Three Alpine escapes in Austria
Skiing made easy
Wellness, luxury and indulgence come together at Hotel Nesslerhof. This five-star Austrian retreat is ideally located for hiking year-round. But its location within the Alpine valley of Großarl also makes it particularly well-situated for skiing.
Guests can pre-order their ski equipment online before they arrive and find it waiting for them in their personal locker after check-in. They can then cross the road to the Kieserlbahn cable car that will take them up to the Grossarltal-Dorfgastein ski area – part of the vast Ski amadé network (Europe’s largest), with 70km of immaculate slopes and 18 modern lifts. The ski area, where snow is guaranteed from December to April, is suitable for skiers of all levels.
Afterwards, guests should head to restaurant Sky Lounge Wolke 7 for panoramic views at the top of the Kieserlbahn or unwind at the Nesslerhof’s 1,800-square-metre wellness area and spa.
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From £428 a night, including breakfast, visit nesslerhof.at/en.
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Autumn food festival
The Culinary autumn food festival is returning to Schlosshotel Fiss, high in the Tyrolean Alps, from 5-25 September. Guests can take part in wine tastings and cooking workshops, as well as outdoor activities such as food-themed hikes through the mountains and events at the local distillery.
While the festival is bound to be indulgent, Schlosshotel Fiss has tied it in with its wellness programme so that guests can, for instance, go on guided walks through the hotel’s herb garden to learn about the Alpine plants that go into seasonal dishes.
There will also be yoga sessions beside Lake Wolfsee and sauna sessions in the evenings, accompanied by singing bowls.
Schlosshotel Fiss is situated in the sunny little village of Fiss, at an altitude of 1,438m. In the warmer months, it is ideally located for hiking and mountain biking, and in the winter guests are able to go skiing and snowboarding.
From €746 A night in winter, full board, schlosshotel-fiss.com/en.
Family fun on the slopes
(Image credit: Powder Byrne)
Specialist ski operator Powder Byrne has been organising high-end holidays for families for 40 years. A range of ski programmes is available for children of all ages and abilities and, new for this year, Powder Byrne is introducing a ski clinic for adults to master their form.
The highlights this winter in Austria and Switzerland include Christmas in Arosa. Guests will be able to enjoy reliable early-season snow at Hotel Valsana – a refined hideaway in the Swiss Alps with a focus on staying healthy.
From £19,146 for a family of four for seven nights, with first-class train transfers.
And you can spend Easter at Hotel Maiensee in the Austrian Arlberg at an altitude of 1,800m, which has access to the Arlberg ski area. The pretty little resort of St Christoph is part of the bigger and better-known St Anton ski circuit.
From £19,256 for a family of four for seven nights, visit powderbyrne.com.
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