Dolomites - Val Gardena Lodging

We loved Hotel Villa Martha in Santa Cristina---small family-run place with amazing food, and views of Sassolongo from our balcony. But I see they have totally changed their website; it used to be much more playful and less . . . Something. Not sure how I feel about It now.

http://www.villamartha.it/en/welcome.html

If you are heading to Lake Bled around September 6, are you aware there is a World Masters rowing event that has taken over most of the lodging that week, especially from Sept. 6-10? Most of the lodging can only be reserved through the event coordinators. If you are going for the rowing event (as we are) you will be fine. Otherwise, it may be difficult.

If you are stuck for lodging at Lake Bled, you can commute from Ljubljana pretty easily. There are buses, and with two of you even a taxi might not be cost-prohibitive. You could even go to the Ljubljana bus station and see if you can catch another traveler or two who want to share the taxi. A lot of the foreigners at the bus station will be headed to Lake Bled.

Hi Anita,

We liked our stay at the Garni Ariston in St. Christina.

www.garniariston.com

Paul

we stayed here way back in 2004 but it was great then, was not a B&B but pretty handy to the area for hking and such, not a big hotel. The owners dropped us at the Col Riser gondola and we hiked back to the apartment, with a short stop at a really cool refugio for a couple of beers and lunch !! give that area a look.

http://www.risaccia.it/index_e.html

More on Lake Bled----I did find a few apartments still available there by using the filters on Booking.com. Most, but not all,were far enough from the lake itself that a car would be useful---so it is good that you will have one. Just bear in mind that the town will be busy, and the lake will be pretty much given over to the racing.

Thank you so much for the suggestions everyone! I'll definitely look into them and chat with my girlfriends about it.
Lola - Yes! I'm a master's rower and am competing in the championships at Lake Bled. We're all set for housing there and that part of the trip is good to go. It's just our side jaunt to the Dolomites before the regatta that we're trying to nail down now! Are you a rower as well??

Great! Maybe we will see you there. My husband is the rower---single scull, category H ( over 70). He would be out rowing right now if it weren't so cold!

I took lessons in a single and love the feeling of skimming over the water--- so much more graceful than kayaking---but at 5'2 I am too small to be competitive. I have been asked to "cox" an Eight but have no interest in that.

What event do you row?

Anita,
We have gone to Ortisei every summer since 2012. Love it! I highly recommend you choose Ortisei for its very charming town center with lots of shops, restaurants, and activities. Hotel Garni Walter and Villa Aurelia should fit your description/price point. We have stayed at both, as well is in a couple of other apartments and a 4-star half-pension resort. Let me know if you need info on the apartments or resort.

Ortisei is situated with three of the major lifts -- Rasciesa, Mont Seuc and Seceda -- in the town. Your lodging will give you bus passes for the duration of your stay so you can park the car and ride to the other towns and gondolas with ease. Get a Val Gardena pass to make your riding less complicated and save some Euros.

We stayed at Hotel Fortuna in Ortisei and paid for a room with a view and balcony. It was still below your price point. Loved the room, service, view and location. It was nice to be close enough to walk five minutes to town and the funicular, yet not have to hear the late night noises (not that it's a rowdy town).

**also, they have free parking.

Thank you Laurel and April for the additional suggestions! We are getting together to make our decision this weekend and are grateful for the suggestions.
Lola - I'm in the 50+ sweep events...both the 8+ and the 4+. Did you go to Copenhagen this past September? There's nothing like the World Master's Rowing events...I love meeting people from all over the world. I hope to see you there!

We have stayed twice in Selva Gardena at this hotel with 1/2 board: http://www.hotel-corona.it/en.html

Hotel Corona Krone

It looks like a "big hotel" but it is family-run, has a small hotel "feel", and the food is excellent. The price is reasonable. We take our cat, who is welcomed. We'll go back there next time we want to stay in that general area.

We stayed at the Uhrerhof. It sits above Ortisei so it has spectacular views. While there is a shuttle bus stop nearby, it is definitely easier if you have a car.
It is family-run. When we stayed there dinner was included, cooked by the father and the multiple courses each night were varied and delicious. They have a spa which is included in your room rate. I am thinking that those saunas and hot soaking tubs might be just the thing for your group. After a long day of hiking and exploring you can recover in the spa and then relax with delicious dinner. You won't be disappointed here.

http://www.uhrerhof.com/en/

We made the same driving trip (Ortisei to Lake Bled)
The drive is not bad at all, make sure you purchase a vignette for both Austria and Slovenia
We purchased the one for Austria shortly after crossing the Italian border in Austria and just before the tunnel/border while still technically in Italy but at a highway stop the one for Slovenia. All was very easy, the tunnel seems to last forever.

