All posts by Lisa Levi

Snow-covered Alpine luxury resort with a heated outdoor pool glowing at dusk, surrounded by chalet-style buildings and illuminated balconies in the Dolomites.

Alpine Adventures for All: Luxury Family Skiing in the Dolomites

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By Lisa Levi

For parents, there are times when you want an adults-only retreat, and times when you want to make memories as a family. Winter break is the perfect opportunity to take the clan on a ski adventure, but does traveling with children mean you need to compromise on style or service? The luxury world isn’t always welcoming of the littlest travelers, who could disrupt a five-star hotel’s carefully curated peace. But increasingly, high-end hospitality is rolling out the red carpet for children, with kid-friendly amenities and in-house childcare while parents relax in peace.

Travel-savvy parents know the key to success is choosing your destination wisely, and for a country that adores children, look no further than Italy. In the Dolomite Mountains, a part of the Italian Alps bordering Austria, you will find family-friendly luxury that proves the highest standards can happily include guests of all ages.

This UNESCO World Heritage site enchants with soaring limestone peaks that glow pink at sunrise and sunset, offering some of the world’s most spectacular skiing. Set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Dolomites have slopes that thrill expert skiers and gentler runs ideal for parents introducing their children to the sport.

Two children stand arm in arm on a snowy mountain slope, gazing out over a sunlit Alpine valley and snow-covered peaks in the Dolomites.

“Since introducing our luxury ski experiences, including an itinerary in the Dolomites, we’ve seen incredible demand from families seeking a winter getaway that blends adventure, comfort and connection in some of the world’s most exclusive destinations,” said Amanda Wells, director of product and partnerships for Kensington Tours. “These trips go beyond skiing

but include a mix of activities like sledding and snowshoeing that bring families together, paired with accommodations that are both luxurious and family friendly. It’s the perfect balance in one of the world’s most breathtaking mountain settings.”

The Dolomiti Superski region encompasses 12 interconnected ski resorts linked by a single skipass, with nearly 750 miles of slopes. Each resort boasts highly rated ski schools, many of which offer half-day programs for children so parents can enjoy the slopes — or the spa — child-free. Several luxury hotels collaborate directly with local resorts to create seamless family ski experiences.

One standout is Cavallino Bianco, a Val Gardena gem designed exclusively for families. The property’s kids’ club whisks little ones off to ski school in nearby Ortisei and helps prepare them each morning for their lessons. Kids can also learn basic moves on site. “Each year, a small ramp is set up in the garden within our castle, where children can safely practice on the snow just steps away from Mom and Dad,” explains Alessia Sorrentino, who is the Marketing, Communication & Event Assistant at Cavallino Bianco. “If they wish, parents can watch the lessons directly from their suite, or — why not? — while relaxing in one of our heated outdoor pools.”

Family-focused luxury is no rarity in the Dolomites. Many four- and five-star properties feature expansive kids’ clubs, creative play zones and professional childcare, all available well into the evening. In addition to its ski program, for example, Cavallino Bianco offers separate play spaces for infants through teens, and a full calendar of activities — from crafts and cooking classes to farm visits, horseback riding, trampoline fun and live theater.

Parents pull children on a wooden sled across a snowy Alpine meadow, with dramatic Dolomite peaks, pine forests and scattered mountain huts in the background.

Hotel Quelle Nature Spa Resort, on the other hand, is located near the Kronplatz ski area and focuses on wellness. It bills itself as “a spa for the whole family.” The hotel features a sauna and several serene swimming pools that welcome children, alongside adult-only sanctuaries to enjoy when the kids are off playing in their own spaces. According to the hotel’s site, the new, almost 1,300 sq ft Kids Club with Players Lounge offers interactive games, a children’s kitchen and dining table and craft areas. Their program for children ages 3 and up goes beyond free childcare and includes activities like face painting, origami, parkour, outdoor adventures, and even a private mini cinema. Other luxury properties in the Dolomites with similar family offerings include AKI Family Resort PLOSE, Hotel Fameli, Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido, and Hotel Winkler.

Skating, sledding, and more

Beyond the slopes and hotel, a winter wonderland beckons. Ice skating is a beloved local pastime for all ages, and there are many rinks to choose from — none more iconic than the Olympic Ice Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Host of the 1956 Winter Olympics and featured in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, this glass-enclosed rink is an architectural masterpiece. Recently renovated, it also features a playground for younger children. With the Winter Olympics returning to Cortina in 2026, travelers may wish to visit earlier in the season for a quieter stay.

Next, strap on your helmets for some oldfashioned sledding fun. Most ski resorts offer toboggan rides, and some such as Kronplatz even offer moonlight sled runs for an extra dose of family magic. For something bolder, zipline adventures offer high-speed thrills: Zipline Monte Pana in Val Gardena sends you soaring above the valley at up to 55 mph, while Adrenaline X-Treme Adventures near Kronplatz boasts Europe’s longest zipline — ideal for daring kids and teens.

Indulge in relaxation

Family enjoys a heated outdoor spa pool in winter, with parents and a child smiling amid rising steam and Alpine resort buildings in the background.

If tranquility beckons, step into the past with a horse-drawn sleigh ride or a torchlit evening walk beneath the stars. Between excursions, wander through the Dolomites’ famous Christmas markets, where you can shop for artisanal gifts while the children sip hot cocoa and take in the magic of twinkling lights.

