Preidlhof Review (2026): Adults-Only Spa and Vineyard Near Merano

Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort sits among vineyards on the edge of Naturns (Naturno), a short drive west of Merano, and it is built for one thing: grown-ups who want to switch off. Guests must be 16 or older, the spa runs to more than 5,000 m² with a six-floor Sauna Tower and rooftop pools, and there is a small vineyard right behind the hotel that produces its own Pinot Nero. My one-line verdict: one of the most complete adults-only spa resorts in South Tyrol, and a natural pick if you want wine and wellness in the same stay, but not the place for a quiet, minimalist hideaway.

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Location and getting there

Naturns lies where the Adige valley turns west into the Val Venosta, and it is one of the sunniest corners of South Tyrol. Preidlhof sits on the valley floor among vineyards and apple orchards, with the Texel Group mountains rising behind.

Bolzano airport is the closest, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car. Innsbruck, over the Brenner Pass, is about two hours, and Verona about two and a half hours, depending on traffic on the A22. The hotel offers a paid shuttle from all three airports, and free pick-up from Naturns railway station, which is on the Merano to Malles line. Merano itself is around 20 minutes by car or a short train ride. Our Italy travel planner covers transfers and car hire.

Rooms and suites

The 71 rooms and suites span close to 20 categories. Almost everything has a loggia, terrace or outdoor daybed, and many suites have their own outdoor whirlpool.

• Comfort rooms (Pink, Romantic Fire): around 48 to 51 m² with a loggia and outdoor daybed. Generous for an entry category.
• Single suites (Me, Blue): 46 to 56 m² with a king-size bed, a thoughtful option for solo travellers, which few spa hotels offer.
• Luxury suites: the core of the house, from 48 to 95 m². Jasmin has an open bathtub and a four-poster bed, Allemanda an infrared sauna, Malve a 50 m² rooftop terrace with whirlpool, and Lantana its own small jetty on the natural pond.
• Romantic Garden and Romantic Dream: 63 to 71 m², each with a loggia and private outdoor whirlpool.
• Penthouse suites: from 81 to 106 m² with rooftop terraces and butler service, topped by the DolceVita Premium penthouse at 251 m², with a 126 m² roof terrace and a private pool heated year-round.

Sleep is taken seriously: there is a pillow menu, a choice of mattress toppers, a gravity bed system in selected rooms and Wi-Fi that switches off at night. The style is warm and romantic rather than alpine minimalist.

Dining and wine

Food is included in the rate under the hotel’s “DolceVita Gourmet de luxe” concept, which is closer to full board than half board. Breakfast runs until 11 am, a live cooking lunch is served in the early afternoon, and dinner is a seven-course menu with vegetarian options. Each week brings a regional gourmet dinner, a fine dining evening, a Mediterranean dinner and a wine seminar.

• Gourmet Restaurant: the main dining room, cooking South Tyrolean dishes with produce grown or harvested on the property. The hotel cites three Gault&Millau toques for its cuisine.
• Wellness Restaurant: a lighter alternative, also used for breakfast.

An honest note on Michelin: I could not find a Michelin star for Preidlhof in the 2026 guide. This is very good inclusive dining, not a destination tasting room. For a starred dinner, Merano and the surrounding valleys have several options; tell the hotel in advance if you will miss a dinner.

The vineyard and cellar

This is what sets Preidlhof apart from most South Tyrol spa hotels, and why it appears in our guide to the best vineyard hotels and wine resorts in Italy. The resort has its own vineyard directly behind the building, planted with Pinot Noir and Schiava (Vernatsch), the classic red grapes of the region. The house wine is the Pinot Nero St. Ursula, a fruity red with an earthy, lightly spiced nose.

The cellar holds more than 400 labels, and a sommelier leads a weekly tasting that includes a visit to the cellar. You can buy bottles to take home from the hotel’s cantina. The vineyard is small, so think of it as a working house vineyard rather than a full estate winery, and ask the hotel whether a walk through the vines is possible during your stay. For context on the region’s wines, see our complete guide to Italian wine regions.

Check rates at Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort

Spa and pools

The spa is the main reason people book. The hotel describes more than 5,000 m² of wellness space (regional listings give 5,500 m²), and the whole area is adults-only. Preidlhof says it was the first hotel in the world certified under ISO 17679, the international standard for wellness and spa hotels.

The Sauna Tower

The signature is a six-floor Sauna Tower with 16 sauna, steam and relaxation experiences and seven saunas with mountain views. Highlights include the 90°C Hot and Fun panorama sauna with infusions several times a day, a 60°C olive sauna, a 70°C wine sauna, a five-element sauna, a brine steam bath, a salt lounge and a Schwarzbrenner sauna where you keep your clothes on. The tower also has a nude outdoor brine whirlpool. A snow room at down to minus 10°C is there for the brave.

