Luxury family holidays have to be one of the most challenging areas of hospitality to nail, balancing the needs of both parents and children while delivering the level of luxury today’s families expect. Top-of-the-range facilities, an exceptional kids’ club, family-friendly accommodation and, crucially, a space for adults to unwind that’s not just at the bar or pool. It’s a tough formula to perfect and few resorts truly get it right.
Enter AKI Family Resort Plose. The latest opening from the renowned Adler collection, this all-inclusive mountain retreat in South Tyrol has somehow managed to create the perfect balance between a luxury wellness escape for adults and a child-centric paradise designed entirely around imagination, adventure and connection with nature.
The Adler name will already be familiar to those who know their luxury wellness hotels. Its collection of resorts dotted throughout Italy, are all slick retreats rooted in authenticity and attention to detail, with respect for the natural and cultural environment around them at the forefront. AKI Family Resort Plose, which opened in November 2024, marks the group’s first dedicated family resort. And what a setting. Punctuated by the Dolomites mountains, it’s quite frankly like a Microsoft screensaver.
Tucked away in South Tyrol, with easy access from both Bolzano and Innsbruck airports. The drive through South Tyrol’s alpine scenery is an experience in itself, passing through the striking alpine landscape before arriving at the resort’s large underground car park.
But this is no ordinary hotel arrival. Guests are first greeted by AKI, the resort’s friendly eagle mascot, before stepping into a world designed entirely through a child’s eyes. The scent of the alpine mountains – the resort’s signature fragrance – lingers in the air, while a huge slide between floors leads directly down to the interactive games area, perfect for children looking to burn off energy after a long journey.
The options are endless to keep children occupied. First off, there’s a two-storey play barn, a treehouse, cargo nets and endless opportunities to burn off energy. There’s also a movie theatre that doubles as a sports court and nightly entertainment venue, with the bubble show proving a particular hit with younger guests. Even the reception desks feature mini steps so younger guests can experience check-in themselves. You get that feeling that you wish hotels like these had existed when you were a child.
The look and feel isn’t garish plastic and bright colours. Instead, the space is decorated with an abundance of wood and soft natural tones you would encounter outdoors in the forest. Sustainable materials feature throughout, creating a space that feels both luxurious and calming. Every detail reflects the hotel’s respect for nature, from its plastic-free initiatives to its pure mountain water sourced directly from Mount Plose.
The suites are equally impressive and as you can imagine, designed with families in mind; they feel seriously spacious, featuring separate sleeping areas, a generous living area and that postcard-worthy mountain view. Clever details are everywhere: lower sinks for children, playful mezzanine bunk beds complete with cubby holes for soft toys and an abundance of storage.
Waking up here feels almost cinematic. Opening the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors each morning to panoramic mountain views, with a cockerel serving as your alarm clock and alpacas grazing outside by the resort’s small animal farm, the alpine hills feel like stepping onto the set of The Sound of Music.
And yet, perhaps the biggest indulgence, is the freedom the exceptional kids’ club gives parents. Open daily from 9am until 9pm, the aesthetically pleasing and thoughtfully curated programme offers everything from arts and crafts to cooking classes, guided nature experiences and family activities. Children can even enjoy lunch and dinner with their new friends, while parents finally indulge in something often missing from family holidays: genuine time to themselves.
Wellness is at the core of the AKI experience. Daily yoga classes, including family yoga sessions, take place inside a stunning woodland pavilion. There are fitness classes, guided walks, sound healing sessions and a state-of-the-art Technogym-equipped gym with some of the most impressive views you’ll ever find from a treadmill, so much so you’ll find yourself staying on it far longer than planned.
The spa is equally exceptional. Parents can choose from an extensive menu of treatments, while younger guests can even enjoy dedicated mini-me spa experiences. For those carrying the usual laptop-induced tension, a massage with Christian is an absolute must to combat that dreaded “tech neck”, easing away even the most stubborn knots.
The wellbeing theme continues throughout the hotel with refreshment stations throughout the spa featuring infused waters, homemade syrups, fresh fruit and the resort’s signature teas, including a special fruity blend designed exclusively for children.
Then there are the pools. Families are spoilt for choice with baby splash areas, indoor pools, seasonal outdoor pools and a heated infinity pool that seems to melt into the surrounding mountains. Two light-up water slides provide endless entertainment for children and adults alike, while family sauna sessions complete with daily infusions add another layer to the experience. Adults can enjoy some much-needed me time in the forest saunas, surrounded by nature and framed by panoramic woodland views.
Outside, the adventure continues. With hiking and biking, come winter, young guests can learn to ski using the resort’s magic carpet conveyor lift designed especially for beginners. Younger children will adore the activity park, mini Vespas, scooters, a zip line, a trampoline, a duck pond water raft and construction areas, all seamlessly blending into the natural landscape.
Food is equally impressive at the hotel’s restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included, with a strong emphasis on seasonal produce and partnerships with local farmers. The extensive buffet offering changes constantly, ensuring meals never feel repetitive. Following the view theme, the restaurant certainly ticks that box while maintaining a comfortable and relaxed environment where you never feel too close to fellow diners.
Breakfast quickly became a favourite thanks to freshly prepared smoothies, omelettes, waffles, local breads and plenty of gut-healthy options too, such as yoghurts and fresh fruit. Lunch centres around vibrant salad bars, live cooking stations, pizzas, fresh pasta and stations dedicated to little legs that can easily help themselves, alongside a dedicated baby bar area. Dinner is a more relaxed affair, with no need to visit the buffet unless you wish to, although there’s still an extensive selection on offer. Instead, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the à la carte menu against a backdrop of spectacular mountain views.
The large viewing window into the kitchen was a big hit with the whole family, featuring a raised platform so children can watch the chefs at work behind the scenes. Like everything at AKI Family Resort Plose, it’s another example of how the resort has thought about the little details that make a family holiday that bit more special.
Before leaving, be sure to visit the AKI Boutique. This is no ordinary hotel shop. Alongside carefully selected children’s brands such as Liewood, you’ll find local products, Adler wines, the resort’s signature teas and a collection of thoughtful souvenirs you’ll actually want to take home.
With all this, it’s easy to understand why AKI Family Resort Plose has already gone viral and books up so quickly. It’s an exercise in sustainable luxury, imagination and immaculate execution.
There are hotels you stay in, and then there are hotels that stay with you. AKI Family Resort Plose is firmly the latter.
Via Koja, Meluno, 20, 39042 Bressanone BZ, Italy
