Rupert Parker Takes It Easy In The Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort In Italy’s South Tyrol.
The Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort sits above Naturno in South Tyrol, amid apple orchards and vineyards with the mountains of the Texel Group rising behind. It’s an adults-only five-star resort which has turned the pursuit of wellbeing into something approaching an art form.
This is not simply a smart five-star hotel with a spa attached. Wellness is the organising principle around which almost everything revolves. From the architecture and gardens to the treatments, food, fitness programmes and pools, the emphasis is on making guests slow down, breathe deeply and, ideally, return home feeling considerably more human.
The setting is the first surprise. South Tyrol is usually associated with high Alpine peaks, ski resorts and dramatic valleys, but Naturno enjoys a remarkably Mediterranean climate. Vineyards climb the slopes, palms appear in gardens and the landscape can feel more Italian than Alpine. The Preidlhof makes the most of this curious meeting of north and south, combining Austrian efficiency, Italian style and South Tyrolean hospitality.
Inside, the mood is unmistakably luxurious, but this isn’t a hotel that relies on chandeliers and marble to make its point. The emphasis is on space, light and relaxation. The resort is adults-only, welcoming guests aged 16 and over, which immediately changes the atmosphere. There is no children’s pool, no family entertainment and none of the background noise that can accompany a conventional resort. Instead, there is a pleasing sense of calm.
The rooms and suites continue the theme. Many have balconies or terraces looking towards the mountains, while the more elaborate romantic suites come with features such as private wellness areas, fireplaces and rooftop whirlpools. With a stunning six-storey sauna featuring 18 saunas and relaxing rooms, two Sky Infinity Pools, and a water world with seven pools and seven whirlpools, the Preidlhof spa hotel promises an unparalleled wellness experience
LIVING IS EASY
The hotel features 71 vibrantly designed rooms and suites, including penthouse suites with a private butler and outdoor beds ideal, for stargazing at night.
We stayed in a Comfort Room Pink which included an outdoor terrace with a day bed for two. Inside, as you enter, there separate washbasins on either side with a multi-sensory shower for two. Next is the luxury box-spring bed with “Sleep-Fit-Health-System”. Beyond are two romantic designer chairs and table, Dolby-Surround TV with Bluetooth, and a suitcase-style bar with wine, Nespresso & tea desk.
EAT FOR LIFE
Food is taken seriously here. The resort’s gourmet kitchen has been recognised by Gault Millau, and the philosophy combines South Tyrolean ingredients with contemporary cooking. Rather than an endless succession of lettuce leaves and green juices, the kitchen aims to make healthy eating genuinely enjoyable.
There are fresh salads, vegetables, herbs, homemade breads, fruit and carefully prepared dishes, alongside more indulgent choices. A dedicated Wellness Healing Gourmet Menu offers vegetarian, lactose-free, refined-sugar-free and gluten-free options.
This is particularly important because food at Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort’s not simply fuel between spa treatments. Dinner is an event. There is time to linger, wine to consider and the opportunity to discover the flavours of South Tyrol, where Alpine and Mediterranean traditions happily coexist. Apples, grapes, herbs, cheeses and mountain produce all belong naturally on the table.
And another innovation is the concept of 3/4 board with not just breakfast and dinner included, but also a copious afternoon buffet. You can also dine in any one of the three neighbouring Dolce Vita hotels, at no extra charge.
PAMPER
At more than 5,500 square metres, the Preidl Spa is enormous, with a six-storey sauna tower forming its architectural centrepiece. There are numerous saunas, steam rooms, relaxation spaces, treatment rooms and pools, creating what feels less like a hotel spa and more like a small wellness village.
The rooftop infinity pool is particularly seductive. From the water, the mountains rise beyond the hotel, creating that slightly surreal sensation of being suspended between an Alpine landscape and a Mediterranean holiday.
And who could imagine the six-storey Sauna Tower? Arranged vertically, it offers different temperatures and experiences, from gentler steam rooms to traditional hot saunas. Start at the top and work your way down – the ritual becomes almost meditative: sauna, shower, pool, lounger, repeat.
Treatments range from massages and beauty therapies to more holistic programmes. Yoga, meditation and fitness sessions form part of the wider philosophy, while the hotel’s medical-wellness offering takes things a step further. The idea is not simply to pamper guests for a few days but to encourage them to consider sleep, nutrition, movement and stress as interconnected parts of a healthier life.
GET AWAY
Just around the corner, you can enjoy hotel hopping free of charge at the neighbouring Feldhof and Lindhof Hotels, all part of the Dolce Vita family. Dine in their restaurants and enjoy their facilities – it’s all included in your Preidlhof stay.
And in the surroundings, there’s an equally compelling reason to get moving. Naturno lies at the entrance to the Texel Group Nature Park, giving walkers access to a network of mountain paths. You can set off through vineyards and orchards before gradually entering more rugged Alpine terrain.
E-bikes make the surrounding valleys accessible without requiring Tour de France fitness levels. The hotel also offers an activity programme and equipment for exploring the countryside.
But at the end of the day, what makes Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort particularly appealing is that is combines wellness, romantic escape and alpine activity effortlessly in one package.
Tell Me More About Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort
Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort; Via San Zeno, 13 – I-39025 Naturno, Merano, Italy.
T. + 39 0473 666 251, e: info@preidlhof.it
Prices start from €216 euros per person per night (includes 3/4 board – breakfast, afternoon buffet and dinner included)
SkyAlps flies direct from London Gatwick to Bolzano, with free snacks and drinks on board. From there it’s a short 30 minute transfer.
The Gatwick Express is the only non-stop service from London to Gatwick Airport, departing every half hour from London Victoria taking just 31 minutes. Eligible standard-class tickets come with discounted fast-track security and premium airport lounge access.
