Review: AMA Stay in San Vigilio, Val Badia, Dolomites

Built in 2022, 4-star AMA Stay has swiftly claimed its place as the cool kid on the block in San Vigilio di Marebbe (Al Plan in Ladin, St. Vigil in Enneberg in German) in the Dolomites. A bold, contemporary riff on rural Ladin architecture, its dark timber façade commands immediate attention, eclipsing the surrounding buildings. As you can imagine, arriving at AMA Stay feels like a special occasion. 

Our first encounter with AMA Stay was two years ago, during our first trip to San Vigilio. Mesmerized by the architecture, we wandered into the bistro for a coffee and promised ourselves we’d come back one day to stay. And when we finally did, our initial impression was affirmed in every way.

It goes without saying that the design and facilities are first-class. Yet what distinguishes AMA Stay is its spirit of inclusivity.

Guided by an ethos of giving back to the local community, the hotel embraces an open-door philosophy, welcoming guests, passing travelers, as well as residents to its community events, art exhibitions, bistro, bar, and restaurant. This core principle cultivates a setting where locals naturally come together and visitors feel integrated rather than detached from the village.

We stayed in AMA Stay in early December.

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Pros and Cons of Staying in AMA Stay

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The Location

San Vigilio is located in the municipality of Marebbe in lower Val Badia, between Bruneck and Alta Badia. It’s located in the heart of the Kronplatz – Plan de Corones Ski Resort and one of the entry points into UNESCO World Heritage Site Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park.

Ama Stay is located directly next to the San Vigilio Dolomites Tourist Office in the town center, just down the road from the Miara ski lift. 

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Rooms at AMA Stay

AMA Stay offers a total of 78 rooms and apartments in various categories: AMA room, AMA studio, and AMA flat. All rooms feature a uniform aesthetic of oak wood complimented by light-colored textiles, floor-to-celing windows, and a large private balcony. 

We stayed in the AMA studio, which also has a well-equipped kitchenette with a fridge, dishwasher, stove, hot water cooker, coffee machine, and dining table. Though the design won us over, I’m also happy to report that the mattress and bedding are exceptionally comfortable as well. Everything is of the highest quality. 

I also enjoyed reading the AMAGAZINE, the hotel newspaper available in each room, filled with interesting interviews, insider tips, and local legends. 

Closet space is limited, but workable. 

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AMA Rooftop Spa

The AMA wellness & spa area is complimentary for all guests. The thoughtfully-designed layout provides ample space for relaxation and a naturally meditative ambiance, enhanced by soft lighting and soothing spa music. Here, it’s easy to lose track of time and surrender to the rhythm of the sauna ritual.

It comprises three roomy saunas (steam bath, bio sauna, and Finnish sauna), an indoor-outdoor rooftop pool overlooking the Piz de Plaies slopes, a Kneipp path, several relaxation rooms, and showers. 

The sauna zone is a textile-free space for adults-only (ages 16+). Many travelers feel uneasy in nude saunas, but it helps to understand why saunas are traditionally textile-free. Wearing swimwear can prevent the skin from breathing and trap moisture and bacteria in the fabric, which is considered unhygienic in a sauna environment. 

Massages and treatments are available in the beauty spa on floor 1. 

Beyond the layout and design, we really appreciated the staff’s proactive approach to keeping the wellness area clean, restocked, and dry during opening hours. They go above and beyond to maintain a well-kept space for everyone, no matter what time you arrive. 

You’ll find a bathrobe, slippers, and sauna bag in your room. 

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Gym

The hotel gym comprises a number of work-out machines: treadmills, an elliptical, stationary bicycles, and rowing machine. There are also weights and mats. 

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Dining at AMA Stay

The AMA Stay dining concept is rooted in flexibility. Rather than adopting the traditional half-board or three-quarter-board model, which they find stressful and restrictive, they invite their guests to decide each day exactly what they want. For this reason, meals are not included in the room rate. 

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Breakfast 

For breakfast, guests can choose between the buffet in the AMA restaurant or smaller à la carte options in the bistro, with quintessential Italian-style breakfasts. 

The breakfast buffet offers a spread of fresh fruits, yogurts, mueslis, cold cuts and cheeses, smoked salmon, and an array of breads and croissants. Guests can make their own fresh juice with the fruit-and-vegetable juicer and orange juice press. Coffee and made-to-order eggs are served directly at the table.

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Lunch & Snacks in the Bistro & Bar

Snacks and small meals are served throughout the day in the bistro-bar. In addition to the standard menu, there’s a daily special offered between 11:30 am and 2 pm. You can order hot and cold bistro dishes between 11 am and 9:30 pm. Small snacks and toast variations are available until 11 pm. 

This is an excellent choice for active travelers exploring the Dolomites who prefer the flexibility of not being bound to a scheduled dinner time. 

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Dinner in the AMA Stay Restaurant

The AMA restaurant is a spacious, minimalist dining space with an open kitchen, adjacent to the bistro & bar. Open to overnight as well as external guests, it’s a good idea to make a reservation, especially in peak season.

Run by Chef Marco De Benedictis, who hails from Bari, the menu features local cuisine as well as dishes inspired from his homeland. Everything is made in-house, including the pasta.

The well-balanced menu features a number of vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free dishes, all of which are clearly labeled.

Wine lovers can choose from 400 labels of the finest South Tyrolean wines. Their wine by the glass menu is also very satisfactory. I loved the

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Service and Staff

The AMA Stay staff are professional, polished, and genuinely cheerful. They engage with guests with exceptional care and attentiveness, and they interact just as thoughtfully with one another. It left me with the strong sense that they truly get along and enjoy working here. We were particularly impressed by the dining and wellness staff. 

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Hotel Perks & Special Services

Ski Locker Room | The ski locker rooms are located on floor 1 with direct access to Strassa Plazores, just steps away from the S. Vigilio, Croce Bianca ( St. Vigil, Weisses Kreuz) bus stop, which is one stop away from the Miara ski lift. Each room is assigned a locker, equipped with built-in boot warmers. To open your locker, simply use your room keycard. 

Kronplatz Guest Pass | Guests receive a digital Kronplatz Guest Pass, which grants you free unlimited use of local transportation. 

E-Bike Rentals | In summer, guests can rent ebikes directly at the hotel. 

Shop | The well-curated hotel shop sells a tempting selection of sports apparel, cosmetics by Vitalis Team Dr. Joseph, glassware, books, and other regional products. 

Co-Working Spaces | All guests can use the communal co-working spaces. There’s a co-working space on floor 2 (Focus Fanes) and an identical co-working space on floor 3 (Focus Sennes). 

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Final Thoughts 

I was extremely impressed by the design, ethos, cuisine, and facilities at AMA Stay. Spending time in the hotel is a pleasure. 

My only recommendation would be to make the wellness area device-free, allowing all guests to enjoy the wellness space without the interruption of phone conversations.

Check rates and availability.

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Discover More of Val Badia and the Dolomites

Alta Badia / Val Badia:

• Alta Badia Summer Guide
• Alta Badia Autumn Guide
• Alta Badia Hotels

Val Badia Hikes:

• Armentara Meadows Day Hike
• Passo delle Erbe – Sass de Putia Circuit Hike
• Passo Gardena – Sass da Ciampac Summit Hike
• Passo Gardena – Gran Cir
• Rifugio Puez Day Hike
• Lake Pisciadù Day Hike
• Rifugio Fanes Day Hike
• Path of the Larches

Dolomites in Winter / Skiing:

• Skiing in the Dolomites
• Skiing in Val Gardena
• Sella Ronda Ski Circuit

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