Garni Erna: A Wonderful Stay in the Italian Dolomites

Garni Erna is one of those family-run, welcoming B&B’s that I love.

And it happens to be in one of my favorite destinations — San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy.

This village is located right outside the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Dolomite Nature Park in the Alto Adige (Südtirol) region of Northern Italy.

There’s so much to do in the area.

And Garni Erna is a fabulous place to lie your head each night because it’s clean, affordable, in a great location and breakfast is plentiful and delicious.

Oh.

And did I mention it has a spa?

 

So…What is a “garni”?

A garni is, in many ways, just a notch above a B&B.

Here you’ll find a few more rooms and maybe a few more amenities.

Breakfast is included just like a B&B.

But it’s not so big as to be a hotel.

In other words, it’s just right.

There’s no restaurant for dinner.

A garni is simple accommodation so there’s nothing fancy or luxurious about it.

And you won’t have 24 hour reception.

But a garni will offer a warm bed, hot shower, hearty breakfast and typically welcoming hosts.

Garni Erna is no different.

 

The house

Lots of wood and a feeling of being at home are my first impressions of this accommodation in San Vigilio di Marebbe.

There are wood pegs in the entry way with hearts hanging on them.

And there are other bric-a-brac around, making it seem as though you are walking into someone’s home.

To the left is a lounge area with tables.

Here you’ll find coffee and tea service all day long.

It’s a good place to sit and meet other travelers over a hot beverage or perhaps a bottle of wine.

On the right is the breakfast room.

I’ll get to this soon enough.

There’s good parking out front and to the side of the house.

And the location is ideal as it’s a short walk into the heart of town.

You are just off the main road that leads into Fanes-Sennes-Braies.

 

The rooms at Garni Erna

What I love about this part of Italy is that there are superb rooms for solo travelers.

You don’t get stuck in something resembling a broom closet.

Garni Erna has a few single rooms that actually have balconies.

They’re not large rooms and you will sleep in a single (twin) bed.

But they’re plenty big enough for one person and all your shit.

All the rooms have lots of wood, warm bedding and good hot showers.

Some rooms have bathtubs.

And the bathroom in my single room was a good-sized bathroom — with a bidet.

I love Italy!

I also love having a balcony when I’m staying in the Dolomites.

So the balcony was my favorite place to sit whenever I was in my room.

There was also a wardrobe and a desk in the room which I also really appreciated.

Lastly, hooks.

I love having a designated spot to hang a jacket, my pajamas or a sweaty workout outfit.

It sounds funny but when I see a room with a few hooks on the wall I give a big “YES!” shout out.

Oh, the little things in life…

 

The breakfast

OMG!

So much food.

There is yogurt, cereals, breads and rolls (sweet and not), cured meats, cheese, fruit, juices, coffee and tea.

You can get eggs as well.

Ulrich, your host (we’re getting to him), does his best to have as much local food as possible at breakfast.

And it’s all included in the price of your room.

Seriously, the food is delicious.

And it will fuel you up for your active day.

 

The host

Ulrich is your host.

Erna is his mom who the garni is named after.

But it’s all his now.

And he is a wonderful host.

He is a local, so he knows the area well and offers up good information on trails, sites and other things to do in the San Vigilio area.

Ulrich and I had some nice conversations about the travel industry.

Actually he told me about the confusing-as-hell accommodation system in Italy.

That’s a story for another post, but let’s just say he is an intelligent and thoughtful person.

And he is eager to make your stay memorable.

 

The extra touch: the spa at Garni Erna

Okay.

So let’s get this straight: most garnis do NOT have spas.

But Garni Erna does have a spa.

Yes.

There is a Finnish sauna, biological sauna, infrared cabin, heat bench with Kneipp course, a cold fog shower, a tropical rain shower and a relaxation area.

Plus there is a jacuzzi in the yard.

I know.

I didn’t get into the jacuzzi (regret!), but I did take in the different saunas.

This is such a bonus to Garni Erna.

After a long hike or a day on the slopes, your body will thank you for choosing to stay at this awesome house.

 

The price

And all that for a very affordable price.

Prices run €42-83 per person per night.

Winter is high season, especially around the Christmas to New Year’s holiday.

Garni Erna really is an incredible value for all you get — fantastic room, filling breakfast, welcoming host, great location and the wonderful spa.

And did I mention that the rooms are squeaky clean?

Yup.

One of the cleanest places I’ve stayed.

 

Final thoughts on Garni Erna

Garni Erna is definitely one of the best places to stay in San Vigilio di Marebbe.

Great price, clean, fabulous location, tasty breakfast, helpful host, comfy rooms and a soothing spa.

While it doesn’t have the frills of a hotel bar or a fancy swimming pool, it has plenty of other amenities that make it a superb accommodation for your time in the area.

So check it out.

You won’t regret it!

 

This is part of a series I call Charming Places — a series in which I talk about the places I stay. From B&B’s, hotels and guesthouses to apartments and farm stays, I’ll give my honest thoughts on these spaces. I’ve found that the accommodation I choose to stay often directly affects how I feel about a particular destination. And how I connect with that location and its people. So I want to share these places with you by dishing out a bit of info and some of my opinions.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Garni Erna so my stay was discounted. However all opinions are my own.