KnewGuessed
Google
Wow. We came here for our honeymoon and were not disappointed. Everything about it was beautiful, thoughtful and tasteful. We found the service personable and courteous. The clientele were primarily German, Italian and (international) English speaking and the staff could switch effortlessly back and forth. I guess one of the unique cultural features of South Tyrol.||Far and away what we most appreciated was the calm and tranquil setting, far up away from the banal noises of the city. Already I am missing being free from hearing the constant rumble of cars. The other guests were by and large also very respectful and quiet, though they do allow dogs which I’m not as ecstatic about (one was barking away one night which was pretty disruptive given the otherwise serene setting). We also appreciated the textile-free sauna and enjoyed a few massages and facials. There is only one sauna room but it is plenty big enough to share between 4-5 couples at a time (plus a small steam room). Plenty of room on the various sun decks. The views from the hotel were fantastic, though dependent on it being a clear day (it can get very foggy at times). The food was also excellent and, though expensive, not unfairly priced (for quality). Some of the staff seemed a bit new, but we really liked our servers. The breakfast buffet was enjoyable and both restaurants were superb too. However, I was kind of disappointed that the Ida Stubbe (Tyrolean fare) was not open after 18.00, which left the only dining option later on in the evening as the expensive Michelin restaurant, which we did not want every night (we actually brought takeaway pizza from the city instead - it was ok but it would have been nice to have a more affordable alternative on-site for those who are not on the half-board plan). ||The only other real downside (more of a double-edged sword) is being reliant on taking the gondola up. It did truthfully create minor stresses as a few times we were rushing back to make the lift time (they only run hourly in the evenings). That was the only real stressful aspect of an otherwise relaxing stay. On the other hand, of course the gondola is what gets you up far away from the cars. I’m not sure what the gondola economics are but maybe it could just run every 15-20 minutes, and skip the trip if there is no one waiting. As for parking there is free parking at the base but you have to send your license plate number ahead of time (new rule), and you have to get the gate code for the covered lot - easy enough. It is a bit of a game of Tetris parking your car down there if it is getting full, so maybe not for the inexperienced parkers (though, Italy in general is not for the inexperienced drivers).||Lana is easily walkable from the foot of the gondola, though we found it to be a bit of a sleepy and not quite so interesting town (at least as far as wandering around goes). There are a few clothing shops, a bookstore and some restaurants and cafes, as well as an Aldi and Lidl.||We did do some hiking around Vigiljoch, which was convenient and pleasant enough. There are also lots of fantastic hiking spots nearby near Meran (Texengruppe) and a bit further away in the Dolomites. Worth it if you’ve got a car and came for an active adventure. It seems Vigilius caters both to active hikers and to those just seeking rest and relaxation. It is a high-class treat but not pompous or ostentatious. By and large you are paying not for showy frills but rather for tranquility, quality and attention to detail. In our case we used Marriott points and found that to be a no-brainer. I’m not sure if we would pay the half-board plan unless we really valued having the Michelin-star dinners every night, which some may well do but personally we don’t. We are not usually five-star travellers so I can say that we are not as demanding in terms of being pampered, having all the amenities or engorging in the lap of luxury. What I can say was the star of the show was being in comfort in the middle of nature. To go out on the balcony and only hear birds singing and the wind rustling through the trees, and no background noise of car engines and tires - that was so welcome. Plus the views with the Dolomites towering in the background, and the fog creating mysterious and enchanting nature shows. The building did have a timeless elegance, too - it has a really cool retro vibe while still feeling fresh and modern at the same time.||We are already looking forward to returning sometime, perhaps for a wedding anniversary :) Danke, Grazie, Vigilius!
