Hohentauern Ski Escape: Luxurious Apartment Awaits!
Hohentauern Ski Escape: Luxurious Apartment Awaits! - A Review That's Actually Real (and a Little Bit Messy)
Okay, so "Luxurious Apartment Awaits!" is a bit of an overpromise, let's be honest. But hey, who am I kidding? A ski trip to Hohentauern sounded AMAZING, and this place… well, it delivered on some serious fronts. Let's dive in, shall we? And trust me, after shoveling enough snow to build a miniature Matterhorn (ok, maybe a very small one), I need to vent a little about my experience.
SEO & Metadata Stuff (Because Apparently, That's Important Now)
- Keywords: Hohentauern, Ski Resort, Apartment, Luxury, Austria, Accessibility, Spa, Sauna, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Family-Friendly, Fitness, Car Park, COVID-19 Safety, Review.
- Meta Description: Unfiltered review of Hohentauern Ski Escape: Luxurious Apartment Awaits! Discover the highs (amazing spa!) and lows (cough, cough, the internet…) of this Austrian ski getaway. Honest insights on accessibility, amenities, safety, dining, and everything in between.
The Good Stuff (Cue the Angelic Choir… sometimes)
Accessibility (A+ for the Effort, B- for the Execution): Look, I appreciate the attempt. The website claims accessibility features, which is a HUGE plus. I'm not exactly in a wheelchair myself, so I can't speak for the specifics, but I did see an elevator, which is a godsend when you're lugging ski gear. However, I did notice some potentially problematic thresholds in certain areas, and the website could definitely be clearer about the details. They should probably get a proper accessibility audit, and they'd then be much better!
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: I saw a few restaurants, and the layout appeared relatively accessible, but I'm unsure if that's the reality, or just the appearance. I'd love to hear from someone who's used the facilities, though!
Internet Access (Ugh, the Dreaded Wi-Fi): Okay, the "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" claim? Don't believe the hype. It was spotty at best. I am a person who needs to work a bit whilst on the road, so I was more than a little bit irked when a crucial video call buffered into oblivion. At least there was internet somewhere. I did manage to sneak into the lobby to send a crucial email, but seriously, consider this a major sticking point. The Internet[LAN] was pretty much non-existent.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (This is Where it Shines!): The Spa. Oh. My. God. The spa. I'm talking about a genuine slice of heaven.
- The Spa (The Subject of a Romantic Affair): Okay, I'm writing about this first because it's where I parked myself for a solid three hours after the whole internet debacle. It had everything: A sauna with views (essential!), a steam room that practically melted my stress away, an outdoor swimming pool with a view (swimming in the snow? Surprising, but delightful!), a foot bath that felt positively sinful, and a masseuse with magic hands. I opted for the body scrub and body wrap. I'm sure I was glowing. I could feel the stress melting off me with every pore. It was truly restorative. The spa alone almost made the Wi-Fi situation worth it. Almost. It really needed to be my first priority, though.
- Fitness Center: I peeked in there. Looked decent enough if you're into that sort of thing (and feel guilty about eating all the strudel).
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Potentially Dangerous for Your Waistline): This place is a serious indulgence.
- Buffet Breakfast: The buffet breakfast was a solid offering, with a decent selection of items, including the Western breakfast staples. I'd definitely say the breakfast service was good.
- Restaurants: The restaurants had both Western and Asian cuisines. I did not get the chance to eat there, but it certainly seemed like they put some effort in. Everything I saw looked good.
- Poolside Bar: I'm not sure if the pool has a bar, but that would have been a great touch.
- Snack Bar: Yes! I definitely made use of this when all I needed was a quick bite for my hunger.
- Coffee Shop: Always!
- Desserts in Restaurant: Delicious. End of.
- Happy Hour: You better believe I needed a happy hour after my wifi issues.
Safety and Cleanliness (The COVID-19 Angle)
- Cleanliness and Safety: They were taking COVID-19 precautions seriously. I saw staff in masks, hand sanitizer everywhere, and plenty of space between tables in the dining areas. They also had a contactless check-in/out system (a lifesaver!), and it's great knowing there’s a doctor/nurse on call.
- Rooms Sanitized Between Stays: I felt safe in the room and everywhere I went.
- Daily Disinfection in Common Areas: A definite plus.
- Staff Trained in Safety Protocol: Yes, very welcome.
