We spent a week in Val Gardena at Stua Catores and it was wonderful. We had a mountain-view room, which was enormous, with both a seating area (with a couch) and a balcony. (The main picture on TripAdvisor is from before the renovation.) The ever-changing views of Sasslonch from the balcony were amazing, and the decor successfully brought together a modern style with traditional Süd-Tyrol touches. The bed was large and comfortable, and the bathroom spacious, with an excellent shower. ||Like others, we opted for 1/2 board (breakfast and dinner) after seeing the restaurant reviews on TripAdvisor, and we are glad we did. For dinner there was a varied menu of traditional dishes, usually with two choices of starter and main dish each evening. (We didn't eat the same thing twice during the week we were there.) Chef Markus did a fabulous job of preparing the hearty Süd-Tyrol mountain fare with flair and a lighter touch. His lasagne may be the best I have ever eaten (and my mother's family is Italian). Desserts were often light (which we appreciated), but one night there was a dessert buffet (to complement the salad buffet which was served every evening) and while we were "reasonable" and only had two plate-fulls, other diners couldn't resist and went back for thirds--and we were tempted to do the same!||The location was excellent as well. You can walk into town (downhill) in about 10 minutes, and then take the bus back to avoid the uphill trek. (A bus pass is included with your stay.) We were there for hiking and mountain scenery and Val Gardena did not disappoint! There are trails available right next to the hotel, or you can take one of three lifts in town to start hiking at a higher altitude. There are trails for all levels -- and even from the extremely popular lifts (such as the one to the Alpe di Siusi) it didn't take much walking to get away from the crowds.||Sigrid, Markus, their family and their team provide a warm welcome, a lovely, extremely clean hotel, and fabulous food. We cannot recommend Stua Catores...
Read moreWe spent a week in Val Gardena at Stua Catores and it was wonderful. We had a mountain-view room, which was enormous, with both a seating area (with a couch) and a balcony. (The main picture on TripAdvisor is from before the renovation.) The ever-changing views of Sasslonch from the balcony were amazing, and the decor successfully brought together a modern style with traditional Süd-Tyrol touches. The bed was large and comfortable, and the bathroom spacious, with an excellent shower. ||Like others, we opted for 1/2 board (breakfast and dinner) after seeing the restaurant reviews on TripAdvisor, and we are glad we did. For dinner there was a varied menu of traditional dishes, usually with two choices of starter and main dish each evening. (We didn't eat the same thing twice during the week we were there.) Chef Markus did a fabulous job of preparing the hearty Süd-Tyrol mountain fare with flair and a lighter touch. His lasagne may be the best I have ever eaten (and my mother's family is Italian). Desserts were often light (which we appreciated), but one night there was a dessert buffet (to complement the salad buffet which was served every evening) and while we were "reasonable" and only had two plate-fulls, other diners couldn't resist and went back for thirds--and we were tempted to do the same!||The location was excellent as well. You can walk into town (downhill) in about 10 minutes, and then take the bus back to avoid the uphill trek. (A bus pass is included with your stay.) We were there for hiking and mountain scenery and Val Gardena did not disappoint! There are trails available right next to the hotel, or you can take one of three lifts in town to start hiking at a higher altitude. There are trails for all levels -- and even from the extremely popular lifts (such as the one to the Alpe di Siusi) it didn't take much walking to get away from the crowds.||Sigrid, Markus, their family and their team provide a warm welcome, a lovely, extremely clean hotel, and fabulous food. We cannot recommend Stua Catores...
Read moreJust returned from a six week trip and I have to say this was the highlight. We opted for full board after seeing the restaurant reviews and were very happy with both the room and board. This is a small, family-run place, the real deal. It's not in any super popular guidebooks, so you get the real family experience. The prices are very reasonable. We paid 114 Euro for room and board for two! When we arrived around lunch time, I heard all kinds of laughing going on in one of the dining rooms, so I asked if the family was having lunch. The wife said no, that these were customers, but what we learned is that their inn and restaurant customers come back week after week, or year after year, and are treated like family. ||||The inn is on the hillside just outside the main area (there is a bus up the hill during high seasons, but we earned more calorie points by walking). Our room was simple, very clean, and very comfortable with a beautiful view of the peaks. The food was delicious. I'll review the food on the restaurant page. One day we decided not to go hiking but spent the day on the balcony reading the New York Times on line and working on a project.||||More info: the owners speak German and Italian, of course, some French, English, but the wife's native language is Ladino, the language of these few valleys. The food is Italian and Tryolean. The inn was started by the wife's parents in 1957 as a wine stube and expanded from there. On the weekends, people come from all over to dine on the specialities, though there is no posted menu, just whatever has been made fresh. ||||One other thing that made this stay special was the sincere joy of the owners. They really wanted to share their food and culture. In most places when you opt for board, you get a simple menu. Here Sigrid always urged us to try the specialty, even if it cost the kitchen more. It was such a pleasure to stay with them that I'm already trying to see how we can make a...
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