Hotel Ciasa Salares
This Italian Winter Hot Spot Made the Summer Bucket List
DESTINATION: THE DOLOMITES
I LOVE a great hotel, and I am unapologetically picky. For me, a hotel is so much more than just a place to rest your head. If I am away from home, I want to relish the ENTIRE experience, hotel included. I would never go so far as to use the word snob; it gives the wrong impression. In my book, an excellent hotel has NOTHING to do with price or pretension and everything to do with the people. The wonderful people who greet you each morning, wish you a goodnight, offer a sincere smile, and do all the intangible little things behind the scenes that elevate your stay. And that pretty much sums up every single person we encountered at Hotel Ciasa Salares. The Wieser family has graciously welcomed guests to their stylish chalet-style hotel in South Tyrol for three generations.
We received the warmest welcome from the moment we arrived—thank you, Glenda, Barbara, Melany, Giulia, Eliana, and Massimo. Our beautiful room showcased charming alpine architecture with a distinctly Germanic vibe. Gorgeous woodwork and a beautiful balcony perfectly framed the breathtaking Dolomites beyond the window.
Sleeping with the doors open every night ushered in cool, crisp mountain air each morning. And coming from hot and humid Houston, it was most welcomed.
We left each day open with no real agenda and indiscriminately explored this picture-book pocket of northern Italy. Alpine churches, wooden chalets, meadows adorned with wildflowers, hiking, biking, rowboats, and bright blue-green lakes were found at every turn.
Each night, we enjoyed our favorite Italian tradition—aperitivos served al fresco. Typically, aperitivos are served with small nibbles, and Hotel Ciasa Salares did not disappoint. Our Aperol spritz and Americano were served with mountain cheeses, mortadella, prosciutto, soppressata, olives, and chips—enough to indulge our appetite without ruining dinner.
But perhaps our favorite part of the day was returning to the wood-burning cedar hot tub and enjoying the swimming pool, Turkish bath, and Finnish sauna. Of course, I had to try their vitality massage, complete with exfoliation and alpine mud. And it is NO stretch to say it was one of the best massages ever. This will not be our last visit. I am already longing for our next stay.
IN THE KNOW: Hotel Ciasa Salares is a family-run chalet-style hotel renowned for its superb food, excellent hospitality, and magnificent spa. From the Cocun cellar restaurant, boasting 24,000 bottles of wines and exquisite Ladin-inspired cuisine, to casual lunches on the terrace, the family’s passion for food is evident in every aspect. LOCATION: On the outskirts of San Cassiano in the heart of the Dolomites. Hotel Ciasa Salares Str. Pre de Ví 31 San Cassiano 39036 Phone: +39 0471 849445 BOOK YOUR STAY The nearest international airport is Innsbruck (84 miles/135 km)
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