Cristina, known as "the woman with the suitcase", is Travel Outenza's new travel ambassador. She loves hiking in the Dolomites, especially in Val Gardena and on the Alpe di Siusi, and ends the day at a spa hotel.
In brief
Who: Cristina, a mountain travel creator from Italy and Travel Outenza’s new travel ambassador.
Where: Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, with Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi as her favorites.
Types of hikes: moderately challenging, both day hikes and multi-day hikes.
Time to unwind: a three- to five-star spa hotel after the hike.
Motto: Passo&Pausa, “step and pause” in Italian.
Cristina has always travelled a lot—so much that she is known as “the woman with the suitcase.” Over the past five years, the mountains have taken up an increasingly large part of her life. Today, almost all her hikes are in two Italian regions: Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, where the Dolomites are located.
She is no extreme sports enthusiast. Her favorite hikes are moderately challenging: long enough to feel like you’ve put in a good walk, but not so tough that you don’t have time to enjoy the views.
There’s often company to be found along the trail. Photo: Cristina
Cristina has a simple motto for her hikes: Passo&Pausa. Passo means step, and pausa means pause. First you go for a hike, then you rest.
A break by the mountain stream. Photo: Cristina
That’s why her trips are about more than just the routes—they’re also about where she stays. She often chooses a hotel with a spa, ranging from three to five stars, for anyone looking for a little extra pampering after a long day in the mountains. Some trips are day hikes with the same hotel as a base, while others span several days and go from place to place.
Time to unwind after the hike, in the hotel garden. Photo: Cristina
Ideal for: anyone who wants to hike in the mountains during the day and relax in a sauna or hot tub in the evening.
The trail to Seceda above Val Gardena. Photo: Cristina
Cristina’s favorite places are close together in South Tyrol. Val Gardena is a valley with mountain villages, mountain lifts and trails of every difficulty level. Above the valley lies Seceda, with one of the most famous views in the Dolomites. Nearby is Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high-altitude plateau, with green meadows and views of the jagged peaks.
Pack and poles, ready for the next stretch. Photo: Cristina
The combination makes the area perfect for Cristina’s way of travelling. You can stay at the same hotel for several days and go on a different hike each day.
Planning a trip here? Read about what’s free and what costs money in the Dolomites in our article on 25 countries with free nature.
Cristina has experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find detailed, authentic information about hiking routes. Much of what you find online is either too general or written by someone who has never hiked the route.
That’s why she shares routes she has actually hiked and hotels she has actually stayed in. She believes Travel Outenza does the same: making it easy to find information from people who have been there. That’s why she is now joining as a travel ambassador.
Limestone peaks above green meadows. Photo: Cristina
Scenes from Cristina’s hikes in the Dolomites. Photo: Cristina
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Book from your saved places through Booking.com, Hotels.com and Expedia, whether you’re looking for a spa hotel or transport.
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Keep the hikes you want to do, the hotels you want to stay at and the breaks you want to take all in one place. Build your plan day by day and share it with your travel companions. Travelling as a group? Read our guide to planning a group trip without chaos.
Who is Cristina? Cristina is a mountain travel creator from Italy and Travel Outenza’s new travel ambassador. She hikes in the Dolomites, especially in Val Gardena and on Alpe di Siusi, and pairs her hikes with stays at spa hotels.
Where does Cristina go hiking? Mainly in Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige in Italy. Her favorite spots are Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites.
Are the hikes suitable for beginners? Cristina prefers hikes of moderate difficulty. They’re suitable for people who are used to walking in the mountains but don’t need climbing equipment or extremely long days.
Can I combine hiking and spa time in the Dolomites? Yes. Many hotels in Val Gardena and around Alpe di Siusi have spas, and you can stay in the same place and go on a different hike each day. That’s exactly the combination Cristina is passionate about.
How do I plan a hiking trip in the Dolomites? Choose an area such as Val Gardena, find the routes you want to hike, and book accommodation well in advance. Save everything in Travel Outenza, so you have the routes, hotel and transport together in one plan.
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Val Gardena, Italy
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