AUSTRIA, Hinterthal - Urslauerhof Hotel & Spa 4*

17/03/2024

For lovers of skiing and mountains, I have a tip for a wellness hotel next to a ski slope in the Austrian Alps

Address: Urslauerhof Hotel & Spa, Urslaustraße 2, 5761 Hinterthal (Maria Alm), Austria

Location

Hotel Urslauerhof is located in the ski area belonging to Ski Amade, specifically the ski resort is called Hochkönig and unites the areas of Maria Alm, Dienten, Mühlbach, Hinterreit, Hinterthal, Hintermoos and Hochkeil. Except for Hochkeil, which is on the opposite hill, all resorts are connected, and you can ski them there and back along the so-called Königstour. The path is well marked, orange in one direction, yellow in the other, so you don't get lost, and you can enjoy a total of approx. 120 km of pistes across several valleys. If you are still wondering where the area is, it is less than 80 km below Salzburg. I will describe the ski area in more detail in the next article. Hinterhal, in which the Hotel Urslauerhof is located, is a small village full of accommodation facilities, and the hotel has the advantage of being the closest to the ski slope and the chairlift, just cross the road and the parking lot. 8 km next door is the larger and perhaps better-known town of Maria Alm, if you need to refuel or buy supplies or gifts.

Urslauerhof hotel 4*

I recommend this hotel to all mountain lovers, whether in the winter for skiing, the hotel is located right next to the ski slope and the chairlift, or in the summer for hiking. The views from the hotel windows are incredible, take a look at the photos. We were also very pleasantly surprised with a welcome drink (prosecco or a small beer), which the owner personally poured for us and warmly welcomed us to the hotel. The hotel is located in a quiet area, you can sleep well here. In addition to beautiful comfortable accommodation, you can expect great food, very friendly staff (even the family of owners personally serve their guests), everyone is always smiling, has a few words with you and is helpful. You feel like a very valued guest here, even if you are here for the first time. I must not leave out the SPA - an indoor pool with swimming out, where there is also a whirlpool, a sauna world with a really stylish relaxation room, a fitness center and a children's playroom.

You can park outside the hotel for free, or for 10 Euros / day in covered garages, which is a very nice price. You can also charge an electric car or bicycle here. From the garages you have direct access to the ski room, where there is a ski boot heater and you can even rent ski equipment here if you don't have your own.

Accommodation

The hotel consists of the original part (which is in the classic Austrian style) and the new part, which is in my favorite modern mountain style of wood and stone. You can choose from double rooms or family suites for up to 5 people. There is an elevator in the hotel. And we go to our beautiful room.

Room Nr. 111

In the new section. The room is a corner, and only corner rooms have, in addition to a balcony, a side alcove with a large window with a luxurious view of the Hochkönig mountain. In the alcove there is a comfortable sofa with pillows, where you can rest or work on the computer and occasionally look out at the breathtaking view (I rather looked out instead of working :) I think you could even sleep on that mattress, it's soft , with a pleasant plush cover.

The room is dominated by wood. The floors, wardrobes, bed frame, bedside tables, paneling, doors are wooden. The cupboards are illuminated inside with diodes, we had two, one had a safe, the other a small fridge, bathrobes, slippers, towels and a spa bag.

The bed is very comfortable, with a soft mattress. You will also find a work table with a chair. It has a tablet where you can read information about the hotel in a few words, a bottle of water (replenished every day), a capsule coffee machine for LOR capsules, including capsules, replenished daily, creams and sugars.

The toilet is separate from the bathroom and has a small hand basin with a towel and soap. The bathroom is really designer in the style of stone and wood. The mirror is excellently lit and is supplemented with a magnifying mirror. Here you will find a hairdryer, tissues, hand soap, shower gel with 2-in-1 shampoo, body lotion (if you use conditioner, don't forget to bring your own), vanity kit, sewing kit and shoe sponge.

There is a shoehorn and even an umbrella on the hanger behind the door. Curtains and blackout curtains. And there is one magic that I haven't seen anywhere else - when you darken and turn off everything, fix your eyes on the ceiling, you will see tiny stars!

Spacious balcony with seating.

Food

Be sure to book half board. On the one hand, because you don't have many options where to eat in the evening, but mainly you would be missing out on a great gastronomic experience! Throughout your stay, you have your own table reserved for breakfast and dinner, which are served.

I'll start breakfast. You can take it from 8.00 - 10.30. The breakfast could compete with a 5* hotel, there was almost everything here! Champagne, smoked salmon, good juices, smoothies, good coffee from the machine, a large selection of teas, cereals, yogurts, homemade jams, several types of honey, Nutella, cheeses, hams, salamis, fruit, vegetables, spreads, pâtés, a large selection of salty crisps pastries, sweet pastries, sausages and even a hot buffet upon request, where a skilled lady will prepare an omelet according to your wishes, scrambled eggs, ham and eggs, pancakes, just whatever you wish for. As many ingredients as possible are from the nearby farmers, this is what I always like about these mountain hotels, that you eat quality local fresh ingredients and meals prepared from them. If you have an allergy to any of the foods, just report it upon arrival and a tailored menu will be prepared for you.

In the afternoon after skiing or hiking, you can look forward to a snack. There was, for example, soup, or plates with cheese or salami, or something sweet to go with the coffee. Soft drinks from the postmix are also available. The snack was held from 14.30 - 16.30.

At breakfast, you always choose what to have for dinner. Dinner started from 18.30 - 20.00. First you have a cold appetizer, which was usually some kind of homemade spread with fresh pastries. Then comes the warm appetizer. Then soup (usually you could choose from two, one was broth, but each time with something different). Then there is a break and you can go and load up at your discretion from the salad bar. Then comes the main course. You choose from 3 meals, one of which is always vegetarian. And you end with a served dessert. If you still don't have enough, you can have more ice cream or cheese. So if you intend to go here to lose weight, you really won't succeed! The food was always excellent.

Even those who are not guests of the hotel can eat here. Normally there is a restaurant with an ala carte menu. Alternatively, it is possible to order, for example, a multi-course dinner, such as hotel guests have, if the hotel is not full. The hotel also has a well-stocked bar with a great bartender who can mix almost anything, there is a large selection of cocktails. And the fact that I will also get my favorite frozen strawberry daiquiri here in March got me, I applaud! Lovers of good wine will also enjoy it. And beer is a matter of course. There are also large TVs in the bar where we cheered on our biathletes. You also get nuts with the drink, but you have a hard time eating them after such a dinner :)

I also have to appreciate that if it's your birthday or you're celebrating an anniversary, the hotel team will festively decorate your table and you'll also get a dessert with mini fireworks. These are the details that make a good hotel a great hotel.

Wellness

After skiing or hiking, the relaxing wellness is certainly useful. You can swim in the indoor heated pool with swimming out and then relax on the sunbeds around the pool. The pool is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

One floor below is the sauna world. You can warm up in the bio sauna, Finnish sauna, steam sauna and salt sauna, and there is also an icebox. The rest room is also stylish. Here you can serve yourself non-alcoholic drinks or fruit. Saunas operate from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

It is also possible to order massages or cosmetics.

Summary

A very pleasant family hotel in the Austrian Alps, located next to the ski slope, in a quiet location. Beautiful spacious rooms, great food worthy of a 5* hotel, friendly staff, stylish bar for evening sitting, SPA with heated pool and sauna world .. and the views! I'm looking in vain for what to criticize the hotel for.

My rating - 10/10

Thank you to Comma PR agency and the owners of the Urslauerhof Hotel - the Kraker family, for allowing me to research the hotel for you and write this article.

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