This was our first trip to the beautiful area of Selva di Val Gardena. I have made some research beforehand and eventually have decided to spend a few days holiday in Nives hotel. And what a great idea it turned out to be!
Well, if you travel from Villach (Austria) the road to Selva takes you over 3 passes which raise well above 1,900 m and they are quiet obsessive with the breathtaking views they expose you with. There is one pass which takes you to Cortina D'Ampezzo, another one to Alta Badia and the final one to Selva di Val Gardena. All the trip is amazingly sprinkled with breathtaking views of out of Earth scenery. Really, the first time you meet the Dolomites you feel they are out of this planet (note to readers that this is summer experience and winter condition of roads could differ significantly).
Once you get to Nives the first impression is that everybody knows you for a long time - that's how familiar they are within the hotel. It's excellent central location (200 meters from bed to bus station) makes it an absolute convenient venue for everybody. There is a perfectly organised SPA inside the hotel and the swimming pool is cut from heaven. Enjoy! A vast selection of massage styles (if we could only spend months in the SPA i would pick one on a daily basis) would pamper your muscles after a day of hiking.
Of course this is Italy and good food is solemn. But then you have the Nives Gourmet restaurant where you need to make an appointment beforehand. It is a comfy, warm hearted, well organised 14 table (about my count) restaurant where marvel unveils in terms of gastronomy experience. Very well trained young staff and the owner itself is taking care of the fantastic culinary experience. The food menu is great (perhaps for long staying guests might end quickly in terms of options) and is accompanied by a fabulous selection of white, red, rose list of wines. Nothing is left to chance in this glam looking restaurant.
We were accommodated at a 1st floor room. The car was left in the underground garage - clean and well lit, with a bucket of empty bottles of wine written all over the welcome message in various languages. Once you get into the room it is a soft and mild feeling of modern woody layout with mountain related scents. Minimalistic yet tasteful selection of accessories and finishes. Modern but still traditional. I think, a perfect combination - but that's me! One more thing: the windows leading to the vast balcony (corner room) are absolutely sound proof. They isolate perfectly the potential noises given by the central proximity - is like a mute film almost!
You might be overwhelmed by the impression during the time of arrival - but wait until morning. The breakfast is absolutely friendly. There is a team of 2 or 3 guys which make your breakfast impression fabulous. Nothing is impossible, as they say, in terms of breakfast preparation. Well, i doubt they can bring you a deer steak at breakfast, but you get the feeling. Attention to detail is well taken care of. Bio products are well within the offer and available during breakfast. I guess only if you are sleeping extremely late you might miss this. Coffee - best!