Hotel Snapshot
Hotel Hubertus is a 5-star, 74-room luxury alpine resort in the Italian Dolomites. Rooms start at around $645 per night and include meals, spa access, and wellness activities. Hotel Hubertus’ modern architecture is among the most famous spa structures in the Alps, with every room including a private terrace facing spectacular views of the valley as well as the Heaven & Hell Sky Spa and Sky Pool, free-floating architectural marvels.
Suspended above the Olang valley, Hotel Hubertus feels like a bridge between the perfection of nature and thoughtful luxury design. You’re in the Dolomites, and this unique wide mountain vista feels straight out of “The Sound of Music” thanks to the storybook towns, golden light, dairy cows, red roof steeples and signs in German, English and Italian.
My husband, toddler, and I drove up from Milan for two nights to spend a long weekend at this wellness hotel run by the Gasser family. The property is a unique blend of the decor and amenities of a 5-star boutique luxury resort with a warmth and homey feeling that is truly family-style. One of the owners is there every evening at dinner service to greet the guests; people float about in spa robes, enjoying the views or preparing for a nearby hike. It is truly a wellness facility for all ages while still being markedly elevated. The latest generation of property owners took over the operations in 2020 and were instrumental in some of the modern updates like air-conditioning—a rarity in the Dolomites—and the architectural marvels of the Sky Pool and Heaven & Hell Spa. Hotel Hubertus has transformed from a 2-star inn to a 5-star wellness resort in two generations.
Design and Character
Driving up the mountainside, dairy cows greeted us before we set our eyes on the property. Though somehow, its modern design didn’t look out of place with nature. The property is modern chalet-inspired, with the Sky Pool and Heaven & Hell Sky Spa taking center stage.
As far as hotel pools go, the 25-meter Sky Pool, a cantilevered infinity pool that overhangs meadows and features a glass-bottom window looking at the valley floor, is a bucket-list swim. Early mornings, watching steam float off the heated pool, are ethereal. Connected to the property by an elevated walking bridge, the Heaven & Hell Sky spa is a free-floating two-story wellness platform. The top level features whirlpool baths while the lower level—in an inverted alpine hut design—houses clothes-free saunas and an ice room. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide the feeling that you are truly floating in air while you're in the spa. (This section of the property is strictly for those 14 and older.)
The Rooms
There are 64 standard and premium wooden chalet-style rooms and 10 luxury suites. Our standard room had a sizable bathroom featuring a separate shower and a soaking tub with beautiful views. All of the rooms are valley-facing. We also had a large balcony (safe for my 2-year-old). The premium rooms feature private saunas and hot tubs. There is a couch, desk, and walk-in closet, which includes a provided hiking backpack.
The Food & Drink
There’s one restaurant at Hotel Hubertus, and meal service is run “three-fourths pension style,” albeit luxury. This means all meals are included: a multi-room buffet for breakfast, a light afternoon buffet spread (many guests are on hikes and exploring the area during the afternoon service), and a luxurious 5-course dinner service with both a buffet and à la carte. Interestingly enough, you place your order for dinner during breakfast time. At dinner, the morning ordering of your meal makes for a well-paced multi-course service supplemented by the ample gourmet buffet. I’m still thinking about the mountain cheese medley.
In warmer weather, the Alpenreych Park area has an open snack hut with a pizza oven. As a wellness hotel, in the spa areas, there are juices, crystal-infused mountain spring water, fruits, and nuts.
Amenities
You come to Hotel Hubertus for its renowned spa and wellness activities. The Heaven & Hell Spa is one of the iconic spa features of the property. The Alpenreych Park is the property’s 7,000-square-meter green oasis and outdoor wellness area surrounded by nine indoor and outdoor pools (one of them salted, another equipped with underwater music), four relaxation zones and a meditation room. Besides the Hell sauna, there are six others, including the Block sauna, which is log cabin style, the Infrared sauna, ideal after hiking or skiing, and the Steam Bath that offers aromatherapy with eucalyptus and alpine herbs. Every day, there is a schedule of activities like meditation and sound healing, yoga, Pilates, guided hikes, and a full spa treatment menu. Before 8 a.m., the hotel is still enough to see a family of bunnies frolicking on the misty grass with the sunrise.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Located in the South Tyrol region of Italy, the nearest big city to Hotel Hubertus is Bolzano. Most hotel guests hike, ski, or mountain bike on nearby Mount Kronplatz during their stay, as Hotel Hubertus is at the foot of Kronplatz. Kronplatz's flat summit offers gorgeous vistas and is ranked as the No. 1 ski mountain in South Tyrol. We were provided with a hiking backpack with a carrier for my toddler, and it was a pretty easy family hike. The Zaha Hadid-designed Mesner Mountain Museum is carved into the mountain rock and covers the history of traditional mountaineering. There is also the Lumen Museum of Photography. At the peak of Kronplatz, only accessible via the Kronplatz cable car, is Michelin-guide featured AlpiNN by Chef Norbert Niederkofler, which uses only seasonal ingredients sourced from local alpine farmers. Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler is another nearby Michelin-starred delight. Hotel Hubertus handles priority reservations at the restaurant for its guests.
Fast Facts
Address: Via Furcia 5, 39030 Sorafurcia, Valdaora, Italy
Neighborhood: Sorafurcia
Nearest Airport: Bolzano Airport or Innsbruck Airport (Austria)
Star Rating: 5 stars
Starting Rate: $645
Room Count: 74 Vibe: Family-style alpine luxury
Best For: Group Trips, Mountain lovers, Couples
Is Hotel Hubertus pet-friendly? Yes, Hotel Hubertus welcomes pets for a daily surcharge. Is Hotel Hubertus good for families?
Yes, Hotel Hubertus is well suited to families, with valley-facing rooms, a provided hiking backpack with a toddler carrier, and wellness activities designed for all ages.
Amenities: valet parking, pet-friendly (with a daily surcharge), three-fourths luxury boarding, ski-in/ski-out access
Nearby: Brunico and Bolzano towns
Our Favorite Thing: Often Alpine getaways leave you in creviced valleys, with the crags of the Dolomites looming over you.
With the Dolomites in the near distance, Hotel Hubertus sits on a wide stretch of Valdaora, and this priceless real estate is a major feature of the hotel. From heading to the spa area to dinner to taking a bath in your room, you can’t help but feel like you’re floating in heaven.
Valdaora, Italy
