This Wellness Resort in the Italian Alps Changed My View of Self-Care

Set on just over a hectare of land in the Ötztal Alps, the resort is located in a remote part of South Tyrol (Naturno, to be exact) and is therefore ideally suited to Austrian and German tourists. As governments have reshaped the borders over the years, the locals speak a mix of Italian and German. Signs are in both languages, and English is rarely spoken outside the resort.

This is one of the most welcoming places I have ever visited. The hotel staff greeted us with sparkling apple cider (apples are a local specialty!) and a snack of pretzel sticks and ham (also local). The hotel expanded a few years ago, adding more rooms (with a completely different design than the tower I stayed in) and building into the climbing landscape so as not to interrupt the terrain.

My room (one of 75 and five penthouse suites) had a king-size bed, a glass shower, an outdoor double bed (sleeping under the stars anyone?), two chairs, a desk and a large TV. The bathroom had three sinks: one in the bath, one in a vanity and a third for, well, the person you’re sharing the room with. A bidet, heated floors and a heated towel rail added a touch of luxury.

As a wellness resort, the focus on holistic health permeated every aspect of the trip. From the concierge pillow service (you read that right! Swap your pillow for another from a menu filled with options based on your needs) to providing each room with a backpack and fanny pack for excursions (which I used for “forest bathing” – more on that later) to an outdoor bed so you could sleep under the bright, twinkling stars, they thought of everything. A bathrobe, pool towel, pool blanket, and slippers were also waiting for you in the room.

In fact, the hotel encouraged guests to lounge in their bathrobes by the pool or in the sauna tower, which was (almost) the unsung hero of the trip. An entire wing dedicated to sweating (and detoxing), the tower featured 16 saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation experiences, each with its own theme. It even offered an open-ocean relaxation room (for a small fee) for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience that helps you access unprecedented relaxation.

In a fairly remote area, one of the hotel’s main attractions was its spa, where guests can opt for a range of treatments, from classic massage to mind-body treatments such as shiatsu. Guests can choose a “retreat” for a personalized experience. I chose the five-day package Traditional Wellness Retreatwhich consisted of:

• Combined foot reflexology and deep back massage
• Personalized aromatic body massage and thermal aromatic bath with essential oils
• Personalized Ayurvedic Body Massage
• Tuina (a massage that focuses on balancing energy)
• Shiatsu (note: this is not a massage, but rather a treatment)

For me, the highlights were the combination of foot reflexology and deep back massage (I had this treatment for the first time and after many hours of traveling, it was incredible). The personalized aroma body massage was next level, removing all the remaining knots and tension. The most unique aspect was the Shiatsu treatment, which was not a massage but rather worked on pressure points to balance the body and help clarify the mind.

It is worth noting that the hotel has a separate medical spa, with services such as acupuncture, infusions and even heart rate variability measurement.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, and a type 1 diabetic, I consider eating nutritious, balanced and tasty meals to be a key part of a successful holiday. And my mother is a trained cook, so her palate is very discerning. Each evening we enjoyed six delicious courses made from the incredible local produce. Each course was more delicious than the next; dinner quickly became a favourite part of our day. The setting (everyone who had booked a wellness retreat was seated in a VIP area) rivalled the taste of the food. Glass doors opened onto the mountains and surrounding village as we dined indoors with white tablecloths and top-notch service.

For breakfast and lunch there was a generous buffet, which included homemade jams, fresh meats, yogurts, eggs, salad sides and much more, all sourced locally.

A beacon for outdoor enthusiasts, the area has attracted people from neighboring countries (such as Austria and Germany) as well as southern Italy who want to combine outdoor exercise with spa time. Within a two-minute walk of the hotel, several hiking and biking trails are accessible to people of all ages and activity levels.

The hotel itself did an incredible job of coordinating excursions to nearby attractions and outdoor experiences. In fact, they planned thrilling daily activities, often providing transportation to and from trailheads. For those looking for less exercise and more thrills, you can even rent a Vespa for a day and live your best life as a local. While my mom and I weren’t brave enough (read: she had safety concerns) to do it ourselves, we opted for forest bathing, which, spoiler alert, didn’t involve bathing in the forest.

The hotel arranged a 4km hike with a local guide (who we loved) to take in the incredible views and cleanse our minds and bodies once we reached our summit (note: this is not the top of the mountain, we only walked about 45 minutes each way). Once we reached our stopping point (which was a breathtaking spot overlooking Naturno), we settled into a picnic table and used herbs from the guide’s garden (a 78 year old woman who has lived in the area for decades) and plants we had collected along the trail to create a sort of sage burning moment (pictured below). It was truly one of the highlights of our stay at the Preidlhof. We breathed in the burning scents and enjoyed the fresh air around us. Three women, with an age difference of 10 to 40 years, all breathed the same scents born from the earth. A unique moment that I will never forget. And doing it with my mother was priceless.

For those looking for a less spiritual experience, or even less exertion, don’t worry. A fully equipped gym that opens onto the main pool allows you to quickly go from a sweat session to a dip in seconds (pictured below).

I considered this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience (I mean, how often does anyone get to stay at a five-star luxury resort in the mountains of Italy?), and it really gave me a taste of the good life. I recommend it 10/10. In fact, we had such a great time that my mom wants to go back with my dad. The drive was a challenge, but for those willing to take a connecting flight or drive themselves with a few stops in between (Verona is on the way to Milan!), it’s a great adventure with total relaxation waiting for you at the end.