Hostel ValGrande

Welcome to our hostel in the heart of Val Grande, in the village of Cicogna. A large house immersed in uncontaminated nature, ideal for hikers, adventure lovers and those seeking peace and authenticity. A unique experience between breathtaking views and regenerating silences!

Structure

The ValGrande hostel is owned by the ValGrande Park authority, granted to private individuals following a public tender.

The current management has been entrusted, starting from the end of September 2024 and for a period of 8 years, to 121eventi by Massimo Dellavecchia, therefore in continuity with the previous management entrusted to Electric Land srl, as Massimo worked as a permanent collaborator in the hostel for the previous 5 years of management.

The ValGrande hostel has obtained level 2 certification (Sustainable Partners) of the C.E.T.S., European Charter for Sustainable Tourism.

Our hostel has 18 beds divided into 2 dormitories with 6 beds each and 3 private rooms with 2 beds each. It has 2 bathrooms with 2 common showers, a lounge, a dining room and a fully equipped kitchen for guests to use so that they can cook their own meals; in front of the hostel there is an outdoor area with two large stone tables, small tables and umbrellas, and a barbecue on the terrace.

The hostel is a public good and therefore for everyone, and for this reason we live our work as a service to the community asking our guests to share this spirit.

Therefore we also have decided to keep the hostel open all year round in order to guarantee – even during the winter months, when the other accommodation facilities in Cicogna are closed – a presence and the possibility of having a warm bed and the ability to cook a hot meal. Even with regards to prices, we have almost never changed them in recent years, despite the fact that the costs of utilities, materials and supplies have increased significantly, to ensure that the economic factor does not become a constraint in being able to afford a stay in the hostel: to make this approach sustainable we ask our guests to participate actively and responsibly in the management of some small daily activities (for example making and unmaking their own bed, keeping the kitchen and dining room clean after each use, taking waste to the “waste bin” after their stay.

Eco-commitment! We give particular attention to reducing the impact we have on nature and on the place that hosts us as much as possible: this is reflected in the attention to the consumption of water (an increasingly precious resource in places like Cicogna), of electricity usage and of the products we use for cleaning (universal detergents for washable surfaces, washing machine, dishes, hand soap), which in addition to being organic (and therefore not containing chemical agents) are on tap, producing significantly less plastic waste, using fewer and fewer disposable containers.

Hot water and heating are guaranteed by solar thermal panels on the roof, and when not sufficient, by a boiler powered by LPG.

The hostel adapts very well to the various types of travelers, whether they are alone, in a couple, in a family or in a group; as regards the latter, if the number of members allows it, it is possible to book the hostel for the exclusive use of the group with economic conditions agreed upon.

In our Hostel you can find the publications of the Park for consultation and sale, in addition to the official merchandising, maps, t-shirts, shoppers, cups and bottles, notebooks, diaries, caps, pins and key rings.

Hospitality

The hostel is by its very nature a hospitality structure that creates a mix of private and common spaces, inviting guests to spend some moments of the day in a convivial manner, such as meals and after dinner, sharing experiences, life stories, the pleasure of comparison and cohesion between different cultures and lifestyles; but aswell providing for those who prefer some space of privacy with themselves, and/or their travel companion.

For example, our guests really appreciate the kitchen where they can prepare and share the cooked food together; the large table in the dining room with its wood stove perfect for warming up cold winter evenings; finding a guitar available in the living room, for those who know how to play it.

As a result, the atmosphere that is normally created is very familiar – it facilitates the coming together of people who were strangers to each other until the day before, and who in a short time can feel like long-term travel companions.

Services

Among the services that the hostel offers, the most appreciated are certainly the use of a fully equipped kitchen (which in addition to a refrigerator and cupboards for everyone’s food, provides a microwave oven, toaster, kettle, blender, as well as obviously pots and pans and dishes), but also the access to our well equipped pantry of essential food products (very useful as there are no grocery stores in Cicogna), from which guests that did not bring their own food (or in any case everyone) can draw and stock up in a climate of maximum trust and availability, leaving a financial contribution in a donation box as a reimbursement for the food used, as well as for the use of the kitchen, for the consumption of water, cleaning products and accessory equipment.

On the terrace in front of the hostel you will find also a large barbecue available for grilling in company; in the bathroom on the second floor there is a washing machine (to be used with the same logic as the kitchen and pantry) and a hairdryer.

There is a WiFi connection with free access for guests, essential, also because Cicogna is not reached by the mobile signal, except in some peripheral areas of the village.

Rooms

The rooms all have bunk beds. In the two dormitories (bed in a shared room) the guest is expected to have their own sleeping bag/sheet and towels, otherwise they can be provided for a small fee, while the 3 private rooms are set up with sheets, duvet and towels. It is possible, upon request of the guest, to have an additional bed for children up to 15 years old or a cot with sides for children, or a changing table. Only one of the 3 private rooms has a small bathroom in the room (only sink and toilet, showers are shared). All the rooms have a balcony overlooking the mountains.

If someone has a particular preference for a double bed, which is not available in the hostel, they can, alternatively, stay at Casa Celestina.

Prices

Pets are allowed (please advise when booking) with a supplement of €3 per day.

Payment methods: in cash or with credit cards at the facility,

or by bank transfer to the account in the name of 121eventi di Massimo Dellavecchia at BPM IBAN: IT18M0503410100000000021602.

Willingness to accommodate groups with prices agreed upon ad hoc, free guide/escort and exclusive use of the entire facility.

Rules and regulations

In order to have a good experience of a shared stay, and therefore with good manners and respect for others and the place, we ask our guests to:

maintain a behavior suitable to guarantee maximum tranquility and respect for the needs of each person both in the structure and in the neighborhood
maintain order and cleanliness, care of the structure and the equipment in use
use water and electricity sparingly and carefully with motivation to reduce consumption as much as possible
to use the lifting platform and the washing machine ask the staff
inside the structure, especially on the upper floors, use slippers and not shoes or boots
the use of the stove in the dining room is prohibited unless in the presence of the staff
upon arrival show an identification document
pay the fee or verify that payment has been made if paid in advance
after 11 pm and until 6 am the lights must be turned off and maximum silence must be observed; do not use the kitchen, showers or washing machine
upon departure, put the sheets and towels delivered upon arrival in the basket in the bathroom on the first floor
for the use of the kitchen see the dedicated regulation.

It is strictly forbidden to:

change the layout of the furniture, accessories and equipment in use without the staff’s authorization
smoke inside the facility or on the balconies
introduce animals and/or external guests unless agreed with the staff

Regulations for use of the kitchen and pantry:

use appliances, equipment, accessories and dishes provided with care
clean the kitchen and dining room with care after each use
use water and electricity sparingly
agree with other guests on the times of use of the kitchen or share its use for the preparation of shared meals
store your own food in the cupboard and in the shared fridge
if you leave food for the next guests upon departure, store the packaged food in the shared cupboard and the refrigerator food in the shared fridge; if the latter is already open or cooked, apply a label with the contents and the opening date so that it can be used correctly and safely by others
collaborate with the staff and other guests by keeping the kitchen and the dining room clean, the food in order and taking the waste bags to the “waste bin” according to the separate waste collection methods
the food from the common pantry is made available according to a principle of maximum trust and availability: for what you use we ask you to freely leave an offering in the offering box as a reimbursement of expenses; a contribution towards the costs of using the kitchen in terms of wear and tear on equipment, dishes, water and electricity and cleaning products is also appreciated
be careful about using multiple appliances at the same time (oven and electric hobs) which could trip the meter.

Ostello ValGrande-ENG