Thanks Paul. We've tweaked our itinerary per your suggestions. We are now planning to take the highway via Trento and exiting to go to Siusi and staying first night at Golfhotel Sonne or Parkhotel Florian. We also managed to get two nights at Montanara which will give us more time in Dolomites. From Montarana, we are thinking of doing a day trip covering the two lakes Bries and Misurina and passo Giau. Just one quick question- do you suggest we take SS49 from Siusi to see some of the northern towns and then take SS51 towards Cortina to reach Montanara or should we follow the classic Gardena pass route and return via Canazei with a stop at lago Carezza? Thanks !

Take SP24 to Kastelreuth/Castelrotto and then the SP64 to SS242 and through the Val Gardena and over the Gardena Pass to Colfosco and then 15 minutes later you're in La Villa (Montanara). Believe me, the "towns" are not the main attraction, see the Dolomites.

One question: why Siusi for a night? Best to stay at the Montanara for all 3 nights.

I checked your route...we'll follow that. Thank you.

Siusi for night because 1) we'll be starting from Bellagio that morning, picking up rental from Milan Central as it's a weekend, hence trying to knock off an hour or so of travel time 2) see the area / cable car from Ortisei and leisurely make our way down to La Villa next morning. Do you suggest otherwise? I've gone ahead and am holding a booking at Montanara for the 1st night also just in case we switch.��

Me, I'd skip Siusi and head to La Villa. Yes, it's between 45 minutes and an hour further. If you want to save that hour, at least stay in the Val Gardena. This would be about 10 minutes more than Siusi, mostly because you stay on the A22 until the Val Gardena exit. To get to Siusi, you'll exit the A22 earlier and follow slow curvy roads. Just my opinion. We've been to all these places.

In Val Gardena we liked
www.garniariston.com

There is no shortage of nice places to stay in the Val Gardena.

Paul...Thank you for all your suggestions ! These thanks are really long overdue but I'm so happy we followed your advise.

After Bellagio, we headed straight to Ortisie via Milan and then straight to Ciasa Montanara(La Villa). What a lovely place Ciasa Montanara is! We won't have found it unless for your recommendation.

Hotel Garni Snaltnerhof in Ortisei - Hotel in Val Gardena South Tyrol (Ortisie)
www.montanara.it.(La Villa)

Thanks again! I'm now planning Cinque Terre for this fall or next spring !