9 days in the Dolomites
 

Hi all, in mid-September my wife and are flying in to Venice and picking up a rental car, touring the Dolomites for 9 days and returning the car and flying out of Milan. The current plan is 3 nights in Cortina, 2 nights in Alta Badia, 1 night in a rifugio (we are mildly adventurous) and 3 nights in Ortesei. Our primary activity will be days hikes.

My questions are:

• Cortina, Alta Badia and Ortesei are more or less in straight line east to west. Will we miss out something on a such a straight route and should we venture north or south?
• Any recommendations for a rifugio for one night? It seems like the popular ones are already booked.
• This may be overworking it, but would it be better to do one more night in Alta Badia and one less night in Ortesei? My perception is that Alta Badia is less touristed

thanks in advance!
Eric

There are tons of other nice places all around the area you chosed.
But as you will have 9 days only between your arrival at VCE and your departure at MXP, you cannot do more.
The places you mention are all fine and I can't see why you should change anything in your plans.
If you want to see something else than Alps, rocks and hiking trails, you may visit Brixen/Bressanone, Bolzano/Bozen
or Verona on your way from Ortisei to Milan airport. A drive along Lake Garda (Rovereto - Riva - Salo - Brescia) might be an alternative.