My Arbor – An Adult-Only Spa Hotel in Northern Italy
The concept of a winter spa getaway is something I encountered for the first time just one year ago, and I immediately fell in love with this special sort of holiday.
As an Israeli citizen, one who has spent the past five years living in the country’s most southern city, making it the hottest – Eilat, I became used to having a pretty short winter season. No extreme weather, and definitely far from the cold winters seen in the movies, where the characters appear around a fireplace, sipping sweet hot cocoa as the snow falls gently outside the window, or perhaps a snowy mountain range serves as their view.
The Middle East is far from that wintery image.
Since Daniel and I took up the tradition and traveled through various especially wintery European destinations – I suddenly learned what a true winter is! At first, our winter vacations were urban vacations, simply because I always saw myself as an urban traveler. Big, exciting cities, shopping and window shopping in between streets and small alleyways, traditional foods, and trends to discover…
But the truth is, in the last year or two, I’ve learned how drawn I am to a different type of winter vacation.
A relaxing holiday, closer to nature. The kind that allows you to connect with yourself, and appreciate the little things that are so easily taken for granted, that we sometimes forget they even exist. I think I started understanding this concept during our last visits to Greece, where we crossed our resort limits and traveled to places we would not normally find ourselves in when staying at an “all-inclusive' hotel. Also when we traveled to Switzerland on our first winter vacation last year, and a recent trip of ours to Thailand and The Maldives, where I really felt like a lover of nature {yep, surprised myself as well!}
So as much as I was looking forward to returning to Milan this winter I must say that what I was most anticipating was our time at a spa to finish off our winter vacation.
I couldn’t wait to return to nature.
The hotel we selected for our trip this time is My Arbor, an adult-only spa hotel located at the bottom of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, a short ride from a town called Bressanone.
The moment we got off the highway and began riding through the conifer-filled roads with a view of the snow-topped Dolomites, we started to feel the calm. It felt as if we dived into a postcard. As soon as we parked the rental car at the entrance to the hotel, I took a deep breath and enjoyed the clean, cold Dolomite air. And what air! What scents of nature! Simply a dream.
Architecture and Design
The first thing that caught my attention upon our arrival at My Arbor was the hotel’s unique building. I have no idea how I missed this detail in the photos while I was preparing for our trip, the entire building is built high above the ground on thin pickets that blend in with the thin, tall conifers typical to the area. Aside from the thin columns intertwined in a way that mimics nature, the entire hotel structure is covered in small wooden slabs, making it look like a kind of luxury treehouse, which is just lovely to me.
When we entered the hotel I immediately felt the European wintery vibe I dreamed of… The vast lobby has a large, sizzling fireplace. The lobby is divided into three areas, the bar, the outdoor sitting area on the terrace, and the indoor sitting area adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows through which the beautiful white landscape can be enjoyed.
The rustic-modern design, combining a light-colored palette with wood and glass that allows for nature to cross into the indoors, interweaves the design of the hotel’s public and private spaces – from the inviting suites, through the restaurant, to the large relaxing spa complex.
Service and Atmosphere
After checking in, our luggage was taken to our amazing suite {which I will expand on later on}, and instead of being led to our room as is often done when arriving in most hotels, at My Arbor we were served a refreshing reception cocktail {rosemary spritz!} which we sipped seated in the hotel’s terrace overlooking the picturesque view.
This welcome drink might seem simple to you, but I think it is exactly these kinds of details that make a place or a vacation unforgettable. The hotel’s aim is to to make their guests feel as if they have taken a break from their routine, to relax and enjoy, and it is clear through the hotel’s design that the hotel is meant to provide a calming soothing sense throughout each and every guest’s stay – form check in to check out. Each request or question was answered with a courteous smile, and we were also surprised that although most hotel guests speak German or Italian – the entire staff had perfect English!
The Suite
For our three perfect nights, we stayed in the Hangout Suite {All hotel rooms here are suites, from the four types available in the hotel, we stayed in a second-tier suite}. The expansive suite is beautiful and inviting, and is very comfortably and functionally designed.
But before it all, I can’t keep from talking about the breathtaking landscape of the valley and the surrounding snowy mountain tops. One of the things I enjoyed most during our stay was sitting on the terrace or relaxing in the room’s perfect reading corner, taking in the view, and the accompanying peaceful atmosphere.
And since I’ve mentioned the reading corner, I really feel like this perfect little corner perfectly expresses the essence of this hotel! After all, a beautiful corner padded with large cushions, overlooking a perfect panoramic view, combined with a good book is the perfect recipe for personal quality time…
In the same reading corner there was also a salon, a little office, and a mini-bar… The only thing missing was a tea and coffee station, and to be honest it was quite strange that such a hotel didn’t offer such a basic service. When I inquired about it {after all, what’s a terrace for if you can’t enjoy your morning coffee in it 😇?} they explained that there is an available option of renting a Nespresso machine with coffee capsules {for 25 Euro} and a kettle with tea bags {an additional 20 Euro}. Of course, I took it, because to me this is basic in a hotel room, but if you ask me I don’t think a hotel should be charging extra for such a service, especially when staying in a suite.