The Deep Sea Relaxation Room won a European Health and Spa Award for innovation.

Pools

The hotel counts 14 pools and whirlpools in total, seven of each. The ones that matter most:

• Sky Infinity Sport Pool: 20 metres, 29°C year-round, with a timing system for lap swimmers.
• Infinity Sole Pool: 36°C salt water with 3 percent brine, open all year.
• Outdoor Panorama Pool: 34°C, reached by a swim-in, swim-out door, open all year.
• Indoor Thermal Pool “The 50th”: 31°C thermal water, the best choice on cold days.
• Summer and Relax pools: 29°C, open from March to November, one with a small sandy beach.
• Infinity Rooftop Spa: a textile-free rooftop area with a 37°C pool.

Treatments are handled in the main spa and the Preidl Med Spa, with nine transformational wellness programmes, retreats for two and outdoor massage lounges. Book treatments before you arrive, especially at weekends and in autumn.

Sport and activities

Preidlhof is a spa hotel first, but the active programme is substantial and included in the rate. Guided hikes run three to four times a week, with poles, backpacks and maps on loan, and there are weekly guided bike tours with storage, a workshop and a wash area. E-bikes and helmets cost extra. On site you will find two gyms, a yoga pavilion, a climbing wall and tennis facilities, plus daily indoor and outdoor classes.

The surroundings are superb for walkers. The Partschins waterfall is about five minutes away, the Meraner Höhenweg and the Texel Group nature park start just above the valley, and the hotel offers forest bathing at Lake Vernago in the Val Senales. In winter, the Val Senales glacier ski area is about 25 minutes by car, which makes Preidlhof a useful base for a mixed ski and spa week.

What’s nearby

• Merano: about 20 minutes away, with its arcaded old town, the Passer promenade, the Trauttmansdorff Castle gardens and the public thermal baths.
• Val Venosta: heading west, the valley is known for apples, Waalwege irrigation paths and castles such as Juval, owned by Reinhold Messner.
• Val Passiria: north of Merano, home to the Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier. Read our Quellenhof Passeier review if you are weighing the two.
• Lake Garda and Verona: realistic only as a long day trip, but easy to combine on the way to or from Verona airport. Our Verona, Valpolicella and Lake Garda guide helps you plan a stop.

Preidlhof vs similar spa resorts

In short: the Quellenhof in Passeier wins for tennis and families, and its sister on the lake suits those who prefer olive groves to mountains (see our Quellenhof Lazise review). Of these three, Preidlhof is the strongest choice for a pure, child-free spa stay with a wine angle.

Who it suits, and who it does not

It suits:

• Couples and friends who want a long spa holiday with almost everything included.
• Sauna lovers: the tower and the textile-free rooftop spa are the main event.
• Wine drinkers who like the idea of a house vineyard, weekly tastings and a cellar of 400 labels.
• Hikers and cyclists who want guided tours and a hot pool waiting afterwards.
• Solo travellers, thanks to the dedicated single suites.

It does not suit:

• Families with children under 16.
• Travellers uncomfortable with nude sauna culture, though textile areas exist.
• Fans of pared-back, minimalist design: the look is romantic and richly decorated.
• Food lovers set on a Michelin-starred dining room in-house.

Practical tips

• Booking: reserve treatments, retreats and any Med Spa programme when you book the room. Weekends in spring and autumn fill first.
• Best rooms to request: Malve or Romantic Garden for a private whirlpool, Jasmin for a romantic bathtub, a DolceVita penthouse for butler service, Lantana if you like the idea of your own jetty on the pond.
• Season: the Summer and Relax pools open from March to November, while the rest of the spa runs year-round. Published 2026 offers run until 22 November, and the hotel also sells winter packages, but exact closure dates for winter 2026/27 are not published. Ask the hotel.
• Dress: robes are fine around the spa and for lunch; smart casual suits the seven-course dinner.
• Age: the minimum age is 16, so it is not suitable for younger children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Preidlhof adults-only?

Yes. The resort and spa are for guests aged 16 and over.

Does Preidlhof have its own vineyard?

Yes. A small vineyard behind the resort grows Pinot Noir and Schiava, and the house red is the Pinot Nero St. Ursula. A sommelier leads weekly tastings in the cellar of more than 400 labels.

Is Preidlhof open in winter?

The hotel sells winter stays and most of the spa, including the heated outdoor pools, runs year-round. Closure dates for winter 2026/27 are not published, so ask the hotel before planning a December or January trip.

Which airport is closest to Preidlhof?

Bolzano, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car. Innsbruck is about two hours and Verona about two and a half. The hotel offers a paid shuttle from all three.