Hotel Angelo Engel

Perfect (of course). Four consecutive generations managing a hotel that welcomes its guests as a family would welcome its closest relatives. The location is ideally suited for hikes and excursions, as well as a short walk into town. The facilities are impeccable, recently renovated with careful attention to every detail that a modern traveler has come to expect: large and airy rooms, windows overlooking the mountains, very comfortable beds and pillows, big bathrooms and strong water pressure in the shower, and ample closet space. The staff at every level is courteous, friendly, and professional. By the second day, they know the guests’ names and preferences, and every interaction is always accompanied with a warm smile. In our case, we were a very large family, with small children and were treated extremely well throughout our stay. The breakfast buffet is abundant, with a wide variety of products, All of the freshest quality and inviting presentations. Dinner menus offer a choice of the regular menu or a vegetarian menu, and of course the dining staff is always willing to change this, add that, include something else at mealtimes. The dishes are creative, tasty, and very gratifying. Children are offered (if they prefer) pasta with a variety of sauces. The hotel has two swimming pools, one outdoor and the other indoor, connected by a sliding door, which is always a source of immense fun for children. There is a spa, a gym, and a large garden with chaise longues to relax outdoors. Ideal space to recover after a day of hiking. The indoor lounge features a barman with equal measures of bartending skills as well as amusing storytelling, and that is always a plus to go after dinner. Again, it is a PERFECT hotel in every sense of the word, one to which we will certainly return next year, and the ones after!

First, while Ortisei is pretty, scratch the surface and it's a soulless tourist town with too many apparel and souvenir stores and no stunning mountain views. It does have quick access to the Seceda, the Seiser Alm, and another meadow. Go there for that. We liked the physical facility at AE, but did have concerns. Unless we kept our windows open all the time, the room smelled like sawdust. So, we kept the windows open and had no respite from a loud, not particularly charming creek and heavy road traffic. The towels were thin and doled out one ar a time. We did enjoy the pool and the lawn, which have a rural hillside view but no mountain views. We took half board, but the food was not to our taste. Check the menus before you register. Breakfast is monotonous and more perfunctory than designed to delight. Dinner was heavy on a perfunctory (again) salad bar, unimaginative first courses, and red meat. While they offer vegetarian dishes, they won't be winning any awards for them. Desert was usually two offerings plus ice cream. I expected a generous buffet for the tariff. Overall, I sensed an OK chef on a very restrictive budget. The owners flit around the property asking guests is everything is OK. It isn't, but it's awkward to tell them that. I suggest they put uniforms on and serve guests directly so they real feedback. I don't recommend this property and have no interest in returning to Ortisei.