Haus Gurgl Skihotel

Quite possibly the best hotel I've stayed at. We chose this hotel for the location (right next to a ski school), though the price was also competitive. On arrival we were greeted by the main man, Eric. Booking in was quick and simple, just one form to fill in and sign before being given the cardkeys, Wifi access, etc. The room itself was a pretty spacious affair with an Austrian Twin bed (basically a double but with 2 single mattresses) and a nice wide sofa-bed. Simple arrangement for two guys sharing - take one mattress and put it onto the fold-out sofa! Fitted perfectly. There is a reasonably-sized balcony but as it was sub-zero or snowing for most of our trip we only used that as a fridge, putting our milk, water and soft drinks out there to keep cool (freeze). The room also had a good TV, built in desk, small table and a stool, as well as plenty of wardrobe space. Unusually, the loo was separate from the shower room, so no problems there if both were needed together! The room has a kettle and cups, etc but the hotel does not provide tea/coffee. There is an MPreis store a couple of minutes away where you can get whatever you need and also a Spar nearer the centre of town. The shower room was huge! The shower itself has the usual rainfall head as well as a smaller hand shower head and the water gets very hot very quickly, which is great after a day on the slopes. On the subject of skiing, the boot room is great. Lockers are assigned to your rooms, so the same key opens the room and your locker. Plenty of room in the locker for 4 people's gear with heated boot racks to ensure you start the day with dry and warm boots! Enough room on the benches for everyone to get kitted out at the same time, plus a separate door to/from the street to avoid going through reception in wet gear. The RIML Sport hire shop is also in the same building, so no traipsing around to get or return your equipment. There is also a Ski school meeting point almost behind the hotel, so less than 5 minutes walk from getting your boots on, and if you're going further afield the ski buses stop right outside. Now for the important stuff... The food is phenomenal! Breakfast is the usual European fully-stocked buffet-style affair but with fresh egg dishes available on the menu if desired. Tea, coffee, smoothies and juice all ready for you as well. It could be a leisurely affair but most people were keen to get onto the slopes. Being half-board, we were never around for lunch but the evening meals were a delight. Each morning you are given the day's menu so you can choose your evening meal from the options - choice of soup and then Meat / Fish / Vegetarian mains. All of the meals we had were top-notch, beautifully prepared and presented. The restaurant staff are every bit as good as the food: attentive but without hovering like in some places. They're also all very polite but still find time to ask how your day has been and make conversation. Bar staff likewise, though Eric usually spends some time there to get to know his guests as well. Pricing there is good, roughly the same as the bars but without the typical markup you'd find in a British hotel! The lounge also doubles as an extra dining room for larger groups but there is plenty of space even then. Note: you can wear your ski gear for breakfast but I'd suggest you have something more suited to a restaurant for dinner. The housekeeping staff are all but invisible but they continue the excellent service and clean and freshen up the rooms every day. On to the Wellness set-up... The basement level houses one of the best wellness suites I've seen: Sauna, steam room, water beds, other stuff I don't know how to use... Being in Austria, the saunas are nude, no bathing gear allowed, but the hotel prepared for that by providing massive terry robes and disposable sliders, as well as a plentiful supply of towels to cover yourself in the suite. There is also a reasonably priced sports massage service but that needs to be pre-booked. The hotel is rated 4* but I think that is low. The service throughout our stay was brilliant, all of the staff are very attentive, friendly and helpful. The whole set-up is a credit to Eric and his leadership. I'd definitely like to stay here again if I'm skiing in the area next year.