You drive right through the town of Lienz, Austria at roughly mid point making it an ideal stop for lunch.
We also stopped on the way at Lake Braies / Pragersee in italy ; I highly recommend doing that, it is only 10 minutes or so out of the way and quite a beautiful place.

Make sure your car rental place knows you are going to Slovenia if picking up and dropping off in Italy (we dropped off in Venice) ; the car rental companies consider Slovenia Eastern Europe still.

Thanks cm and Travelingmom! Those are great suggestions! Having access to a spa at the end of the day is a huge draw for us at Uberhof...looks like it has great views.
Mreynolds that is such great information! We plan to fly in and out of Ljubljana so will just need the Austrian vignette...easy peasy! I love hearing that you have done this drive and your suggestions for how to go and where to stop. Was it a fairly full day of driving or 4-5 hours?

"Was it a fairly full day of driving or 4-5 hours?"

I would say in the car time not including stops was roughly 5 hours; 80% of the drive in Austria is on backroads that can slow down due to truck traffic. It is fairly scenic and a leisurely drive but slow moving until you reach Lienz. After Lienz it is all highway to Lake Bled so that is the easy stretch but also not at all scenic ; you technically do not need the Austrian Vingette until Lienz but we purchased it just after crossing over the border since all gas stations near the border sell them.

We took a last cable car ride up to the top of Seceda for one more view before leaving around 10:45. Stopped at Lake Braies for a quick walk around the lake - (the color and clarity of the lake is impressive) so maybe we stopped there for 45 min.
If we had more time a row boat ride would be nice there - they rent boats at the main dock and stay busy doing so on nice days. The parking is paid there but at least you can park only a 1 minute walk from the lake shore and they do have an on-site café there as well.
A nice little bonus for me, is I really wanted to get a photo of one of the cute Dolomite cows with the mountains in the frame and struck out while in Ortisei area but on the little side road drive from the main road down to Lake Braies there was a perfect little setup for this pic just on the side of the road.
Lienz I had planned on walking around the downtown which looks nice but our 3 year daughter was in a mood and in Lienz we passed by a McDonalds so we suffered culinary wise to appease her and only stopped in Lienz a short time.
Funny side bit: In Austria instead of giving toys with their Happy Meals - like they do in the US and most of the world they give out hard cover books (language in German) so we have a unique souvenir.
By the time we got to Lake Bled it was around 5 PM - most of the day/evening was overcast in Lake Bled but clearer in the Dolomites which we knew so we were not in a rush to get there.
We checked into Vila Bled, explored the hotel and property a bit and then drove into town and had dinner at Pizzeria Rustika which was fantastic!

In Ortisei we stayed at and absolutely loved the Hotel Genziana ; it is over your budget but if you factor in the free extras maybe it can work. Included is breakfast AND a multi-course dinner which is excellent and would be a 100 euro meal for 2 if at a restaurant of similar quality. Plus they have free bike rentals, free use of their saunas, whirlpools in their spa, a really nice indoor pool, free guided walks/hikes, all rooms have balconies and the place is very pretty with typical windowboxes overflowing with flowers ; it is family owned and run and everyone we met had been coming back every year for many years in a row. We felt like the only first timers. Location is great since they are at the very end of the non-pedestrian zone so you can drive and park there but then walking around is a car free area just steps away. Super close to shopping and the Seceda lift, probably the closest hotel/pension to the Seceda lift and that is the best lift to take for views IMO ; also only a short walk to Alpe Di Suisi lift. The luxury / high level of service far exceeded my expectations but also maintained a homey / family run feel.
If I were to return I would be torn to stay there again or stay at a hotel on the Alpe Di Suisi itself just to be in a more scenic spot before and after the lifts run but I would say that in general about the town of Ortisei and would not look at other hotels in Ortisei.

We loved the Hotel Grones in Ortisei. You will never find a friendlier family than the one who runs this beautiful small hotel. The food is fantastic, be sure to get the dinner plan (something I NEVER do). It is close to the town center and has lovely views form the rooms. Enjoy!

We never get the dinner plan (half-board) either--except it just works so well when we go to the Dolomites. We get up and we are out all day--hiking, hiking, hiking, and it is so nice to come "home" and shower and go downstairs for dinner each night. I highly recommend it. Our plan includes breakfast (and they are fantastic at the hotel I mentioned above) and dinner (also super delicious).

I am so grateful for all of your suggestions, tips, and recommendations. We're getting together this weekend to decide on where we're going to stay and all of the other details...THANK YOU everyone! I'll let you know what we decide!

If it's not too late and your still discussing it, I'll second Paul's suggestion - www.garniariston.com - in S. Cristina.

Ken