De LEN

De LEN in Cortina d'Ampezzo, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive and luxurious Alpine experience, blending contemporary design with a strong commitment to sustainability and guest well-being.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

De LEN generally receives a "Superb" rating from guests, with an average score of 9.1 out of 10 based on over 440 reviews. The overwhelming sentiment is highly positive, with guests consistently praising the hotel's stunning aesthetics, exceptional service, comfortable rooms, and excellent dining.

2. Key Highlights

Guests frequently highlight several aspects that make De LEN stand out:

• Design & Sustainability: The hotel's philosophy is rooted in ethical construction and sustainable design, with "De LEN" meaning "Hotel of Wood" in Ladin. It features reclaimed wood, thoughtful art-filled spaces, and technology designed for well-being.
• Rooftop Spa: The light-filled rooftop spa offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and town, featuring various saunas, an outdoor jacuzzi, and a relaxation area.
• Exceptional Service: The staff is consistently described as fantastic, friendly, helpful, and attentive, often going above and beyond to ensure a perfect stay.
• Prime Location: Its central position in Cortina d'Ampezzo allows easy access to shops, restaurants, and local attractions.
• Focus on Sleep: Rooms incorporate cutting-edge technology, like Magma13 "Sleep Radiance Panels" and Orpheus/Astreo filters, to enhance sleep quality by removing electromagnetic pollution and restoring natural ambient energy.

3. Room Quality

The 22 alpine-style rooms at De LEN are designed for comfort and tranquility. They are paneled with reclaimed stone pine or fir wood, chosen for their ancient perfume, relaxing effects, and sleep-improving properties. Guests enjoy large, comfortable beds with premium down comforters and high-thread-count sheets. Bathrooms are contemporary, utilizing upcycled fir and slate gray, and come equipped with bespoke toiletries. Rooms also feature air-conditioning, sound insulation, minibar, flat-screen TV, laptop-compatible safes, and bathrobes.

4. Dining Experience

Ristorante De Len, located on the ground floor, offers a refined dining experience with a warm, casual atmosphere. The cuisine takes inspiration from the local Ladin region, presenting specialties with a contemporary twist, often focusing on vegetable- and cheese-based dishes like the "fonduta di Saporito d'alpeggio" (fondue). Other praised dishes include fish and tiramisu.

Breakfast, typically included in the room rate, is served in the restaurant. It includes an assortment of homemade pastries, breads, fresh fruits, cereals, and yogurts, alongside a menu for ordering cold cuts, cheese, smoked trout, seasonal vegetables, and egg dishes. Fresh homemade fruit juices and excellent coffee are also noted.

The hotel also features Bar de Len, a cozy, fire-lit bar with a speakeasy vibe, offering local beers and barrel-aged cocktails.

5. Service & Staff

The service at De LEN consistently receives exceptional praise, with a staff rating of 9.6 out of 10 for performance. Guests describe the team as incredibly friendly, helpful, and attentive, often going "above and beyond" to ensure a perfect stay. Many reviews specifically mention the staff's passion and accommodating nature. Each guest may also be assigned a local advisor for itinerary planning and restaurant bookings.

6. Location & Accessibility

De LEN boasts an "Excellent Location" in the heart of Cortina d'Ampezzo, scoring 9.5 for location. It is centrally located, offering easy walking access to numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and the main Cortina bus station. For skiers, a complimentary ski shuttle to the Faloria and Col Druscie ski lifts stops just outside the hotel.

7. Value & Pricing

While De LEN is a luxury property, it generally garners a good score of 8.0 for "Value for money." Room rates can average around $597 per night, which is higher than Cortina's city average, yet some consider it "exceptional value" for the luxury provided. The hotel operates on a "pay for what you use" model, meaning some amenities like parking and additional spa access may incur extra fees.

8. Common Complaints

While overall reviews are highly positive, a few recurring criticisms have been noted:

• Restaurant Pricing and Michelin Status: Some guests found Ristorante De Len to be "overpriced," particularly for special events like New Year's Eve, where a €600 per person menu left some feeling "disappointed and somewhat scammed." There's also some confusion, with guests sometimes expecting a Michelin-starred restaurant when De LEN is a Michelin Key Selected property, and its restaurant is a "MICHELIN Guide Restaurant" rather than holding a star.
• Food Consistency: A few isolated reviews mentioned issues with food quality, such as undercooked risotto.
• Limited Vegan Options: The restaurant has been noted by some as not being the best choice for vegans, offering only one main vegan option and one vegan starter.
• Spa Access Fees: While one complimentary hour of spa access is usually included, additional visits to the rooftop spa are available for an extra fee (€30 per person for 60 minutes).
• Parking Costs: Parking is available but comes with an extra charge (€25 per day, €50 for valet) and is located 400 meters away from the hotel.

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