chosen ride.
Bernie introduced me to two really good hotels that I have no worries about recommending to MAG members.
The first of these is the ‘Vivaldi’ (
www.vivaldi.at) in the very south of Austria. Built by Dutch 500cc Enduro Champion Jan
Wilmink and his wife Regina, the ‘Vivaldi’ stands above the village of See on the famous Silvretta Strasse – one of the best roads in the Austrian Alps.
Set opposite a foaming alpine tributary that eventually finds its way to the river Danube, the Vivaldi is a B&B, but not as we generally think of one. As well as 10 double-rooms, the equivalent of another eight doubles is contained in four apartments within the typical large chalet- style building typical of the area. You can tell biking runs though Jan’s blood when you walk through the wide hallway leading
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from the front door to the garage at the rear; a vintage TWN owned by Jan’s grandfather stands nonchalantly near piles of local tourist information and bike magazines for guests to browse. Off the main hallway, a staircase leads up to two floors of guest rooms and down to the spacious breakfast/TV/bar area. Here riders can chill-out at any time and the gleaming red and black DKW once-owned by Jan’s father has pride of place. Jan keeps both these ‘old-timers’ and his own BSA in running order. They get used every now and again but most of Jan’s riding is on modern bikes being tested in the Dutch magazine 'Moto73' which uses the Vivaldi and Jan’s expertise for Alpine test features. Jan offers guided tours of the local mountain roads but also provides a wide-range of detailed route guides and works with a network of other biker-hotel owners through the Alps and Dolomites to make sure riders get the best advice and accommodation on offer. Plans for a restaurant and kitchen are well in hand, but in the meantime there are plenty of places to eat nearby – I recommend the very friendly pizzeria just next door. The garage swallowed-up 20 bikes when I was there, mostly due to a large group of Dutch riders on tour. Jan and Regina do a good trade with these tours from the home country, but they see the potential to introduce far more UK riders to the natural beauty and fine roads of the Tyrol - I think they’re right.
The second hotel I tried was the ‘Rauth’ (
www.hotelrauth.it) in the north of Italy. This is another place you should stay, just for the fact that it is owned and run by people who want you to have a good time while you stay with them and want to share their knowledge of the local area with other riders.
Franz and Sla (pronounced slar) Pichler are rightly proud of their small, but fully-fledged hotel with its own public bar and restaurant. There’s covered parking for the bikes, a drying room and a work area with tools as well as a sauna, so that once the bike is fettled and settled you can unwind after a long day in the mountains.
Located near the town of Bozen on the edge of the Dolomites, it lies within reach of around 200 mountain passes. Franz offers a series of laminated route guides so you can try all of the best local roads.
The level of service is far higher than the ‘three star’ billing suggests. The rooms are well- equipped and comfortable but the food and hospitality are even better. Evening meals are delicious four or five-course events, there is the occasional barbeque outside and they cater very well for vegetarians.
Contact Julie at Sport Travel Solutions
We guarantee an excellent service and competitive fares with all ferry operators including P&O Ferries
Telephone + 44 1670 712055
juliewarnes@aol.com
www.sporttravelsolutions.net
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The ROAD 41
After dinner the bar area is lively and, in-between pouring drinks, Franz is happy to point out the best routes from a selection of laminated route-guides that the Hotel produces. At one end of the bar glass doors separate the air-conditioned smoking area so that smokers don’t have to go outside.
The ‘Rauth’ is a great place to stay for pass baggers and is ideally placed for an attempt on John Hermann’s recommended 17 passes in a day route around the Dolomites. Or why not take a round trip over the famous Stelvio Pass (‘Stilfser Joch’ in German) and the surrounding passes. Better still you could make this part of a route exploring the other Jochs in between stays at the ‘Rauth’ and ‘Vivaldi’.
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