They Say
“My Arbor is a 5-star spa “tree hotel” immersed in the peaceful mountains of South Tyrol in North Italy, the only one of its kind in the region and the biggest tree hotel in the country. Its contemporary architecture with views of the Dolomites is immersed in the woods and is perfectly integrated into the natural environment.
The design team behind the property wanted nature to feel as close as possible. Located at an altitude of almost 1,000m in a quiet spot on the edge of a forest, this luxury alpine resort looks as if it has grown out of the hillside. The building appears to float in the treetops; it is perched atop 66 tree-trunk stilts creating a refined treehouse experience that casts guests into a sense of escapism, offering fantastic views over the valley and surrounding mountain peaks.”
Sleep
The hotel offers 104 suites in three categories, the Nest Suites 38m2, the Hangout Suites 48m2 and just three larger Treetop Suites 100m2.
I stayed in a Nest Suite, compact but functional, and with amazing views over the surrounding mountains… The far wall of the room was floor-to-ceiling glass, with a daybed built into a glass alcove window and a small balcony, both overlooking hills and mountains to make Julie Andrews blush.
Despite being Italy, the landscape felt decidedly alpine. Unsurprising since the border is just half an hour away – this area of South Tyroll was considered Austria until 1918. The hills really were alive – with sweeping, untouched valleys and undulating alps.
The Spa
My Arbor offers wellness treatments, sauna infusions, yoga classes and forest bathing. The Spa Arboris’ vast Wellness area spans 2500m2, comprising a subterranean selection of saunas of incremental temperature, a marble Turkish bath, an outdoor hot tub with thousand-yard views across the valley below, and finally, an ice-cold plunge pool. The floor above houses a large, heated indoor-outdoor swimming pool and another sauna or two.
Swimwear is disallowed anywhere on the bottom floor, in part to avoid chemical contamination from Lycra and other synthetics over sustained periods at high heat. But also to embrace the wholesome and traditional European approach to non-sexual nudity.
There are several events called Sauna Infusions held throughout the day – these are basically parties in a particularly large sauna, and consist of an upbeat instructor dancing around, flinging ice, swirling towels and grinning maniacally to Germanic rock music. Meanwhile, around 20 very European and very nude spa attendees sit or lie on wooden platforms of varying heights, draped in varying amounts of towel. It’s a very non-judgmental environment – a particular brand of wholesome spa culture that alpine resorts do so well.
Dine
The cuisine at My Arbor is a fusion of South Tyrolean and Italian. The restaurant has a stylish, slightly 50s feel, with blonde wood ceilings, and tall-backed, upholstered booths dividing the open-plan space.
The restaurant offers an elaborate breakfast spread with a la carte specialities cooked to order, alongside an extensive buffet of smoothies, homemade breads and pastries, cold meats, omelettes, smoked salmon, nuts and cheeses, fruit, yoghurts and pretty much any other breakfast dish you can think of. The morning views across the hills from the restaurant are an inimitable way to start your day.
Supper was more extravagant still. My Arbor offers a set menu of six courses, as well as another exhaustive buffet spread. With fruit, veg and eggs all grown on the hotel’s own farm, quality was impeccable across the board.
There’s also a private dining room in the subterranean wine cellar; intimate, but large enough to seat maybe 12-15. The wine cellar is an almost 50:50 divide of local South Tyrolian grape varieties and wines from across the globe.
Out & About
Located in a UNESCO World Heritage site, the South Tyrolian Dolomites have a lot to offer. You can wander out of the hotel and board a funicular a few hundred metres away, where you’ll be lifted, swaying into the clouds to the perfect spot to explore the Plose mountain range.
The nearby historic town of Brixen is another must-see, with its galleries, working monastery, and Augustinian abbey one of the most beautifully frescoed in Italy.
My Arbor is ideally situated for snow sports and in season it’s a ski-in-and-out hotel, with the option to have ski kit fitted and delivered onsite. The Plose mountain transforms into a modern skiing area between the Dolomites and the Sarntal Alps. With the longest valley run in South Tyrol – the 9 km long Trametsch – cable cars quickly take guests up to 2,500 m in summer and winter.
Who Goes There
Brits were a definite minority when we visited; this is attributed to a lack of marketing in the UK and is something South Tyrolians are keen to change. And with new direct flight connections from London to Bolzano, Verona, and Innsbruck, you’d do well to visit sharpish before the rest of the UK catches on.
My Arbor is an adults-only hotel so retains a sense of calm throughout, attracting a wholesome, outdoorsy bunch. There was a fairly equal divide between hikers, mountain sports, and spa enthusiasts. The spa is extensive, but the spread put on by the restaurant even more so. Gourmands are impeccably catered for.
My Arbor manages to strike that oft-cited but elusive balance where there really is something for everyone, making it an ideal destination for couples or adult families.
The Worst Thing
My spirit animal is Winston Churchill and I like to begin and end my day in a bath; instead we had generous waterfall showers in a bathroom almost as large as the adjoining bedroom. I’m aware that my obsession with baths is a particularly English sensibility and unlikely to be an issue for most guests, especially with My Arbor’s extremely comprehensive selection of hot tubs and pools! And if one wants to stump up for a larger Hangout or Treetop Suite, these do come replete with tub.
The Best Thing
The surrounding mountains provide top-notch hiking trails, with an authentic mountain hut perched atop a cliff on the Plose – the perfect spot for charcuterie and a sustaining glass of wine. The town of Brixen is just a short drive away, housing a working monastery and the most exquisitely frescoed abbey I’ve ever seen.
The glass-walled daybed and balcony offered in every room are a real architectural feat. All rooms face the same direction, providing breathtaking vistas across the board. The indoor-outdoor spa is vast, and the wellness staff some of the most enthusiastic I’ve met.
Isolated on stilts in a vast conifer forest, the hotel projects a certain cinematic drama. Reminiscent of the alpine spa in Sorrentino’s film ‘Youth’, or the panning forest scenes shot from above over the intro credits to Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’; if it’s atmosphere you’re after, My Arbor has it in spades.
The Details
Nearest airports: Innsbruck, Bolzano and Verona
