning in our chalet. We visited at the end of August, and it was uncomfortably warm at times. Sleeping with the windows open gave us those wonderful sounds of the meadows, but it didn’t entirely solve the heat.
Neither of these things takes away from how special the setting was, but they’re worth knowing before booking, especially if you’re visiting during the warmer months.
The verdict
I’m really glad we stayed at ADLER Alpe.
There was something special about looking out at mountains we’d hiked just the day before, waking up to cowbells, and watching the sunrise from the meadows. Those are the moments I’ll remember long after the trip.
It wasn’t a perfect stay, and there are a few things I’d change, but I’m so glad we made room for a night here. Of the three hotels we visited, it probably wouldn’t be my first choice to return to, but it’s an experience I’d absolutely recommend.
Sometimes a place doesn’t have to get everything right to leave you with some of your favorite memories.
Planning a trip to the Dolomites? Read my full guide to A Week in the Dolomites for the hotels, hikes, and places I’d recommend along the way.