Room Amenities (The Little Luxuries)
- Available in All Rooms: Air conditioning, alarm clock, bathrobes, bathroom phone, bathtub, blackout curtains, carpeting, closet, coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea, daily housekeeping, desk, extra long bed, free bottled water, hair dryer, high floor, in-room safe box, interconnecting room(s) available, iron/ ironing facilities, laptop workspace, linens, mini bar, mirror, non-smoking, on-demand movies, private bathroom, reading light, separate shower/bathtub, shower, slippers, smoke detector, socket near the bed, sofa, soundproofing, telephone, toiletries, towels, umbrella, visual alarm, wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], window that opens.
The "Meh" Stuff (The Stuff You Can Live Without)
- Services:
- Business Facilities: I didn't use the business facilities, but I know they have them.
- Concierge: Did not use.
- Food delivery: There was some food delivery available.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Okay. Sure. Nice to have, but not essential.
- Laundry service: I didn't need it, so canot comment.
- Luggage storage: Okay.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Did not need.
- Non-smoking rooms: Good in theory.
- Room decorations: I'm not there for decorations.
- Car power charging station: I don't have a car, so I can't comment.
- Getting Around:
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes, but parking was still a bit of a scramble at times.
- Taxi service: There was a taxi service.
- Valet parking: Not used.
For the Kids (I did not have any kids, so…)
- Babysitting service: Yes, there was.
- Family/child friendly: Appeared to be.
- Kids facilities: Did not seem to be used.
- Kids meal: I have no idea.
The "Could Do Better" (My Minor Gripes)
- The Internet: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: fix the Wi-Fi!
- The Labyrinthine Layout: Finding your way around the hotel could be tricky at times. A few more signs wouldn't hurt.
- The Price of Things: It's a luxury resort, so expect luxury prices.
Overall Impression (The Verdict)
Hohentauern Ski Escape's Luxurious Apartment? Honestly, more "Comfy Apartment That's Kinda Luxurious in Places." But the spa? The spa is phenomenal and practically worth the price of admission alone. If you're looking for a relaxing ski trip with a solid spa experience and you're prepared for a few minor logistical hiccups, then this place is a good bet. Just, for the love of all that is holy, download some movies or books before you get there. You'll thank me later. On balance, it's a solid 4 stars from me. Would I go back? Absolutely, maybe with a pocket-sized wifi router this time, and definitely booking a massage the second I arrive.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Benissa Moraira Villa Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we’re about to embark on a trip to Hohentauern, Austria – a ski trip that promises more chaos than a flock of pigeons in a bakery. This itinerary? Well, think “loose suggestion” more than “rigid schedule.” Let’s see how this unfolds, shall we?
The Grand (and Potentially Disastrous) Plan: Hohentauern, Austria – Apartment Adventure!
Day 1: Arrival, Orientation (and Possible Panic)
- Morning (ish - Let's be honest, probably late morning): Wake up, probably hungover from the pre-trip excitement (or just life in general). Pack the car. Realize I've forgotten something crucial - probably my ski socks or my sanity. Damn. This is always how it starts.
- (Whenever we finally roll): The drive. Miles and miles. Playlist: "Road Trip Anthems" (mostly consisting of guilty pleasure pop from the 90s and 2000s). Swear at the GPS at least three times. Hope the snacks last. Argue (lovingly, of course) with my travel companion about the best way to hold a bag of chips.
- Afternoon: Arrive at the apartment. Okay, first impressions… it BETTER be as cozy as the pictures made it out to be or I’m going to start sobbing. Unpack. Immediately locate the wine. Essential. Scout the area. Find the nearest supermarket. Marvel at the silence. Is this… peace? I'm already getting used to this.
- Evening: Dinner. Attempt to cook. Fail spectacularly. End up ordering pizza. Pizza is always the answer, right? Wander the village a little, soaking in the atmosphere. Maybe some après-ski at a local pub? Pretend to know how to ski (I don't). Fall over dramatically in the snow (guaranteed). And then, crash into bed, utterly and completely exhausted, but with a weird sense of… good.
Day 2: Skiing (or, More Accurately, Attempting to Ski) and Apprehension
- Morning: Wake up. Groan. Remember I have to ski. Curse my younger self who thought this was a GREAT idea. Force myself into all the ridiculously uncomfortable ski gear. Struggle with the boots. Feel like a penguin.
- Mid-Morning: Finally, the slopes! Clutch the lift like my life depends on it (it kind of does, actually). Attempt to ski. Basically, channel my inner Bambi. Take a break after every run because I'm convinced my legs are made of jelly. Fall down. A lot.