When it comes to dining, there’s no need to sacrifice refinement for family-friendliness. Across the Dolomites, fine dining establishments extend their characteristic Italian warmth to children. Among the Michelin-recognized options, Ristorante Tubladel in Ortisei, Fana Ladina in San Vigilio Marebbe, and La Stua de Michil in Corvara are known for being child-friendly. And for parents wishing to enjoy an elegant evening à deux, a host of elite restaurants await. Michelin-starred Terra in Sarentino offers contemporary chalet chic, serving Chef Heinrich Schneider’s innovative creations paired with his sister Gisela Schneider’s impressively curated wine list. At the helm of AlpiNN in Plan de Corones is Chef Norbert Niederkofler, holder of three Michelin stars. The restaurant is visually striking, a glass box suspended in the sky atop two towering stilts. Both AlpiNN and Terra celebrate the Dolomites’ natural abundance, with sweeping Alpine views and transcendent food made from local and wild ingredients.

In a world where luxury often means exclusivity, the Dolomites redefine indulgence as inclusion, welcoming families to share in their serene beauty without compromise. Here, the art of hospitality extends beyond service and design: it’s an invitation to experience wonder together.

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Young woman seated on the floor engaging in conversation with a small group of girls in a brightly painted room, smiling and gesturing as they interact together.

Giving Back While Getting Away

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By Lisa Levi

The winter holidays are a season of celebration, centered around family, friends and the joy of giving. For many affluent travelers, that spirit of generosity is expanding to include travel plans that double as a chance to give back — without sacrificing any creature comforts. Inspired to share their own good fortune (and often, to give their children perspective on that privilege), ultra-wealthy globetrotters are increasingly seeking experiences that combine exploration with purpose: journeys that not only enrich their own lives but also leave a lasting positive impact on local communities.

Enter luxury voluntarism, also known as social impact travel: a growing trend where five-star getaways meet meaningful engagement. In the Pyrenees, for example, travelers can monitor biodiversity by day and retreat to a sleek spa hotel by night. In Zambia, they can help build homes while based at an exclusive eco-lodge. In Crete, they can protect endangered sea turtles while staying in a restored 16th-century estate. Each experience is curated, authentic and deeply personal, aligning travel with purpose and comfort with conscience.

Where personal enrichment meets global impact

A trailblazer in this arena is Hands Up Holidays, founded by Christopher Hill, a winner of the Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards. As a young finance professional, Hill took a trip to South Africa, where he helped build a home for a local family. The trip was

Woman wearing a floral dress and straw hat gently touching an elephant while standing in a lush forest setting, surrounded by trees and greenery.

so transformative that it inspired Hill to start a business creating similar experiences for others. Now, every Hands Up Holidays trip is tailor-made, designed to meet client specifications — from solo travelers to parents with young children. Destinations span the globe, offering a range of luxury accommodations and volunteer projects for every interest and skill set.

It’s an approach that reflects a growing ethos among high-end travelers: a desire to pair personal enrichment with global impact. Because time is precious, voluntourism trips allow travelers to make a tangible contribution within a short time frame. Beyond traditional building projects, there are opportunities in animal and environmental conservation, education, and community development — each a distinct way to make a difference to a family, a village, or the planet. Hill believes this desire for meaning is behind a shift he’s observed in travel bookings. “One trend we see is growth in intergenerational travel, which can be grandkids, parents and grandparents, or sometimes grandkids with grandparents (without the parents),” he says, adding that the trips instill “empathy, compassion and generosity in the children, and enable the grandparents to leave a legacy.”

Projects usually last anywhere from a few days to a week, but most of that time is not typically spent on the volunteer work itself — which, while rewarding, is only one aspect of what makes these trips so meaningful. Equally important are the opportunities to sightsee, engage with the local culture, and bond with your travel companions over the shared experience of a completely different way of life. Luxury accommodations serve as home base and sanctuary — elegant spaces to relax and recharge before each day’s new adventure.

Smiling young volunteer wearing a sun hat and pink shirt holds up muddy hands while working outdoors, with green fields and rustic buildings in the background.

How to engage meaningfully

As you plan a volunteer trip, it’s essential to be mindful of your impact on the community you are going to help. That means packing a dose of humility, and recognizing that unless you are a construction or conservation expert, the technical work should be done by local professionals. Your role is to learn,

assist and provide finishing touches, content in the knowledge that your vacation costs are helping support the local specialists leading your project. Choosing a trip provider that collaborates closely with the host community also ensures their needs take priority. Reputable operators will address these issues candidly from the outset.

Many popular vacation areas also suffer environmental impacts from overtourism. You can minimize your footprint by traveling outside peak season and choosing less crowded destinations. Ideally, your provider will also partner with accommodations that center sustainability — without compromising refinement. For example, Hill says that Hands Up Holidays “lead[s] with sustainable, eco-luxury properties” such as Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica, It’zana Resort in Belize, and Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico. Another standout operator, Elevate Destinations, similarly pairs travelers with eco-luxury properties such as El Karama Eco Lodge in Kenya and the Wasai Puerto Maldonado Hotel in Peru. Through practices like generating their own electricity, using local materials, conserving water, and reducing waste, these resorts curb their environmental impact without affecting the luxurious guest experience.

For many travelers, the allure of luxury voluntourism lies in its balance: the ability to immerse oneself in extraordinary comfort while engaging in meaningful work that uplifts others. It transforms the concept of luxury from mere indulgence into something richer — a reflection of empathy, responsibility, and global awareness. In the end, the new definition of luxury isn’t just about where you stay, it’s about how your journey shapes the world you leave behind.

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