Summer Stop in Dolomites with Family

Hi Becky,

It's pretty easy. The Alta Badia is a valley that is connected to the Val Gardena, another valley, by the amazing Gardena Pass (our favorite drive in the Dolomites). The Alpe di Siusi (aka Seiser Alm) is a high alpine meadow with Dolomite peaks as a backdrop. Easily accessed by cable car from the Val Gardena.

OK. Here goes a "map".

Arrive in Cortina (skip it in my opinion). After leaving Cortina you'll see the turn off for the Giau Pass (very nice alpine drive). Pass it by and continue for maybe 20 or 30 minutes and you'll come to the turn off for the Falzarego Pass where you'll find the Lagazoui cable car trip and the WWI bunkers and tunnels, etc.

Leave here heading west for Alta Badia. First the village in Alta Badia is San Cassiano, then La Villa, then Corvara and then Colfosco. Here begins the Gardena Pass (our favorite drive in the Dolomites). Drive the Gardena Pass (maybe 40 minutes to drive) and you'll enter Selva, in the Val Gardena. 10 minutes later you're in the village of St. Christina and then another 5 minutes and you're in Ortisei, Val Gardena.Continue another 15 minutes and you're on the A22 highway going to either Innsbruck or Bolzano and Trento.

From Cortina d'Ampezzo to Ortisei is about 2 hours or less of non stop driving.

The “best” of the Dolomites (my opinion) are roughly between Ortisei and Cortina d'Ampezzo. La Villa (Alta Badia) is basically in the middle and so close to a number of major Dolomite Passes, including the Gardena, Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo, Falzarego and Giau Passes.

Could you possibly get 2 rooms instead of an apartment? These are beautiful places, Dolomite views and incredible breakfast buffet, included in the room price.

www.montanara.it
www.tamarindo-lavilla.it/start.php?page=home&img=04&lang=EN

Paul

While I was looking at a map to try to figure out how to explain the area and the relation between Val Bahia, Val Gardena, and the rest, Paul did it better than I could have. He has driven the whole area, exploring it thoroughly, while we have mainly used public transport.

I will just add to his post to say that Alpe dinSiusi is a huge high (5000- 6500 feet) alpine meadow south of Val Gardena. Lifts run up to the Alpe from the Val Gardena towns, but by far it can only be accessed from the west side.

The Dolomites are a popular family vacation spot and there are many family- friendly hotels. One example would be La Tamara in Corvara ( Alta Badia):

http://www.latambra.com/en/hotel-corvara/1-0.html

Many will have a 3-night minimum ( or more) in summer. You can locate hotels with quad rooms by using booking.com for the various villages, filtering for 2 adults plus 2 children, on your specified dates. Once you have identified the prospects, visit the individual websites to actually book.

Hi again,

Just to comment that you’re correct about Bolzano. Nice enough, but about 40 minute drive from the Dolomites, such as the Val Gardena, etc.

For accommodations, look at these sites:

www.valgardena.it

www.altabadia.it

Paul

We loved Ortisei and stayed at the family run Hotel Grones. I believe they have 4 person rooms. The family is amazingly nice and the food is fantastic. We never get the meal plan (so inexpensive for the quality) but did so here and loved it (and we are foodies). It was great to hike all day, come home and use their spa and sit down to a fabulous meal. The Val Gardena is incredible!

Thanks for the replies so far! Paul, your description of each area and how they relate is perfect. Exactly what I needed to understand how each of these places is fitting together. I appreciate all of the suggestions for hotels too, it is a good idea to think about 2 rooms too. I am getting so excited! And I feel like I will be more focused during my room search with this better picture in my head of the area.

Great explanation Paul! Try to stay in only one base, Becky. Maybe drive from Venice to the Val Gardena for your scenic drive then settle in one town for 3 nights. That gives you two full days for mountain lift fun. There are great family hikes above the Val Gardena.

Becky,

Definitely stay in one spot. The area you’re looking to cover is pretty small. You’ll easily get your fill of quality Dolomite scenery and hikes in the time and area you’re looking at. The Val Gardena (maybe 30 minutes drive end to end) is basically Ortisei (town with pedestrian zone) and the villages of St. Christina and Selva. All are nice and so easy to get from one to the other. That Alta Badia is also perfect. This is Colfosco and Corvara next to each other, La Villa and SanCassiano. I’d go with La Villa or Colfosco.

The food. It’s great, the best of Austrian and Italian cuisine.,we’ve never had a bad or even mediocre meal during our stays. A favorite is The Black Hill in Colfosco, can’t miss it on the main road through the village.

Each valley has a single main road that runs through it and passes through each town or village. Pretty easy to navigate in the Dolomites.

Paul

Yes, I will definitely stay three nights in one spot, as we will have a car to explore out from there. I think I will aim to find a place in the Alta Badia area since it is right in the middle, then hopefully we can spend one full day exploring that area and then the next full day driving over to Val Gardena to explore.

That plan makes perfect sense. Easy also. Seeing photos doesn’t do justice to being right there in the Dolomites. Amazing.

We have some pics at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/albums/72157646609535108

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/albums/72157646798948951

Mid-August is very busy time in this area. I stayed in Ortisei last August and it was very crowded and expensive. This year we are staying in Castelrotto, a very easy drive to all towns in area and bus stop in front of hotel for easy ride to Seiser Alm for hiking. This is perfect hiking area for kids. There is also a small lift right in Castelrotto kids and you might like for easy hiking. Castelrotto is a smaller town but really lovely. Several very nice hotels and will cost you less than in Ortisei. Check out trip advisor for best hotels in Castelrotto. As you are only there 3 days hotel makes most sense. Also, the dinner included in meal plans here are just wonderful, food here is great combination of Italian and Austrian! They also cater to kids.
You get free bus pass for stay in area so you can bus everywhere if you do not feel like driving. Bolzano is a very nice city to visit by the way. The WW1 museum you mentioned is also worth the drive and is very interesting. Enjoy this lovely area!

Good choice on Alta Badia for three nights.

I highly recommend Nature Hotel Delta in Colfosco ( actually just above the town) for great value, great views, and a friendly welcome. They do have a 4-person suite ( two connected rooms). Free parking and a lighted walking path into town.

I am posting a link to their TripAdvisor page as it has nice photos of the hotel and the surrounding peaks. I loved looking at the view from our balcony before and after each day's adventure.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1169453-d615436-Reviews-Nature_Hotel_Delta-Colfosco_Province_of_South_Tyrol_Trentino_Alto_Adige.html

Here is their website:

http://www.nature-hotel-delta.com/en/

Great! I am very much appreciating the suggestions for hotels in Alta Badia. I have sent email requests to several of the properties. As I wait back to hear on availability, I have also been looking at booking.com. There are a few B&B's in my price range (which I should have mentioned is under $250 euros/night) in the towns of Badia or Arraba. Any thoughts on these towns?