Meet Phoebe, our social media lead here at Macs Adventure, and she’s always on the lookout for the people who make a trip memorable. For this instalment of People Behind the Scenery, she took her first Dolomites walk on our Highlights of the Alta Via 1 in Comfort trip and found that the people she met mattered as much as the mountains. Here, she shares a stay that went well beyond the itinerary.  

There's no better feeling than arriving at a beautiful hotel after a long day of hiking. Especially when there's a luxurious spa, a big, comfortable bed and a fascinating family story waiting to be discovered. 

Tucked away in the charming Alpine village of San Vigilio, in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, is Crystal Hotel Corona (officially Kristallhotel Corona). It's one of the special places you'll stay on our Highlights of the Alta Via 1 in Comfort trip, and I was lucky enough to experience it for myself. 

I arrived at the hotel after a spectacular day of hiking from Lago di Braies, one of the Dolomites' most famous lakes, known for its vibrant turquoise water. With plenty of steep climbs and descents, I was more than ready to put my feet up. 

And what a place to do it. 

I headed straight upstairs (taking the elevator, of course) to settle into my room, where my luggage was already waiting for me. There was a gorgeous big bed and a balcony overflowing with colorful flowers. Stepping outside, I could hear the church bells ringing through the village. It was one of those lovely moments where you just stop, take it all in and appreciate where you are. 

But as I started exploring the hotel, something caught my attention. There were crystals everywhere. Beautiful stones displayed in cabinets, crystals incorporated into the interiors and, come to think of it, there was even one beside my bed. Now, I knew the hotel was called Crystal Hotel Corona, but I hadn't realised quite how much of its identity revolved around them. And I was curious to find out why. 

Hotel Corona has quite a history. The building dates back to 1509, and today, Catarina and her parents are the seventh generation of the family to run it. It has a lovely, welcoming feel you'd expect from a family-run business, and it's clear how much this place means to them. 

During my stay, I had the pleasure of chatting with Catarina, and I finally got the chance to ask the question that had been on my mind. Why crystals? As it turns out, the answer goes all the way back to when Catarina was a baby. 

Her parents had been given an amber necklace by some friends, who told them the stones would help make teething easier for their little girl. They were sceptical at first but figured it couldn't hurt to try. To their surprise, Catarina sailed through teething without a single problem. 

Whether it was the necklace or simply a coincidence, her parents became fascinated by crystals and began researching the healing powers traditionally associated with them. What started as a little curiosity grew into a real family passion. Eventually, they decided to share that passion with their guests, weaving crystals into the hotel's interiors and wellness experiences. Suddenly, all the crystals I'd noticed around the building made sense and, after hearing her story, I was keen to explore the crystals a little more myself.  

I made my way over to the crystal cabinets, filled with beautiful stones, bracelets and jewellery in all sorts of colors. I suffer from migraines, so I had a very practical question for Catarina. Which crystal could help with those? But her answer surprised me. 

She explained that, according to her family's beliefs, choosing a crystal isn't about finding one to treat a particular problem. Instead, you should see which one you're naturally drawn to. The crystal that catches your eye, or calls to you, is believed to be the one you need most, even if you don't know why. I thought that was a lovely way of looking at it. 

My favorite color is pink, so I was immediately drawn to a beautiful pink crystal bracelet. I decided to buy it, partly as a keepsake from my trip, but also because I loved the thought that I might have been drawn to it for a reason I didn't yet understand. 

When I bought the bracelet, it came with a little leaflet explaining the properties traditionally associated with the crystal: emotional well-being, compassion and heart-centered energy. I found that quite comforting. 

Since returning from the Dolomites, I've worn my bracelet regularly, and when I'm not wearing it, it usually sits on my bedside table. Interestingly, I've also been experiencing fewer migraines. Now, I'm not saying that the bracelet has cured them, and I know there's no scientific evidence that crystals can treat migraines. But I do wonder whether the experience has made me more conscious of my emotional well-being and some of the things that might contribute to my migraines. Whatever the explanation, my little pink bracelet has become a lovely reminder of Hotel Corona and the conversation I had with Catarina.  

Now that I knew the story behind the crystals, I was beginning to understand just how much they meant to the family, and there was one more place where their passion really came to life: the spa.  

After a long day hiking in the Dolomites, I couldn't wait to explore it. With so many guests visiting to hike the surrounding mountains, Hotel Corona knows a thing or two about helping tired hikers unwind. But this isn't your typical hotel spa. The family has created a wellness experience that goes beyond physical relaxation, bringing together their belief in caring for the body, mind and spirit through crystals. 

There's a beautiful swimming pool lined with silver quartzite and granite stones, along with a choice of Finnish, bio and crystal saunas. You'll also find a salt grotto and a traditional hay bath if you fancy trying something a little different.  

One experience I'd particularly recommend is the crystal foot spa. Designed to soothe tired feet, it draws on the family's crystal wellness philosophy. And believe me, after hours of hiking up and down the Dolomites, your feet will thank you for a little attention! 

When I think back to my stay at Hotel Corona, of course I remember the beautiful balcony views and the spa, but what stands out most is meeting Catarina and discovering the story behind her family's passion for crystals. 

Before my visit, I knew very little about crystal healing, and it's probably not something I would have thought much about otherwise. But listening to Catarina explain how something as simple as an amber necklace had influenced her family's lives made me appreciate the hotel in a completely different way.  

I still wear my little pink crystal bracelet, and every time I look at it, it takes me back to the Dolomites. More than anything, it reminds me to stay curious, listen to other people's stories and be open-minded about beliefs that might be different from my own. 

Sometimes you travel somewhere for the incredible scenery and hiking, but come home with memories you never expected, thanks to the people you meet along the way. And for me, that's what makes Hotel Corona so much more than just a beautiful place to stay.