Your most asked questions, answered

*Applicable for reservations of a minimum of 3 nights made until December 20th, 2026, for stays in the following periods:

Alongside free play, there’s a full agenda of structured activities, and they take children aged 2.5+ out and about around the resort. It feels less like a traditional Kids Club and more like an all-singing, all-dancing, Scandi-stylish nursery – and did I mention it runs until 9pm?

There’s also a strong programme of family activities, though it’s worth noting that not every session runs daily and age limits do apply. My two-year-old adored painting class, family yoga and meeting the baby goats at the mini farm. As children get older, the world here opens up even further: off-site (& at an additional charge) horse riding and mini padel from five, and from seven upwards there’s mocktail making, football tournaments and sledding. The play barn – home to a climbing wall and hay loft – is strictly 5+, but my daughter was perfectly happy in the Kids Club, leaving us to spend our time together in the pool (the family hay sauna also gets a big thumbs-up). My four-year-old son didn’t join us on this trip, but he’s not such a fan of supervised sessions and would have wanted more together-time, so if you have a child like this, five may well be the sweet spot. That said, while the Kids Club is strictly for children and staff only, there are two hours a day when parents can stay and play

What else is for adults?

Things are done a little differently at AKI. Not only is it a family-first hotel – you actually have to be travelling with a family to book a stay – but that doesn’t mean grandparents, aunts or uncles can’t join. What it does mean is that you won’t find honeymooning couples side-eying you for the noise; everyone here is firmly in the same parenting boat, and trust me, my little girl’s meltdowns went completely unnoticed. There’s something so comforting and homely about these kinder-style hotels – maybe it’s the fact that all the rooms and facilities are under one roof, making it effortless to pop between pools, kids’ clubs and lounges, or that people wander around in slippers and dressing gowns. Add to that the resort’s distinctly Japanese sensibility – clean lines and an almost meditative calm – and the effect is unexpectedly transportive. From my room, the mountain views felt closer to Mount Fuji than any French or Italian alpine resort I’ve visited before

The wellness offering is another standout. The adults-only spa is tucked away in the forest and could easily pass for a standalone retreat: winding paths lead to saunas, treatment rooms and a yoga pavilion dotted with fire pits. Not to give in to hyperbole too much, but I had the best massage of my life here – book Oscar if you can. I hadn’t realised just how much tension I was carrying until I felt it melt away under his almost telepathic ability to identify every pain point. This wasn’t 60 minutes of pleasant but pointless prodding; through a series of twists, turns and perfectly judged pressures, he left me feeling genuinely reset, like a new woman. As a bit of a gym snob, I was also genuinely impressed by the fitness setup – everything you could need, plenty of weights and machines, and views which are really rather lovely

What AKI does so cleverly is run children’s entertainment and grown-up calm in parallel. Every kids’ space is thoughtfully paired with somewhere comfortable for parents to land: the play barn and giant slide sit right next to the bar; cocooning sunbeds surround the pool; there’s a playroom tucked off the side of the restaurant; and fresh fruit and herbal tea stations dotted throughout for quick pit stops. I genuinely experienced my long weekend here as a wellness escape – dropping my daughter at Kids Club, squeezing in a proper workout, then sneaking off for a cheeky pampering session in the adults-only spa. There’s plenty to keep the kids grinning from ear to ear, but it somehow manages to feel magical for mums & dad too

The buffet offering changed every day, there was always some kind of freshly made pizza, pasta and meat at the live cooking stations and then a variety of ‘snacky’ bits. I particularly loved the DIY bruschetta and caesar salad bar. At dinner you can help yourself to a similar set up before ordering another 2 meals off the menu – I ate raw tuna pesto pasta, grilled artichoke, pumpkin risotto and sea bass. I was *super* impressed by the Japanese-grade sushi bar they had out one night too. Do not sleep on the desserts here. The tiramisu was also the best of my life. For me, I loved that the food was utterly delicious but still felt healthy. I’m personally not a fan of the more stodgy alpine food, and everything here felt really nourishing – yet still like a total treat. The restaurant feels really grown up and indulgent and like you’re having a meal out in a posh restaurant, but still super family friendly, with high chairs for all ages and stages, bibs, colouring in and children’s crockery. I really loved the little steps up to the huge window which looked into the kitchen, so the kids could watch the chefs at work. The playroom to the side of the restaurant was also genius 

What about the ski set up?

I know the ski set-up is one of the things people ask us about most with Alpine hotels, so I did some proper digging for you. First up: what you can do right at AKI itself. Every afternoon from 2.15pm there’s a ski instructor stationed on the beginner slope, patiently manning the magic carpet and showing the very newest snow bunnies the ropes. My little girl is two and a half (and a UK size 6 shoe, if that’s helpful) and she just squeezed into the smallest boots and skis the hotel had. Hiring all of this kit for a couple of hours is completely free, which I thought was such a thoughtful touch. If you’ve got older children or are keen on something more structured, the hotel also runs weekly ski courses from age three right up to confident red-run skiers. These need to be booked for the full Monday–Friday week, but if you’re staying for a shorter break, private lessons can also be arranged. AKI lays on a complimentary shuttle to the Plose ski resort – about a seven-minute drive away – which runs every 20 minutes in the morning, and for the journey back you just ring the hotel and they’ll collect you (more taxi-style than rigid timetable, which I think is great). We didn’t actually make it up to Plose on this trip, but it has a great reputation: wide, sunny slopes, loads of gentle blues that are ideal for beginners, and plenty to keep more confident skiers entertained too. You can also borrow sledges for sledding if that’s more your vibe

I’d absolutely recommend AKI to parents – whether you’re already converted to Alpine holidays or usually loyal to beach breaks and considering something a bit different. I don’t always come home from what many would call a “classic” European family holiday feeling rested, but mountain trips seem to hit differently, and AKI really delivered on that front. There’s something about the intimate scale, the calm, and the cooler air that makes parenting feel lighter – and AKI is especially clever in how it manages to be completely family-first while still feeling very parents-as-adults. I treated my long weekend here almost like a mini health retreat. While my little girl was happily settled in Kids Club, I made full use of the gym, the adults-only spa and even snuck in a cheeky massage. There’s also a whole programme of wellness classes you can dip into if that’s your thing. I know lots of you will be wondering how it compares to Feuerstein, and honestly, you can’t go wrong with either – they’re both standout five-star family spa hotels with complimentary childcare, full-board dining and a huge amount on offer. If I had to split hairs, I’d say Feuerstein feels better suited to older kids and very active families, while AKI absolutely nails fourth-trimester travel and the early school years. I’ve covered skiing separately, but another question that always comes up is how long to stay. We flew out early on Friday morning, arrived just in time for lunch, had all of Saturday and Sunday to properly settle in, then left just before midday on Monday – and if you’re not hiring a car or planning lots of excursions, that timing worked perfectly. My top tip if you’re juggling school calendars: check inset days to combine into a long weekend. That said, AKI sits right in the heart of the Dolomites, so you could very easily stretch this into a full week and explore nearby highlights – I’m personally dying to make it to Lago di Braies next time. I guess I just found my excuse to come back?

Themes: Where to go when by month, with kids, The Family Friendly European Edit, 

You might also be interested in: Best Family Holidays for Every School Holiday, Feuerstein Nature Family Resort: A family friendly review, The best family friendly hotels in the Alps