If anyone knows how to operate a family-friendly vacation experience in the Italian Dolomites, it’s Family Resort Rainer. For two generations, this family-owned resort located within road-trip distance of Venice (and near the site of the 2026 Winter Olympics) in the stunning Sexten Dolomites, has welcomed families to experience some of the finest hospitality and mountains in the world.
This story was created in partnership with Family Resort Rainer.
One Property Hotel & Three Exclusive Residences
Family Resort Rainer extends beyond the four-star superior hotel. It also includes three boutique properties, each with its own distinct personality ideal for fully customized stays. Guests who opt for a stay in one of the three residences are welcome to enjoy the restaurant and other amenities of the hotel, located close by in the scenic valley. It’s worth noting that each suite in the residences boasts its own kitchen, providing the ultimate home-away-from-home feel.
The Family Hotel Rainer
Naturally, the Family Hotel Rainer is the heart of the resort. Built in 1964, the hotel has evolved over the years, not unlike the surrounding landscapes of significant natural wonder, from offering its first indoor pool and sauna to its remodeled, distinctive semicircular design. Today it remains one of the most iconic buildings in the area and delivers a four-star experience for the entire family. Features of the Family Hotel Rainer include the guest-only restaurant and bar, four unique suite styles, and of course the Dolomite Panorama Spa. The extensive, nature-based childcare program is another standout highlight!
The Residence Königswarte Strata
Austere and modern on the exterior with splashes of blue and aquamarine in each design suite, the Residence Königswarte Strata is a beautiful option for a family stay in South Tyrol. Each room is one-of-a-kind with either a balcony, terrace, or private garden. Whether you are traveling as a couple or a large family, generous layouts for all groups are available in this Rainer Family residence.
The Residence Paramount Alma
With award-winning architecture, the Residence Paramount Alma greets guests with clean lines, locally sourced materials, and earthen hues. Architect Ulla Hell, host and owner of Paramount Alma, is available upon request to chat architecture, design, and local culture to provide guests with an even better sense of place during their stay. To cap it all off, a private rooftop hot tub ensures panoramic scenes of the snowcapped peaks beyond.
The Residence Villa Rainer
Set above the village center, the third and final Rainer residence, The Residence Villa Rainer, exudes modern flair. Warm, untreated spruce details invite a peaceful energy, while the same spacious and flexible suite layouts accommodate all travelers. The bunk beds ready for young guests complete with cuddly teddy bears might just have you redesigning your home once you return!
Hands-On Activities Year-Round
Winter
Winter at Family Resort Rainer is built around keeping every generation happy. Kids can spend hours building their confidence at ski school, in the indoor pool zooming down the water slide, or getting a proper pampering at the kids’ spa and salon while parents sneak in some downtime of their own (more on that below).
More confident skiers can hit the slopes with the whole family, and ski-in ski-out access makes it easy to change plans, something every family appreciates. Go from any of the 115 kilometers (70 miles) of skiable terrain in the surrounding 3 Zinnen Dolomites area back to your room in a breeze. Forgot to pack someone’s skis? No problem. On-site rentals have all the gear you need. Plus, all ages are welcome on traditional toboggan runs, gentle snowshoe hikes, and neatly-groomed Nordic trails.
When the sun goes down, bundle up for a Fackelwanderung, a traditional torchlit winter walk through the snowy landscape that is equal parts mystery, wonder, and adventure. Adults feeling extra adventurous can take to the skies on a winter paragliding excursion.
Summer
While a veritable playground in the winter season, when the snow melts at Family Resort Rainer, it unveils a treasure trove of discovery for children. Across the grounds, kids of all ages can revel in a variety of zones. Start with the on-site adventure playground, or the petting zoo and sandboxes (ideal for the youngest of travelers). Nearby, a bobby car racetrack lets kids go full throttle. But at Family Resort Rainer, it’s important for the whole family to truly immerse themselves in the Dolomites. That’s why guided rock climbing, biking, and kid-friendly hikes are all within reach, too. You can even lure reluctant hikers with the company of an alpaca hiking buddy in case a pancake treat promised at the top of the mountain isn’t convincing enough!
on-site Professional Childcare
What better mascot of the Dolomites than Raini, a huggable, playful squirrel? At Family Resort Rainer, Raini greets children daily for childcare (along with other professionally trained helpers) both indoors and out. In fact, the service is offered at thoughtful times, like after dinner, so that parents can linger over a glass of wine while the kids get extra wiggles out. In addition to childcare, the Familienhotels Südtirol Nature Programme offers a full weekly schedule of excursions, craft workshops, and hands-on courses built for kids. Each year presents a new special theme. Young explorers spend their waking hours outdoors in the fresh air keeping their minds and bodies busy with the expert Rainer team. Parents are then free to enjoy longer hikes and bike rides, an extra run on the ski slope, or simply relax at the spa.
Decadent Wellness for Hard-Working Parents
Parents will rejoice in the adults-only amenities of Family Resort Rainer, from the sumptuous facials and massage treatments at the Dolomit Panorama Spa to the four unique saunas: a traditional Finnish sauna, herbal bio sauna, rock crystal aroma steam grotto, and infrared cabin. As you can tell by now, Rainer is all about options, and the spa menu is no exception. Rejuvenating birch baths with juniper and bran, detoxifying full-body honey treatments, and much more (including standard deep tissue massages) await. Children who are eager for a bit of pampering can partake during set times each week with their own age-appropriate spa menu. These amenities are available to all guests of the hotel and residences at Family Resort Rainer.
A Cultural Journey for Every Taste Bud
Family Resort Rainer enjoys a privileged location in the Italian Sexten Dolomites, tucked right against the Austrian border. Here, many locals speak both Italian and German, and their culinary preferences reflect both cultures as well. Family Resort Rainer embraces this cultural fusion and offers both Tyrolean and Mediterranean fare, in addition to milling their own homemade bread on site. Many ingredients are sourced regionally, from the heaping breakfast buffet to the à la carte lunch and dinner. Little eaters will enjoy a supervised lunch Monday to Friday, and a kid-friendly (yet healthy) buffet full of favorites each evening. And of course, the true joy of any Dolomite-based vacation: the cake buffet. This daily ritual is recognized as its own afternoon meal, and is sure to delight the whole family! Truly, it’s just the “icing” on a dream alpine vacation designed by the family-owned and operated team at Family Resort Rainer.