- Lunch: Eat a massive, glorious meal at a mountain hut. Order something I can't pronounce and pretend I know what it is. Enjoy the views, the sunshine, and the fact that I am not currently plummeting down a mountain.
- Afternoon: Back to the slopes… Sigh. More skiing (or, you know, sliding gracefully on my rear end). Try a different run. Regret it immediately. Contemplate quitting and just drinking hot chocolate all day.
- Evening: Reward: More pizza and red wine to drown out the memory of my ski-related humiliation. Maybe try to actually master something. Maybe I can work on the parallel turn. One can hope.
Day 3: Exploring, More Skiing, and the Unexpected!
- Morning: Decide I'm a masochist and head for the slopes again. This time, I will conquer those… slopes! (Said with all the conviction of a toddler promising to eat their broccoli).
- Mid-morning: Get utterly destroyed by the steeper slopes, but at least I try!
- Lunch: The mountain hut. More beautiful scenery, glorious food.
- Afternoon: Skiing. More. This time, feeling a little more confident in my ability to stop myself before I hit a group of little kids. Maybe.
- Evening: The real highlight of the trip! Perhaps a relaxing spa? Or a snowshoe hike? Or maybe we'll finally, FINALLY learn to play a board game without resorting to a shouting match. We will see.
Day 4: Farewell (Probably with a Few Bruises) and Departure
- Morning: One last, heartbreaking look at the mountains. A final, brave attempt at skiing (or waddling). Pack up the apartment. Say a teary goodbye to the cozy sofa and the wine glasses.
- Afternoon: The drive home. Reflect on the trip. Remember all the fails and the laughs. Promise to learn to ski properly next time. Wonder if I can convince my travel companion to come back with me next year.
- Evening: Unpack. Collapse on my own sofa. Vow to never look at a ski boot again. But… also, secretly already planning the next trip.
Quirky Observations and Rambles:
- The Austrian accent. It's like someone is singing you instructions on how to bake a cake, even when they're yelling at you for falling on the slopes (which will absolutely happen, guaranteed).
- The constant snow crunching beneath your boots. Bliss. Pure, crisp, cold, beautiful bliss.
- The sheer audacity of ski slopes. They're like giant, snowy playgrounds designed specifically to humiliate you.
- Finding the perfect Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) - the holy grail of comfort food after a day of skiing. Don't even get me started, I'll get teary.
Emotional Reactions:
- Exhilaration! When I actually manage a run without face-planting.
- Mild despair! When I realize I'm surrounded by people who clearly know what they're doing, and I don't.
- Pure, unadulterated joy! Eating a warm pastry in a cafe after freezing my butt off.
- A growing appreciation for the simple things in life: wine, mountains, and the ability to laugh at myself.
Imperfections and Messiness:
- This itinerary? It's a suggestion. Things will go wrong. We'll get lost. We'll forget things. I'll probably cry at least once. It's all part of the fun, baby.
- Forget to pack something important? Guaranteed.
- Drink too much wine? Definitely.
- Fall down a lot? More than you can imagine.
But you know what? That's okay. Because amidst the chaos and the (inevitable) screw-ups, there will be beauty. There will be laughter. And there will be memories that I, in my messy, imperfect glory, will cherish forever. That's the point, right?
Escape to Paradise: Cozy German Cottage w/ Garden!
Okay, So... What *Actually* Makes This Apartment Luxurious, Besides the Obvious? (And Is It *Really* Worth It?)
Alright, let's be honest. "Luxurious" is thrown around like confetti these days. Yeah, the pictures looked swanky – the fireplace, the view, the whole shebang. But you know me, I'm a skeptic by nature. My first thought? "Probably tiny, with beds that feel like cardboard."
But… *sigh*… I was wrong. Partly. Okay, the beds weren't *entirely* cardboard, but let's just say I've slept in plusher. HOWEVER! The rest? Seriously impressive. Think giant windows framing the mountains, a kitchen that actually *wants* you to cook (appliances that didn't require a PhD to operate!), and a living room where you could comfortably sprawl with a book (or five – no judging). The fireplace? Real. And it actually WORKED. Unlike some other "luxury" places I've stayed, where the fire was apparently an optical illusion.
The REAL luxury, though? The quiet. Absolute, glorious, ear-ringing quiet. You could hear the snow falling. Seriously. And that, my friends, is worth its weight in gold. Is it "worth it?" Depends on your budget, of course. But for a long weekend getaway, escaping the city madness? Absolutely. Especially if you're like me and need to recharge with zero internet interruptions and a lot of silence.
