Relaxing on the snow in Austria, for a special start to the year

Sport and relaxation for the whole family, in a snowy white paradise

Austria is the ideal place for a winter holiday and to get the year off to a special start. For winter sports lovers, Austria is a dream come true: downhill and cross-country skiing, sledging, snowshoeing and ski mountaineering trips, with plenty on offer for both experts and beginners to enjoy a fabulous experience on the whiter-than-white snow of the Alps. What’s more, the numerous hotels in the area are equipped with wellness areas and saunas, where you can wind down in the evening and relax, enveloped in the warm steam.

Why book a winter week in Austria?

The reasons are endless. Austria offers visitors good cooking, unique ski areas, perfectly groomed runs, snow on the glaciers virtually guaranteed, numerous leisure activities and much more besides. And there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from for your ideal stay, from economical apartments to luxury hotels. Austria is the perfect winter holiday destination for everyone.

What are the hallmark features of skiing in Austria?

Anyone who’s already spent a skiing holiday in Austria will no doubt have many characteristics images in mind: the typical, traditional little villages and landscapes of indescribable beauty, snow-covered mountains, challenging freeride descents and immense ski runs. Skiing boasts a long tradition in Austria, and many famous World Cup races take place here, including, for example, the annual Hahnenkamm trophy in Kitzbühel.

A unique address for your week on the snow

We can recommend Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser, where the Bergbahnen Scheffau ski lifts will take you into the heart of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental ski carousel, which offers over 284 km of runs! Younger visitors will enjoy the Kinderkaiserland park at Brandstadl and the BoboMiniClub at the station up from the ski lifts: magical places just waiting to be explored by kids. And at the end of the day on the snow, there’s nothing finer than a dip in some nice, warm water – preferably spa water. If this sounds like your ideal holiday, the perfect option is the Kaiserlodge in Scheffau am Wilden Kaiser. Renovated in 2017, this is the ideal place to spend a few days on the slopes, and to enjoy an exceptionally relaxing spa area to wind down in the evening. The moment you enter the hotel, you’ll be struck by the marvellous attention to detail evident in the furnishings: a magical atmosphere in which wooden and designer elements blend seamlessly.

The project is by the Planwerker Holzerber studio, and this unique hotel, built on two levels, embraces the small artificial lake in front of it, offering fantastic views of the Austrian Alps. The jewel in the hotel’s crown is located on the second floor, where you’ll find a magnificent 700-square-metre wellness centre, with windows offering magnificent views of the Wilder Kaiser, and facilities that include a swimming pool, Turkish bath, massage room and large outdoor solarium. Once again here, the combination of local wood and the stone-effect tiles of the LOIRE collection by Ceramiche Coem (also chosen for the bathrooms and the bar surfaces) bring a contemporary yet relaxing touch to the settings. LOIRE blends beautifully into an ambience where design and wood elements combine smoothly, creating a modern, inviting atmosphere. You’ll have trouble avoiding the temptation to forego the slops to spend a few hours here, regenerating mind and body.