Sonnen Resort

Eleven Saunas and a Mountain Village Where Dogs Are Welcome

Naturns sits on the sunny floor of the Vinschgau, the long valley that runs west from Merano towards the Swiss border, with vineyards and apple orchards on one side and the steep Sonnenberg slopes on the other. The Sonnen Resort stands in the middle of the village, on Rathausstrasse, a family-run four-star built around one idea: a holiday where nobody has to be left behind. Children have their own club, adults have a wellness complex on a scale rarely seen in a village hotel, and dogs are allowed to come along. Light wood, quality materials and fresh flowers set the tone indoors.

Why It Works

Most large spa resorts in South Tyrol choose between families, couples or dog owners. The Sonnen Resort serves all three at once, which is exactly why it earned its place in our selection. The Aquagarden, shared with the sister Hotel Prokulus through an underground link, gives the adults eleven saunas and several pools, the children get a supervised programme ten hours a day from the age of two, and the dog gets a village with walks straight from the door. The independent Relax Guide rates the spa with two lilies, a mark it describes as extraordinary.

Why This Location

A central address in Naturns means everything is on foot: bakeries, cafés and the little church of St. Prokulus, famous for some of the oldest frescoes in the German-speaking Alps. The Vinschgau cycle path runs along the valley floor, flat and easy for a dog on a lead or trotting beside a bike, and the Unterstell cable car climbs to the Sonnenberg trails above the village. Merano, with its promenades and thermal baths, is about a quarter of an hour east by car or regional train. The trade-off of a central address is the main road outside, which the large spa building helps to screen.

Fast Facts

• Vibe: family-run, lively, sporty, generous

• Rooms: 14 categories, from 26 square metre doubles to family suites of up to 73 square metres

• Best For: families with a dog, active couples, spa lovers who want choice

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: the 70-metre indoor slide, which somehow wins over parents as fast as children

• Dining: half board with a buffet breakfast, a light lunch and afternoon refreshments, soft drinks and hot drinks included until 5 pm

• Amenities: dogs allowed, Aquagarden with eleven saunas, 12-metre indoor pool, 10-metre sky infinity pool, 25-metre outdoor pool, cryotherapy chamber, children's club, free mountain bikes, garage parking

• Attractions: St. Prokulus church, the Vinschgau cycle path, the Unterstell cable car, Merano (about 15 km)

The Aquagarden, in Detail

This is the heart of the resort and the reason many guests come back. Pools come in three sizes and moods: a 12-metre indoor pool for laps, a 10-metre sky infinity pool with the mountains in the frame, and a 25-metre outdoor pool for summer. Eleven saunas range across temperatures and styles, a naturist whirlpool sits apart for those who prefer it, and a cryotherapy chamber at minus 110 degrees completes the offer for the curious. Loungers number in the hundreds, so finding a quiet corner is rarely a problem.

Half Board That Covers the Whole Day

The board formula is designed so that nobody has to plan meals. Breakfast is a buffet, a light lunch follows at midday, and afternoon refreshments bridge the gap to dinner, with soft drinks and hot drinks included until five in the afternoon. For dog owners, that rhythm makes it easy to fit a long walk in the morning and another in the late afternoon without missing anything.

Bringing Your Dog to a Family Resort

Dogs are allowed, and the village setting helps: orchards, the river path and the cycle route are all close by for walks. As in most spa resorts, animals are best kept away from the wellness areas and dining rooms, so check the detailed house rules and any daily supplement with the hotel when booking. Suite guests enjoy free garage parking, a real advantage when arriving with a car full of dog gear.