If you ask me about my favourite mountains, I will always say: “Dolomites!”. Can you imagine my excitement when we got invited to visit Hotel Engel at the Dolomites in South Tyrol? Loaded with summer outfits and sun screams we headed to the south of the Alps but the more we were approaching the less sunny it was getting. By the time we arrived at the hotel whole Carezza looked like a real winter wonderland – the blossoming trees were covered with sparkling snow and the Dolomites mountains were hiding behind the clouds. The winter dream, however, didn`t last long, the next day and until the rest of our stay, we were gifted with the lovely weather that gave us all the opportunities to enjoy the hotel and its surrounding to the fullest.
Hotel Engel is run by the family Kohler for generations (since 1862) and known for outstanding hospitality, wellness and gourmet cousin. The hotel is located at a beautiful valley Carezza in the Dolomites region and opened almost all year long. Many hotel guests like to come back every year to relax and to practice Ayurveda which is offered here as a combination of wellness and spa treatments, nurture and activities, food and events.
My first impression, I have never seen such a hotel where all the staff was so extremely welcoming and friendly. Everyone we met was smiling and joking with the kids and the whole atmosphere of the hotel was very warm and familiar making us feel home. We absolutely loved the beautiful relaxed setting and our kids adored the cute angels all over the place. The hotel restaurant was truly cosy too, we always looked forward to our long laughing dinners, talking of which, the hotel’s chef has a Michelin star so the food was beyond outstanding. We found out the chef is using a lot of forgotten local vegetables in his cuisine and almost everything he is growing himself at his forest garden.
What is interesting, the hotel is practising half board. You can have a light lunch of soup or a plate of pasta or mix your own salat, and later in the afternoon you can enjoy tea time and dessert – just great enough especially when you have kids.
Being not really a family hotel, Hotel Engel certainly loves children. You will find little bathrobes in your room as well as a delicious kid`s menu at the restaurant. The hotel offers full-day childcare during hight seasons with an exciting program for kids different ages. During our stay, the childcare was opened from 3pm to 7pm which gave my husband and me just enough time to sneak away to the wellness area – a new part of the hotel with a fabulous complex of saunas and pools.
The hotel has a lot to offer, so it was easy for us to find the perfect combination of relaxation, pampering for our body and soul and entertainment for our kids, as well as a lot of time for family bonding – swimming, splashing, soaking in jacuzzi (our 2yo loved it) and playing at the hotel`s outdoor playground.
Apart from that that we were really touched by so many things in this hotel, we were also amazed about the hotel`s surrounding area. We made a road trip to explore the area, it`s an absolutely incredible place to see and do, suitable for all kind of activities all year long. And these mountains, I still cannot stop looking at these pictures.
What a delightful spring break, thank you Hotel Engel, we will see you again!
*This article was created in collaboration with Engel Hote. Image rights ©Family First & Elena Habicher.
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