Residence Park Imperatore in Carisolo

Ah, salsiccia! I almost started believing in the Italian “tutto passa” once my rather questionably pleasant stay finally came to an end.

While onions (sic!) were being served to guests on the ground floor, I was enjoying their full aromatic presence in my upstairs room. The smell settled in with me and stayed for the duration of my trip.

The building’s acoustics were remarkably inclusive — allowing full participation in the daily routines of other guests, from bathroom visits to bedroom activities (and no, I don’t mean snoring…). Not to mention the enthusiastic church bells just outside the window, faithfully marking the passage of time — even throughout the night.

I had hoped to make better use of the kitchenette than simply boiling water for tea. The limited equipment didn’t discourage me, as I travel with my own cooking tools. However, after an hour of preparing a ragout, it was unexpectedly “seasoned” by an unidentified object that landed from the kitchen hood. At that point, I abandoned my culinary ambitions and opted for a very average takeaway pizza around the corner.

I have also never encountered such an extensive list of prohibitions — I felt more like an intruder than a guest. Perhaps that’s the leitmotif of the hotel, hence the name “Imperator.”

Adjusting the room temperature via a control panel hidden at reception — upon special request and executed by staff — it is certainly my favourite way to elevate my holiday to a new level of “luxury" or "imperatorism"...

The relatively high rating is due solely to the very kind, young, charming woman at reception and the charming surroundings — which I had the opportunity to explore while independently locating the trash bins to avoid an additional penalty fee...

Never again!

We, 22 people booked 6 apartments here by a travel agency for 7 overnights. Our apartments were prepaid. Due to a snowstorm and lavina we had to turn back at the Brenner Tunnel, and drive an extra 600 km to get to our destination. By this reason we could arrive only in the middle of the night. But our friends were lucky, they had another route, so they could arrive when the reception was open. We agreed that our friends will get the key, so we could get in our apartments when we arrive (at about 5 a.m.).

Our friends told all the details at the reception. They offered that they would pay the deposit (you know, you have to leave some money at the reception in case you made any damage). But the receptionists (the owners of the house) refused to give the keys. They said, it would be too loud when we arrived, and this could disturb the other guests.

Just to let everybody know: we are not from the wild forest. We know, how to get in a house quietly. There were 6 kids in our company between the age of 3 to 11. One of the adults was in wheelchair. Despite all that, they told us to sleep somewhere else on our way, and suggested to arrive at 7 a.m. when the reception is open again. Very unfriendly, and don’t forget: we didn’t ask for any extra. The apartments were paid a month ago, 22 persons for 7 nights, that means 154 guest nights. Our friends offered to pay the deposit, so there was nothing extra. It's rude that they didn’t let us in our rooms. That’s all about the owners’ hospitality.

So we could get our keys after 7:00 a.m., and lost one night. No compensation was offered, and when we sent an e-mail to the travel agency they asked the owner about the facts, and the owner replied they were in the reception. It is a lie.

But this is not all.

Here are some interesting details about the week we spent here.

The owners hardly speak any foreign languages. They understand a bit of English and German, but most of the time they can reply in Italian. This was the smallest problem, but was interesting.

In the ad, they said the skibus was 200 m at the house. It is quite true, but you have to know, that there is ONLY ONE SKIBUS a day, only at 9:00 a.m., and it comes back at 5:00 p.m. Good luck. So we used our cars.

You are responsible for taking out the garbage, else you pay 30 EUR. (It is written in your room.) But there isn’t a garbage bin at the house. When we asked the owners where we should put the garbage, they could only hardly tell us (and only in Italian) where we should go. It is about 5 minute walking.

In the house it is imposdible to collect the garbage separately, but in the street you have to separate the trash before you put it in the bin. That is basic, but there is only 1 bin in the apartment, and we weren’t given any plastic rubbish bag (but we bought it in the supermarket). It was a funny game to separate the garbage in the street.

Saving money was a little outrageous and ridiculous.

There was only one roll of toilet paper in the
bathroom. When we asked for some more they offered 2 rolls for 1 EUR. Ridiculous. We are not beggers, so we could by it, but we bought it at the supermarket (not surprising that for a much better price, but we would have bought it anywhere but in the apartment even if it was the double price. “Pecunia non olet.” It was just another unfriendly gesture.

We didn’t know why there isn’t any key in the bathroom/toilet. It just makes a bit complicated to use it.

The exhaust fan in the kitchen has 3 gears. But you can use only one. The other 2 is glued with something like chewing gum (see the photo). Just to save energy.

In the night the heating is very poor. When we asked to switch it on, first they said that the sensor shows them that the rooms are warm enough. There is a towel warmer in the bathroom. If you want to know if the heating is on, you just have to touch it. Most of the time it was cold. After the 3-rd night I told the owners with a bit anger that they should switch on the heating for the night, so they did it.

We never suggest to book apartments here.