The bedroom is especially cozy, with a comfortable bed that wraps you like a marshmallow {in the best sense of the word} notable large closets, and of course, the view seen through the big windows.
The pampering bathroom is big too, with a bath, rain shower, a strong blow dryer and a perfect mirror for applying makeup. I also loved that the bathroom and shower were separate.
The Spa Center
On a winter spa vacation – of course the spa is the trip’s main focus – and the spa center at My Arbor surpassed all my expectations!
The spa center spans two floors. On the first floor is a beautifully designed space with windows floor to ceiling is the hotel’s indoor pool. A part of the pool is inside the closed spa complex from which you can exit into the pool’s outdoor area, and enjoy the perfect mountainous landscape and the cool fresh air, while you’re bathing in warm water. Beside the pool, there are chaise longue with comfortable mattresses, almost all of them facing the magnificent view, and there is also what I like to call “a shy sauna” meaning, you can enter the sauna in your bathing suit {in Europe saunas are commonly used in the nude}.
On the same floor is the treatment complex where the hotel offers massages, facials, and a variety of treatments. Daniel and I booked a couple’s massage in advance, and I have to say it was so good we wanted to go for another the next day, and unfortunately, there was no available slot. {If you plan on coming here, I highly recommend that you book a treatment in advance, at a time most convenient for you}. I have to add that the cost of treatments in this hotel is significantly lower than most hotels I’ve been to and that it was also one of the best massages I ever had.
On the second floor are large, quiet lounge areas with great mattresses and comfortable fleece blankets, all of the beds face the calming picturesque view. This floor also has an outdoor jacuzzi and 4 additional saunas {different types, all of which must be entered in the nude}.
To top it all off, one of the unique services offered by the hotel with no extra cost is daily fitness classes like yoga and pilates, and a well-equipped gym, of course.
The Food
Going on a vacation during which the main activities are eating and relaxing, the food better be worth mentioning… and if you’ve seen any of my stories on Instagram from our time at the hotel, you already know that the culinary experience at My Arbor is a main factor of this great vacation! 😋
Let’s begin with the most important meal {and my personal favorite} – breakfast. The breakfast buffet at the hotel was not only large and varied, but really fresh and high quality. A variety of cut-up fruit and vegetables, granola, grains and yogurts, excellent cheeses and sausages, loaves of bread, pastries and cakes, an egg stand, and plenty more…
Dinner, on the other hand, is not quite like your average hotel dinner, rather it feels and looks more like dining at a gourmet restaurant. Aside from a fixed menu, the dinner menu changes daily, offering Italian and South Tyrolean dishes that are based on seasonal available ingredients. Each menu divides the meal into 4 courses – starter, first course, main course, and dessert – a fluid mixing and matching can be done between both menus. The dinner was delicious, I was especially impressed by the incredible desserts which were incredibly complex and outstanding.
Besides the dishes on the menu, there is also a huge {and perfect! 😍} salad bar, antipasto bar, and a cheese and bread bar, which I personally couldn’t get over. The restaurant also has an excellent wine selection {and a wine room}, and while I didn’t go too crazy with the wine… each one I choose was simply wonderful.
The Attractions
If you’ve reached this far in the post you must be asking yourself “what more attractions could there be? I should just get a room at this hotel!” I couldn’t agree more… This hotel was really perfect for a winter spa vacation, with nothing more needed! But at My Arbor, there is an added bonus that I haven’t mentioned yet, but I do think it’s absolutely priceless!
This hotel is not only located in a breathtaking location right in the middle of nature {perfect for hiking!} and a short ride from the picturesque town Bressanone, but it is also less than a ten-minute walk to the cable car leading to the Plose ski slope {and the best part is that hotel guests get the Bressanone card for free, which allows you to ride the car all day long, for free!}.
Unfortunately, I am too much of a scardy cat so extreme sports are out of bounds for me, but Daniel and I rode the cable car up to the mountaintop and enjoyed a hot pizza and an Aperol Spritz on the ski site. It was absolutely perfect!
If you’ve never before tried skiing and are curious to start slowly, there’s a designated area for beginners {with professional guides} and you can also rent ski equipment on site. In short, if you want to combine a short visit to the spa with a bit of ski – this is the place for you!
The ski site is also fit for pro-skiers who know how to ski down slippery slopes, so if you’re into the extreme – you’ll love this place! {Especially due to the massages you could schedule for the end of the day 🧖♀️}.
Bottom Line
What else is there to say? Our vacation at My Arbor was dreamy, relaxing, and super pampering, and I’m sure if you decide to go there you’ll enjoy every perfect minute. ♥️
What do you think about My Arbor hotel? Leave me a comment below!
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*Thanks to My Arbor hotel for excellent accommodation.
4 Responses
Quiet and relaxing, with snow in winter and sunset in autumn, as if returning home.
You are lucky enough to visit Heaven like place
An excellent article, I loved it thoroughly, Found it was totally strange that they are not providing coffee & tea pots free & they are charging extra.
I must admit, its an in depth description in the blog, which takes us to virtual tour.
You can also add some videos
Thanks Yogesh, I’m glad you enjoyed my hotel review 🙂