There is an Italy that doesn’t need to be discovered, because it has always existed — yet it continues to surprise those who have the patience to really look at it. Trentino is one of those regions that resist simplification: it’s not just skiing in winter and barbecues in summer, it’s not just postcards with the Dolomites in the background. It is a complex structure of plateaus, side valleys, glacial lakes, villages that house cuisine that is anything but banal, and a hospitality system that – contrary to what one might think – does not necessarily imply dizzying budgets. Finding a hotel with half board for less than 50 euros per night in Trentino is possible, as long as you know where to look and not limit yourself to the most popular destinations. The four proposals that follow tell as many sides of this region: different in altitude, landscape, vocation – but united by a quality-price ratio that is worth the trip.
Hotel Villaggio Nevada – Folgaria
Folgaria is not Cortina, and this is its strength. The plateau, which extends at around 1,200 meters between coniferous forests and open pastures, offers a quieter and less frequented version of Trentino, where summer brings cycle tourists and walkers instead of the crowds of mass tourism. The Nevada Village fits perfectly into this context: three chalets connected by an underground tunnel – a practical detail that makes the difference in the mountains, especially for families with children – with a swimming pool and miniclub that can be reached without having to put your feet and shoes back on every time.
The location is the real added value. From the village there are paths that go up towards Monte Maggio with views of the Trentino Alps, while about twenty kilometers away is Lake Caldonazzo, one of the largest bathing lakes in the region, perfect for a day other than trekking. For those interested in the military history of the First World War – which left trenches, forts and memories still legible in the landscape on these plateaus – Fort Cherle is less than seven kilometers away. A stay in Folgaria allows you to build a varied week without ever having to travel long distances.
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Hotel Stella Alpina – Bellamonte
Bellamonte is located at an altitude of 1,300 metres, in Val di Fiemme, in a position that puts some of the most significant natural areas of eastern Trentino within day reach. The Hotel Stella Alpina – offered in a roulette formula with the Park Hotel San Celso, which is located a short distance away – is the type of family structure that makes simplicity its strong point: typical Trentino cuisine, well-kept environments, and direct access to an area that deserves to be explored calmly.
The Paneveggio Natural Park, about twenty-six kilometers away, is known among luthiers around the world for its spruce trees with exceptional resonance — the same wood that Stradivari used for his violins. But it is also an ecosystem of rare integrity, which can be explored on foot, by e-bike or with the park’s guides. Those who prefer to stay closer to the village can reach Lake Paneveggio in less than five kilometres, or head towards Malga Bocche for a stop at high altitude away from the most crowded circuits. Predazzo, less than six kilometers away, offers a local market and authentic village life; Moena, about fifteen minutes away, is one of the liveliest destinations in the valley, with shops, restaurants and a well-preserved Alpine character. For those traveling with children, the Giro d’Ali Family Park theme park is less than four kilometers from the village.
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Hotel Alla Rocca – Varena
Varena is a town of a few hundred inhabitants located at an altitude of 1,180 metres, a few minutes’ drive from Cavalese – the most important center of the Val di Fiemme, home to international sporting events and a commercial reference point for the entire valley. Hotel Alla Rocca takes advantage of this strategic position to offer a convenient starting point for both summer and winter, with the Cermis area and the Lavazè plateau reachable in a short time.
In winter, Val di Fiemme is an area for alpine and cross-country skiing – the latter practiced on slopes that hosted the World Cup and which develop over a highly impressive snow-covered landscape. The twenty-three kilometers of slopes in the area, served by snowmaking systems that guarantee snow until April, satisfy both expert skiers and families with beginners. The season is also that of the Christmas Markets, which in this area still maintain a genuine character, far from the intense commercialization of other contexts. In summer, the same area transforms into a network of paths and cycle paths that cross fir forests and still active mountain pastures.
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Hotel Stella delle Alpi – Ronzone, in Alta Val di Non
Val di Non is less known than the Dolomite valleys, but those who know it tend to return. It is the territory of apple orchards – the area produces a significant share of Italian apples – but it is also a valley of lakes, medieval castles and views of the Dolomite arch that open up unexpectedly around every bend. Ronzone stands at around 1,100 meters in the Alta Val di Non, in a sunny spot overlooking the valley below, and the Hotel Stella delle Alpi reflects in its style the familiar and inconspicuous atmosphere that characterizes this part of Trentino, and offers a stay from 153 per person for 3 nights, half board, plus use of the wellness centre.
The value of this stay lies in the variety of destinations that can be reached in one day: the Brenta Dolomites to the west, the Mendola towards Alto Adige, Lake Tovel – famous for the phenomenon of reddening of the water caused by the blooming of an algae, an event that no longer occurs today but which has left a fascinating local mythology. Then there is Lake Santa Giustina, one of the largest artificial basins in Italy, and Lake San Felice, more intimate and quiet. Those who want to go further can reach Merano or Caldaro in Alto Adige, with their spas and vineyards — a change of scenery and culture that makes the stay richer than one would expect from just one week.
