I know I've asked this question before but I still don't have peace about it
Can anyone give me their opinion/experience on traveling to the Dolomites in late October.
Will hotels be open.? Is it too cold to really enjoy?? I know only one gondola is open but that should be enough for us.
Any thoughts or advise would be great
Hi Jay,
I think you're over thinking or over worrying. We've been to the Dolomites in mid October a couple of times. We've been to Switzerland (incl. the Berner Oberland) in mid October once. We've also been to the Austrian Alps and Bavaria in mid to late October a few times. If I could pick any month to visit any of these, it would always be October. If daytime temps in the low 60's (maybe high 50's) are going to keep you from having a good visit, skip the Dolomites. Weather is unpredictable. We once had a day in Brixen/Bressanone (45 min. from the Val Gardena) in the upper 70's/low 80's in October. We visited Zell am See the first of Nov. and it was a beautiful, mild day. Once in the Innsbruck area, in late April, we had a very nice day in Innsbruck, drove to the Stubaital and it was snowing, then drove back to the same nice day in Innsbruck. Our experiences.
We've also seen very little rain in October in all these places during all our visits.
Yes, hotels and B&B's will be open. Yes, restaurants will be open. Locals don't go out for dinner? Maybe not as many as in the high seasons, but for your 3 nights, there's no worries.
I'm not trying to talk you into a visit you're not sure of, but you did ask for opinion's and first hand experiences.
If interested, we stayed here in the Val Gardena:
Paul
Just wanted to add, that the Mont Seuc/Seiser Alm cable car that runs until early Nov. should be enough. It goes from Ortisei up to the beautiful, and quite large, Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi.
If you don't mind driving alpine passes, the Gardena Pass and the Sella Pass are right at the end of the valley (Val Gardena). You'll find a cafe/rest stop at the "top" of both. The Gardena Pass is our favorite drive in the area. Even if you just go as far as the cafe/rest stop and back. Absolutely incredible up close Dolomite vistas. At the start of the Sella Pass (which branches off the Gardena Pass) you'll find a couple of small parking lots to stop and walk among the peaks.
We have some pic's from our mid October stays in the Dolomites here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets/72157646363588198/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets/72157646798948951/
we have pic's of other October trips (among others) here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets/
Paul
Thank you Paul....thats exactly what I was looking for
