Photo: © Südtirol Marketing
The good news is that standards of hotel keeping in Selva Gardena are high – amongst the highest we’ve seen in the Alps, in fact, The bad news is that this is a long, straggling resort (as the town map shows) – and there’s no free shuttle bus for skiers to get to the lifts. Many of the more far-flung hotels run free shuttles to the lifts to compensate, and in a few cases they’re worth considering. But generally, you’re going to make life a lot easier for yourself if you stay near one of the lifts.
Just make sure you stay next to the right lift…
Beginners should stay next the nursery slopes
Selva’s nursery slopes are right next door to the several hotels at the north-eastern end of town. It makes sense to stay there if you’re a beginner. The four-star Acadia is the best of these slopeside hotels – family-run, with good food but no swimming-pool. The food is praised by reporters. Another option is the four-star Biancaneve which has a kids club and a small indoor pool for children. (However, for the best service for British families, check out Esprit, mentioned below).
For the best skiing, stay near the Ciampinoi Gondola
If you’re not a beginner, and want quick access to the best pistes, then stay as near to the Ciampinoi Gondola as you can. The only drawback is that a moderately busy road runs through here – although at night it’s a lot quieter. If the hotel fronts onto the road, try to get a room at the back.
Pick of the hotels in this part of town are the four-star Aaritz Hotel, the four-star Laurin Small & Charming and the three star Hotel Linder.
At the Aaritz, Suzy, the owner is the star; “a most genial hostess and nothing was ever too much trouble for her,” said one reporter. “She makes a point of speaking to every guest,” said another. The hotel is across the road from the Ciamponi lifts (get a room at the back), and offers high-quality traditional Tirolean-style accommodation: a bit conservative p’raps, but painstaking and charming nonetheless. The food is regularly praised.
Aaritz Hotel.
The Laurin is the hotel to target if you want up-to-the-minute accommodation. Its rooms have been refurbished with woollen wall panels, waxed, grainy wood paneling and neutral colours. Food is highly-rated, and there’s a lovely wellness area with an indoor pool. Book a garden room for peace and quiet.
The three-star Linder is not so fancy, but has good food and is set on a side street a four-minute walk from the lift, so it doesn’t get the noise from the road.
Two hotels worth considering away from the lifts
For sybarites, the five star Alpenroyal Grand Hotel is the place to go – complete with Michelin-starred restaurant, a big spa, and indoor and outdoor heated pools. You’ll need the free shuttle bus to the slopes, though. Meanwhile, in the middle of town is Boutique Hotel Nives – which is where Welove2ski stayed the last time we were in Selva. It has a cool, modern flavour, with lots of pale, grainy wood used in the decor, and has a good restaurant, spa and indoor pool. There’s a free morning shuttle to the lifts – and then you can ski back down to the hotel on a new access piste.
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