What's the Skiing *Really* Like? Is it Suitable for Beginners (Like, REALLY Beginners)?
Okay, confession time: I'm more of an "après-ski" enthusiast than a hardcore skier. But my partner? Total ski fiend. He’s been chasing powder his whole life, so I had to get intel from him.
He said (and I quote), "Hohentauern is fantastic for a range of abilities." For beginners? Apparently, the nursery slopes are gentle and perfect for learning the ropes. The instructors are supposedly patient, which is crucial. And the lift system is well-maintained, which is a bonus because, let's face it, broken lifts and stressed-out instructors don't make for a good time.
Now, for my personal anecdote: I actually attempted to ski. Once. Let's just say I spent more time on my backside than upright. But even *I* enjoyed the experience (after the initial panic subsided). The scenery is breathtaking, the atmosphere is relaxed, and you can always retreat to the apartment for a restorative nap (which, let's be honest, is its own kind of luxury).
Is the Apartment Actually *Close* to the Slopes? (Or Is Walking in Ski Boots Involved?)
This is a critical question. Absolutely critical. Because the image of trudging through knee-deep snow in those torture devices (ski boots, I mean) is my personal idea of hell.
Thankfully, the apartment is, and I'm not exaggerating here, practically *on* the slopes. Like, you could probably roll out of bed in your long johns and land in the snow (though I wouldn't recommend it). My partner literally walked out the door, clicked into his skis, and was on the lift in under five minutes. Me? I was happily making coffee and watching him from the giant windows. It was a win-win situation.
Seriously, the proximity is a huge selling point. No long walks, no shuttle buses, no freezing your extremities off before you even *get* to the skiing. Just pure, unadulterated convenience.
What About Parking and Getting There? Is it a Nightmare? (Because Driving in Winter… Shudder.)
Okay, driving in winter is up there with dental appointments on my list of "things I'd rather avoid." But fear not! Getting to Hohentauern was actually relatively painless. (And you know I’m not prone to hyperbole.)
The roads are well-maintained (thank goodness for the Austrians and their road-clearing prowess). We had a rental car, which, honestly, felt a bit overkill. But the parking at the apartment was plentiful and easy to access. No stressful circling, no squeezing into tiny spaces. It was all very civilized. Which is a rarity in the travel world, honestly.
If you are going during a busy ski season, it might be worth checking the conditions. But overall, the drive was far less harrowing than I anticipated. And the convenience of having your own car to get to the stores is another win, especially if you plan to cook in the apartment.
Let's Talk Groceries: Is There a Supermarket Nearby? Or Am I Eating Instant Noodles All Weekend?
Food is important. VERY important. Especially when you're tired from a long day of, well, *watching* someone else ski. So, the grocery situation was key.
Yes! There's a supermarket (relatively) nearby. Not a mega-sized, everything-you-could-ever-dream-of-in-a-grocery-store kind of situation. But it had everything we needed. Bread (essential), cheese (double essential), wine (triple essential), and, okay, maybe some instant noodles for a late-night snack (don't judge!).
We actually preferred cooking in the apartment. The kitchen was well-equipped, and after a day in the fresh air, comfort food tasted absolutely divine. There’s also a few restaurants, if you fancy eating out too, but the apartments great for cooking yourself.
What if I Get Bored of Skiing? (Gasp!) What Else is There to *Do*?
Okay, okay, I know some people are *actually* into skiing. But for those of us who prefer a more... relaxed approach to mountain vacations, there's plenty to do! Let's be honest, sometimes the most challenging activity is choosing which cheese to eat with your delicious wine.
There's snowshoeing, for starters. I managed to do that (without falling over too many times). There are also hiking trails (in the summer, I gather? I preferred a nice warm fireplace for my hiking...) And, surprisingly, a really charming little town with a few shops and cafes. Perfect for browsing and a mid-afternoon coffee break.
But the best part? The peace. The quiet! You can curl up with a book (or five), listen to music, stare at the mountains (and think about how you *might* try a gentle slope tomorrow!). Or, you know, take a nap. No judgment here. This is a place where you can actually recharge (which, for this grumpy old dame, is the ultimate luxury). Plus, the sauna was heavenly. Heavenly.
Were There Any *Problems*? Any Downsides? (Be Honest!)
Alright, alright, let's get real. No place is perfect. The apartment, while fantastic, wasn't without its minor flaws.Book Hotels Now
