London Cult.

 Family Resort Rainer is a family spa hotel, so even the youngest family members can have a wonderful time here. The hotel’s distinctive feature is its unique client-oriented approach: all services are well thought out to allow parents and children to relax together and separately.

 The easiest way to reach the hotel is by car. We drove to the Rainer Family Resort from the Austrian city of Innsbruck through pastoral flocks of sheep in light green fields. Double rainbows were streaming from lush clouds, and deer were running along the road. It is worth noting that this atmospheric journey was organised by the management of Rainer Family Resort, who booked a transfer directly from the airport. It is also possible to reach the hotel by car from Venice (which takes about two to two and a half hours). We suspect this journey promises to be no less picturesque than the trip from Innsbruck.

It was clear from the first minutes of our arrival that the hotel was expecting a family. Dinner with consideration to all possible diets, evening leisure for children and their parents — such a warm welcome lifted all the fatigue from the journey. And the room… Oh, it deserves separate mention!

Inside was a separate room for children with a bunk bed and a window to the parents’ bedroom, and in one of the closets, we found… a kitchenette! And through the balcony door, we could go straight to the meadow in front of the hotel.

The hotel always guaranteed assistance with organising leisure activities in the hotel or independently from it. However, the question “What to do?” never arose for us. In the evening, we played billiards in the library, and in the mornings, we went to the hotel farm to greet the alpacas. After that — swimming in the pools and spa treatments. For kids, there was a separate shallow pool with a small slide, but they could safely swim in all the pools. My child especially enjoyed the outdoor pool with warm water, which offered a wonderful view of the mountains. The spa in the hotel is also available for children, but only at certain hours and accompanied by adults.

The spa in the hotel was just incredible! It had a traditional Finnish sauna with a large floor-to-ceiling window offering a breathtaking view of the mountains, contributing to the relaxing atmosphere. There was also an herbal sauna filled with the sweet scent of eucalyptus and a mountain crystal aromatic steam room with a large, illuminated crystal, which attracted the attention of younger visitors with its futuristic look. Each room had a sign with picture instructions explaining how to get the most enjoyable effect from the visit. This detail is very important for introducing children to traditional spas. The main hall kept special comfortable chairs, various types of loungers, a samovar with hot water, an impressive selection of teas, and the opportunity to go outside to relax in the fresh air.

Besides the spa treatments, there was a whole menu of various wellness and beauty treatments, with a separate list of procedures for children. We decided on the massages: I signed up for a back massage, and my child picked out a leg massage. I must say, this was an excellent decision, as we both had an incredible experience! The massage therapist, an Italian named Luca, was not only a professional in his field but also a very pleasant and kind person who got along great with children.

However, we came for the views! Although Rainer Family Resort has a wonderful playground, that reminds of the legendary playground in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, aside from a garden with birds and a pond, and an outdoor rabbit enclosure, we still decided to go for a hike. The hotel organises mountain hikes and provides bicycles. 

But first, the children need to be taken care of. In general, the children’s program at the hotel is quite impressive. The program is prepared a week in advance, and those interested can sign up their children according to their plans. For example, the little ones could walk through nearby fields to collect and study alpine flowers, from which they later learned to make herbal butter and aromatic mountain salt. On other days, they participated in bread making, drawing in the forest, mountaineering courses, and making paints from natural forest ingredients.

We decided to climb the mountains ourselves. The hotel is located right at the beginning of two trails leading into the mountains, so the hike can begin right from there. Not far from the hotel lift to Mount Croda Rossa, which works during the summer season, but what can be more exciting than mountain hiking in such a beautiful environment! The hotel is in one of the most beautiful locations in South Tyrol — the UNESCO World Heritage Nature Park “Drei Zinnen”. Climbing the mountain without preparation was fun but challenging, so bringing hiking boots, sports pants, and a waterproof jacket is strongly advisable.

The mountain trails vary in difficulty, but with proper planning, children can handle them. Our goal in the climb was to see the snow that never melts completely even during summer. Mountain flora changed the higher we ascended — summer flowers and green leaves gradually gave way to early willow and young snowdrops growing right out of the snow remnants. Together, the climb and descent took us about 4 hours, after which we, wet and slightly chilled, on trembling legs, went for a good sauna session.

Of course, no story about our stay in the Dolomites would be complete without mentioning the food. Until 1919, South Tyrol was part of Austria, so the local cuisine combines elements of Italian, Austrian, and German traditions. Therefore, the food at the hotel is perfect for all tastes and choices: German and Austrian salads, small waffle cones that can be filled with Nutella, and a whole list of various pastries offered for afternoon tea — just a tiny part of the culinary paradise created by the hotel.

For breakfast, guests could order freshly prepared omelettes and pancakes, the preparation of which they could supervise personally. The buffet offered a great selection of cheeses and ham, fruits, cereals, and yoghurts, along with an impressive selection of freshly squeezed juices from oranges, carrots, and any other fruit one could wish for. Dinner consisted of a culinary fusion between high cuisine and healthy food. And I must say, you won’t find such dishes anywhere else! Nebraska beef steak, pasta with juniper oil, beet cream with goat cheese and mountain flowers, amaretto parfait with pineapple carpaccio and more. For kids — a separate menu and a small buffet.

Our holiday at Rainer Family Resort has come to an end. But! We made a vow to come back again. Maybe in winter to go skiing, or again in summer to see snowdrops on the peaks and warm up in the sauna. And the Rainer Family Resort is the place to stay!

You will find all the information about the hotel on the hotel’s website.