Aqua Bad Cortina - bioHotel & thermal baths

My wife and I spent four nights at the Aqua Bad Cortina and left with mixed feelings. Some things were truly wonderful, others were unfortunately disappointing. We chose the hotel primarily because it's an organic hotel with a wellness area in the mountains. I'll try to remain objective – here's our experience. **Positive aspects** ~ The location is fantastic – surrounded by the Dolomites, the hotel is located in the quiet village of San Vigilio. The nature is breathtaking, the air clear and fresh. There are many beautiful hiking trails, and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park is very close. You get free bus tickets, and the journey there only takes about 20 minutes. Cycling is also a great option. ~ The water is of excellent quality – the hotel's own "Aqua Cortina" comes from a nearby spring and has medicinal properties. ~ The building is beautifully designed, with high-quality, natural materials – especially wood. You can tell that a lot of love and money has been invested here. ~ Free parking is available right next to the hotel. The thermal baths are particularly worth mentioning; they are a real experience – very relaxing and with noticeably positive effects on body and mind. **Neutral** ~The breakfast was good – all organic and fresh. However, the selection was rather limited. On the positive side, you can order freshly cooked egg dishes and vegan milk is also available for coffee. On the negative side, there was hardly any fruit, no dried fruit, and the only nuts available were hazelnuts. **Critical Points** ~ We had booked a deluxe room, but were given a different one upon arrival because our original room was being used as storage – without any advance notice. The replacement room was modern, but with a poor view and not what we wanted. Only after discussion was our booked room prepared. Not a good start. ~ The spa area is nice, but small for the size of the hotel. The Finnish sauna can accommodate a maximum of 4-5 people if you sit shoulder to shoulder. It also doesn't open until 4:16 p.m., which is too late—all the guests arrive at the same time. So, we once went to another hotel and booked a day spa there. ~ We booked half-board without knowing the concept. Dinner is at 7:19 p.m., with a theme night every evening—designed to entertain the guests. Too late for us, as we prefer to eat earlier. The food is delicious, but we skipped the last two evenings. Furthermore, the tables are assigned; there's no free seating. One evening, a folk music group played—well-crafted, but far too loud for the small dining room and simply not to everyone's taste. No one asked if we even wanted that. In retrospect, half-board was a mistake. ~ The rooms are thinly soundproof; you can hear dogs barking and other guests. There's also no kettle or coffee machine—normally standard in this category. ~ One more point: The website recommends paying the remaining balance in cash or by bank transfer before departure to save the 1% card fee—a bit petty. I transferred the money two days before departure, as recommended. However, upon checkout, the owner reacted angrily, asking why I had done so without consulting him, and was visibly annoyed – an unpleasant moment. ~ What bothered us most was the owners' attitude: Everything is highly regulated, with little flexibility. You can sense that they run the hotel very tightly and prefer things to run "according to plan." Guests who consume more (e.g., expensive wines) seem to be given preferential treatment. Those who think independently or don't participate in everything quickly find themselves at odds. Unfortunately, this seems more sales-oriented than guest-oriented. **Conclusion** A beautiful location, clean air, good architecture, and excellent water – all these things speak for the Aqua Bad Cortina. But too many rules, little flexibility, and a lack of cordiality leave a mixed impression.

What a beautiful hotel with truly wonderful service! The rooms were spacious and so clean! The food was amazing!

A beautiful hotel in a very special location, with wonderful, warm-hearted people, very friendly service, and excellent and delicious food. The surrounding area offers varied, sometimes more or less challenging hiking trails. If possible, I would give it 10 stars.

This hotel doesn’t need reviews or ratings—it’s truly a paradise on earth!

Just finished our stay at the hotel... what a wonderful experience. The owners and staff are delightfully welcoming and knowledgeable. They make you feel at home, yet always with the necessary privacy. The rooms are comfortable and spotlessly clean, immersed in total silence. The culinary experience was excellent... What more can I say? We'll be back very soon!!!

Warm and welcoming, everything good and clean, comfortable and relaxing

A beautiful and welcoming place to vacation. This hotel lacked nothing. The hosts and the entire staff are so incredibly warm and welcoming. Both breakfast and dinner are fantastic. The wellness area is wonderful after an active day—simply the perfect place to relax and recharge. The hotel's own spring is amazing. You can enjoy this "magical drink" from every tap. And not to forget: The Dolomites are addictive and a breathtaking mountain range. We will definitely be back, and this hotel is the only place we could consider for accommodation. The location and tranquility are unique. Dear ABC family, thank you so much for this unforgettable vacation!!!

An excellent experience at this beautiful hotel. The quality of our sleep was truly excellent, thanks to the quality of the mattresses and pillows, as well as the fact that the hotel is slightly away from the town center. Breakfast was top-notch, with a wide selection of sweet and savory options to ensure a cheerful and energetic day. Dinner was also truly excellent, considering all the ingredients were organic. The kitchen prepared excellent and tasty dishes of refined local cuisine. Finally, the hospitality was the best that Ladin tradition has to offer. The value for money was excellent. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing holiday with a taste for food.

Very quiet and picturesque on the edge of the village, just beyond meadows, wildlife, unimportant forest, and mountains. Stunning views across the valley to the Fanes Alm

A beautiful place and very quiet, kind and friendly staff