Reka Feriendorf Lugano Albonago
Sun, mountains, gelati and the charm of Ticino - we were able to enjoy all this and much more in the beautiful REKA vacation village of Lugano Albonago!
Picture: Welcome to the Reka Holiday Village Lugano Albonago/ Source H-und.ch
Report by Andrea Norinelli, April 2025
Once again, we packed up our car on Friday lunchtime, headed south and were looking forward to a weekend in the REKA vacation village. This weekend we were heading to Lugano Albonago, high above Lugano on the slopes of Monte Bré with views of the lake, San Salvatore and the city. We find the vacation village in a fantastic location and are immediately greeted warmly at reception, where we feel we are in good hands and have arrived for the weekend. The introduction is very detailed so that no questions remain unanswered. In the village's own Osteria, there are different themed evenings every evening that you can sign up for. It is also possible to sign up for breakfast or order bread for the following morning. In the kiosk and at the self-service machines, the most common food products such as dairy products, snacks, pasta & sauces, coffee capsules, drinks etc. can be purchased and paid for with Twint. We will be making use of this great offer more than once this weekend!
Image: Reka vacation apartment Lugano/source H-und.ch
After parking our car in the underground garage and taking our luggage to our apartment in a trolley, we enthusiastically walk through our apartment. Two bedrooms, a large bathroom with shower, a practical kitchen with everything you need for cooking, a large living room with dining table and a great balcony directly above the outdoor area of the Osteria with a view over Lugano will be our home for the next two days. We immediately feel at home and are once again impressed by the simple but beautiful design and cosiness of the apartment.
There is a welcome gift for us on the kitchen table with cheese, focaccia and Prosecco. For the dogs there are bowls, blankets and a surprise package from Vitakraft including a brochure with the most important information and tips for dog owners. We are genuinely touched by this welcome and it shows that dogs are also very welcome guests here.
Of course, we then explore our surroundings in the beautiful evening sun and enjoy a fantastic view over Lugano, the lake and San Salvatore, which rises prominently out of the lake opposite. It is a quiet neighborhood, with many older but also new houses. A bus runs directly from Lugano up to the vacation village and the station on Monte Bré is about a 3-minute walk away. The REKA vacation village is therefore very well served by public transport and with the Ticino Card, which you receive before you arrive, public transport is free and there are discounts on various trains. So nothing stands in the way of excursions in the region.
We are also really looking forward to the planned hike the next day. But before that, of course, we want to try out our cuisine. We round off the evening with a delicious lentil bolognese and a panaché (which we got in the osteria), enjoy our lovely apartment and then soon snuggle up in our comfortable beds.
Picture: Dog walk in the Reka Holiday Village Lugano / Source H-und.ch
We are up early on Saturday. We enjoy the peace and quiet and the beautiful view on our first walk with the dogs. It's the perfect way to start the day! Before we set off on our hike, we have another delicious porridge and then get ready. We pick up a hiking map of the region at reception and are given friendly advice about the hiking options on Monte Bré.
With a plan in mind, we set off: first we take the funicular from Lugano Albonago to Monte Bré and then we start the ascent to Monte Boglia. Unfortunately, the route we had planned was a little more exposed than we had expected and, as I'm not entirely free from vertigo, we changed our plans at short notice: instead of going up to the summit, we went around the flank. It's also a wonderful tour and you can find all the details here.
After a good 4.5 hours, we arrive back at the REKA vacation village tired but happy. In the bike room, which is very well equipped, there is also a hose which can be used for both the bikes and the dogs. We give our dogs' legs a quick hose-down so that they can cool down a bit. The temperatures are already spring-like warm.
There are already a lot more guests here, as it's the start of the vacations in some cantons. But everyone is very friendly and considerate, so we enjoy our focaccia from the gift basket on our balcony with a panaché from the kiosk and watch the hustle and bustle in the vacation village. There is a great playground for the children, a pool and a spa area, which can be booked privately for 1.5 hours at a time. So there's something for everyone and you can really enjoy your vacation to the full here.
For us, it's a cozy evening: reading on the comfy sofa, grabbing a gelato in the osteria in between and enjoying the delights of the kitchen once again for a delicious dinner. We haven't been able to wind down and relax this well for a long time.
Picture: Dog shower is included in the Reka Holiday Village Lugano / Source H-und.ch
Picture: On the road in Lugano / Source H-und.ch
Sunday, unfortunately our day of departure, also starts well rested in the calm and cool morning hours. We take the dogs for another walk around the accommodation before packing up. Afterwards, we fortify ourselves as usual with our porridge and once again enjoy the beautiful apartment in which we have felt so comfortable for the last two days. Before checking out, we tidy up everything, clean the kitchen, dispose of the garbage and then it's goodbye. We receive another warm farewell at reception before we make our way down to the city.
As recommended by the REKA vacation village, we go to the Parco Civico in Lugano directly on the lake. As well as beautiful flowers and meadows, there are also sandbanks where the dogs can play and splash around in the water.
Our dogs definitely enjoy it very much! We stroll on through the town, there are quite a few people and lots of other dogs. After enjoying a cappuccino in a café, we still need a gelato. We find a stand on the promenade that even sells dog ice cream. Of course, we don't want to deprive our dogs of this and they love it.
Picture: On the road in Lugano / Source H-und.ch
But then we've had enough of the hustle and bustle of the city. We make our way back to the car and take another look at Monte Bré, where we can see the colorful houses of the REKA vacation village from afar. It's certainly not the last time we've been here and we look forward to enjoying a break in the sunny Ticino again!
Goodbye & thank you very much Reka Holiday Village Lugano-Albonago
H-und Reporterin/Andrea Norinelli/11.04.25