Active Dolomites and Lake Como Private Tour

We consider the 44-room boutique Hotel Miramonti our favorite luxury property in the Dolomites, with no peer. Miramonti is set at a picturesque 4,050 ft altitude overlooking the commune of Merano. Among the various minimalist, modern-designed rooms, our favorite is the 516 sq. ft. rooftop loft with spectacular views over Etsch Valley and Vigiljoch mountain pass. Wonderful dining options at Miramonti’s three restaurants: Panorama, Classic/Klassick, and Stube. Wellness services include a picturesque infinity pool, an onsen pool, a nice gym, sauna, and spa. With access to the nearby 30-acre hardwood/softwood forest, we are particularly impressed by how Miramonti has integrated the Japanese therapeutic concept of “forest bathing” (Shinrin-yoku) into its many outdoor options. Kudos to owners Carmen and Klaus Alber for creating a heavenly, friendly, high-touch sanctuary!

Built in 1568, the Villa d’Este on Lake Como is a Renaissance patrician residence in Cernobbio and is as enchanting and beguiling a place as you can imagine. This palatial resort has hosted royalty, celebrities, and foreign dignitaries alike throughout its 152 individually unique rooms and suites. A stroll through the gardens leads you past terraced water gardens, a mosaic wall, old fortresses, and enchanting views of the lake and Alps. Pellegrino Pellegrini, the architect of the main villa, constructed a Nymphaeum with the perspective of the fountain of Ercole from which the water flows over 130 granite basins.

Nestled in the heart of the enchanting Dolomites, Hotel Forestis stands as a symbol of luxury and tranquility. The hotel offers a variety of elegantly appointed rooms and suites, each meticulously designed to provide the utmost comfort and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. They maintain an alpine homage, while also offering various sleek modern comforts. Culinary enthusiasts will delight in the diverse dining options available at the hotel’s restaurants, where locally sourced ingredients are expertly crafted into exquisite dishes inspired by both Alpine and Mediterranean cuisines. Hotel Forestis also boasts an array of facilities to cater to every guest’s needs, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, hiking trails, and guided outdoor activities.
However, the true highlight of the hotel is its world-class spa, where guests can immerse themselves in a sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation. From indulgent treatments to soothing saunas and pools, the spa offers a holistic approach to wellness amidst the serene beauty of the Dolomites. *We love this hotel for its similarity to our beloved AMAN brand. We have included our favorite suite, offering the most stunning views of the Dolomites (pictured here!).

Bev, Zen, and I are looking forward to staying at the new (!) Aman Rosa Alpina this fall 2025. The luxury ski resort is located in the small village of San Cassiano, at the foot of the La Varella mountain. The newly reimagined Rosa Alpina features 51 rooms and suites, including a renovated Aman Spa with three pools and signature Aman spa treatments. Rosa Alpina offers access to 745 miles of The Dolomites for nearby skiing opportunities.

Rosa Alpina originally begun in 1939, when Engelbert Pizzinini leased what was a little inn beside the church in San Cassiano. Though a struggle at first, the hotel continued to improve and expand, being passed down through generations. By the 1970s, Alpina became a three-star property, and by the 1980s, a four-star. By 2000, the hotel won its first Michelin star (which now holds three). It became the staple address as an independent, family-owned property for skiing, hiking, cycling, and wellness holidays, hosting guests such as Tom Cruise and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

This changed in March 2023, when Rosa Alpina closed its doors for a complete redesign to reopen as an Aman property. Though we hold a certain level of excitement, being fans of Aman properties throughout the world, it is understandable that Aman Rosa Alpina was met with mixed emotions, prompting some level of dismay from locals who mourn the locally owned, character-driven hotels that used to populate the alps. The hotel used to strongly feature alpine motifs, such as lots of wood, antlers, candlesticks, red geraniums; it was cozy. The modernized version has swept away all links to its past, sporting Aman’s sleek signature understated design aesthetic. One guest even mentioned the only hint of South Tyrol they could trace was “the bottle of Forst beer in the fridge.” Despite the initial reactions, we are happy to report that the Pizzinini family still retains a majority share in the hotel, being heavily involved with all operations.

We look forward to experiencing Aman Rosa Alpina in fall 2025, though we still prefer and love the spectacular Dolomites views and high-touch service from the Hotel Forestis.

Passalacqua is a luxurious 24-suite property perched above Lake Como in Moltrasio. We love it for its meticulously restored 18th-century villa (that once belonged to Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua), which has hosted notable figures like composer Vincenzo Bellini, who composed “La Sonnambula” here in 1831. Reimagined by the De Santis family (owners of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo(!) just 45 minutes to the north), the villa reopened in June 2022 after a three-year restoration, blending neoclassical grandeur with modern comforts. The rooms and suites are spread across the main villa, the Palazz (a converted stable), and the Casa al Lago, each featuring unique decor elements such as Murano glass chandeliers, restored frescoes, and bespoke Italian furnishings.

We feel that dining at Passalacqua is a personalized experience, offering the flexibility to choose when and where they dine, with options ranging from candlelit dinners to lakeside picnics. Most notably, Passalacqua offers a family-style feast for breakfast. A marble-slab island displays pastries and intricately designed cakes reminiscent of the mise-en-scène of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. The exclusivity of daily breakfast at Passalacqua only adds to the hotel’s allure, with just 50 guests invited to dine each morning in the stately palazzo. Under the direction of owner, Valentina De Santis, breakfast is intended to be communal. The imagery is meant to evoke the feeling of sharing a meal in an Italian countryside home. “A good breakfast is the best buongiorno you can have” – Valentina De Santis.

The hotel’s wellness amenities include a subterranean spa with a sauna, steam room, and an indoor pool, as well as a 24-hour fitness center and a red clay tennis court. Set amidst seven acres of terraced gardens adorned with olive groves, magnolias, and jasmine, Passalacqua is our favorite intimate property in the Lake Como area.