Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti
A slow, luxurious embrace in the heart of the mountains.
Wellness has become such an important part of how we travel. Each year, I build our journey around one “hero” destination—a place that ticks all the boxes for the whole family. It needs to be luxurious but not flashy, grown-up yet welcoming for kids, and above all, it needs to offer something extraordinary.
This year, that place was Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, set in the majestic Italian Dolomites. We stayed for a week and felt completely enveloped in calm, beauty, and elevated alpine living.
Wellness With a View
Lefay’s wellness offering is truly exceptional—possibly the best we’ve experienced in Europe. I spent hours each day moving from one experience to the next in their award-winning spa: saunas infused with alpine herbs, salt caves, ice pools, and outdoor hydrotherapy tubs overlooking snowy peaks.
One of the most unique and unforgettable experiences was the Aufguss ritual—a multi-sensory sauna ceremony guided by a sauna master. They use essential oils and rhythmic towel movements to circulate heat and scent through the air, choreographed to music. During one session, Andrea Bocelli’s voice echoed gently as I sat surrounded by warm, pine-scented air, looking out over the Dolomites. It was a powerful moment—quiet, emotional, almost spiritual.
And the treatments? Next-level. I had the best massage I’ve ever had—a tailored blend of deep tissue and energy work that left me floating. Intuitive, deeply grounding, and unlike anything I’ve had before.
Room to Breathe
Our room was vast—two full bedrooms, generous living spaces, and our very own private sauna. There’s something incredibly indulgent about stepping into a sauna after skiing, with no agenda, no timetable, no noise. Just space to breathe.
Having this much room meant we could really settle in. We cooked a few simple meals, had long breakfasts in robes, and took naps in the middle of the day. There was no pressure to go anywhere—and that freedom is rare when traveling with family.
Skiing & Small-Town Charm
The in-house ski facilities at Lefay made everything seamless. Gear rental, heated lockers, and shuttles to the slopes took all the stress out of ski mornings. And when you’re headed to Madonna di Campiglio, that’s a gift—you want to hit the powder, not spend hours in queues. The terrain there is world-class, with something for everyone. The boys couldn’t get enough.
We also ventured out to explore the nearby towns. One memorable afternoon, we braved a drive through fog as thick as cotton wool to reach Pinzolo—a tiny mountain town with big character. At the top of the hill sits Hungry Wolf, a local pizzeria that feels more like a mountain hideout. Rustic, friendly, filled with locals—and the pizza? Perfect.
Local Colour: Vintage Cars & Italian Passion
One of the things I love most about traveling in Italy is how passionate the people are—about food, family, design, and yes, cars. While we were in town, we stumbled upon a vintage sports car rally. The streets were lined with hundreds of classic Porsches and Ferraris, each gleaming under the mountain light, lovingly polished and paraded by their equally passionate owners.
It was unexpected and unforgettable. There’s a magic to Italian towns—always a festival, always a celebration, always something to stumble into. These spontaneous experiences are what turn a great trip into a story you’ll tell forever.
The Luxury of Slowing Down
Lefay Dolomiti brought together everything I look for:
Elevated design without pretension
Space for all of us to relax and reset
An unforgettable spa experience
Authentic local flavour
And the rare luxury of time—to pause, to breathe, to feel
It was a week that rebalanced us as a family. We left nourished, well-rested, and already thinking about where next year’s journey might take us.