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Natur und Wellnesshotel Hoeflehner

Gumpenberg 2, Haus im Ennstal, 8967

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1 Room / 2 Adults

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2 adults
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Editor's Rating

Overview

A “Wanderhotel,” the Hotel Hoflehner is the first country and spa hotel in Styria, Austria, resting at more than 3,500 feet in altitude and located within minutes of the area’s top skiing. With views of the Dachstein mountain range, the hotel is themed around wellness and spa services, and when not enjoyed in the winter months for skiing, families visit in the summer months to hike in the mountains and enjoy organic, herbal cuisines.

The property is owned and operated by a family whom also love to hike and ski and honed their hotel skills in the Colorado Rocky Mountains before returning to Austria to create a mountain experience a few hours from Salzburg. This property is a great hotel for families with its extra-large family rooms that can sleep up to six. Hoeflehner is also inclusive of meals, providing a family-style dining room with a la carte and buffet meals served at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The property is a ski-in/ski-out property for families looking to ski in the Austrian Alps.

Our Editor Loves

  • Ski-in/ski-out
  • All-inclusive resort
  • Family suites for six

Family Interests

  • Hiking
  • Skiing

Family Amenities

  • Babysitting
  • Children Programs
  • Cribs
  • Family Room 5+
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Game Room
  • Meal Plan
  • Onsite Dining
  • Pool

Room Information

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A resort hotel that has rooms and suites available to families of up to six, the rustic wood rooms feature hard wood floors, sheep's wool rugs, wood-burning fireplaces, glass and marble bathrooms and scenic views of the mountains. Despite the rustic décor, flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and modern amenities complement the environment. Rooms for families include:

Traditional Rooms
A variation of traditional room types can sleep two to four people in a variety of single room styles. These include the Alpine Rose, the Natural Swiss Stone Pine, the Swiss Stone Pine View, Swiss Stone Pine View and Wellnessrooms, the latter of which provide sectional sofas that may be used as sleepers. Standard studio suites sleep two to four people in larger rooms. These include the Bergheimat and Bergquell suites.

Family Room Edelweiss
This room can sleep up to five people in a two-room setting splitting two sleeping areas, each with a sitting area, although one sitting area features a sofa. A powder room is separate from a double-sink bathroom to make it easier for families to get ready each day and night.

Suites
For families, these suites come with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two sitting areas, and can sleep up to six people. These include the Family Room Zirbe and the Kingdom of Heaven suites.

Reviews

1st stay, very positive experience

by MPHILM

I recently stayed for a weekend with my wife. In summary:

Positives
1) Beautiful location/surroundings. Easy to relax!
2) Very pleasant service throughout, and with the exception of one issue at the bar (see below), the customer focus was excellent.
3) Very polite/efficient check-in and check-out
4) Spacious and clean rooms. Comfortable beds, powerful shower with plenty of hot water.
5) Food options were good and likewise quality. Actually didn't expect it to be so good in fact.Likewise the drinks, really extensive selection.
6) Excellent WIFI throughout the stay
7) We went for the walking tours which they provided. We did two different tours, both with Kurt. They were the highlight of the weekend. Stunning scenery and Kurt was an excellent (& friendly) guide. He clearly loves what he does and this comes across to the guests. Would strongly recommend.
8) Spa options decent (although we spent majority of the weekend walking).

Negatives/Points to Note
1) It was much larger than I had expected (so less intimate than I had expected). This was evidenced by the dining room which was extensive and somewhat impersonal.
2) It wasn't as peaceful as I'd expected in the hotel due to small children. This isn't really a negative as such because it was minor and didn't really effect our stay at all (plus folks are entitled to bring their children!), I mention only to point out that small children are there (didn't notice many in the spa area, only the pools obviously due to the natural aspect of the spa areas).
3) Service overall was excellent, only minor issue we had was with the bar. We went for a drink after returning from the walk at just before 5pm (it opens at 5 apparently) and we were told to go upstairs to the restaurant to be served. When going up, they informed us they can't serve drinks and to go back down. We did and waited. When going back up we were told someone would come down. They eventually did and we were served, just wish it had been clearer to everyone how to get a drink outside of the bar hours (including the staff).
4) Drink selection was excellent, although 13+ euro for a gin & tonic seemed quite high (although they tasted good!).
5) The walks are not from the hotel, but typically a 45min+ drive away. So with a stop for lunch, you need to add 2hrs+ to any indicated time (so a 4hr walk is 6 hours in total). Again, not a negative as such, but point to note when making your plans.
6) Rooms didn't have tea or coffee making facility. Would have been nice to have.

Overall we had an excellent stay and would certainly return (especially due to the excellence of the walks). I think the one point to note is the size and number of guests, but that said, service was excellent and we never had any issues finding a bed etc in the spa area.

More people - less silence

by CountVanCount

We've been here four years ago already and the place has changed quite a bit. While it felt cozy the last time it was just a little too big this time. The new attached building adds quite a lot of rooms but only one more bar (the old bar is more or less closed). The wellness area is slightly under-sized for the amount of hotel guests.
Food and service are still very good and recommended. From receptionist to waiter everything is handled professionally.
I suppose if you know the "old" Höflehner you won't like the changes but if you've never been here before you'll love it.
Great new hotel bar (good selection of spirits - go for the Hakushu!) and nice cigar lounge as well.

Family Activities

Swimming Pools
A spa hotel, the property features multiple swimming pools with indoor and outdoor options.

Hiking/Biking
Trainers at the hotel assist guests with Nordic Hiking in the mountains. There are numerous hiking and mountain biking trails surrounding the resort, and concierge can provide trail maps. Hiking amenities include walking poles, backpacks, binoculars, rain gear, water bottles and snowshoes during your stay.

Bambi Club
Available for kids ages 3 to 12, the resort provides a supervised kids' program with adventures for kids. Fishing, climbing, pony rides, baking classes, and more are available to entertain kids while parents enjoy some spa or ski slope time. There is a children's outdoor playground to enjoy in the warmer months.

Youngster's Centre
For teens and older kids, a game room is available with PlayStation, Foosball, a pool table and internet access.

Skiing
The property is nestled in the same mountains where ski trails descend. A ski rental and service shop is available at the hotel and ski trails and lifts are just outside the hotel's doors. There are four mountains to enjoy here, and special packages are available to cross mountains and ski them all.

Family Dining

Dining Room
Dining is included at the mountain property, which is necessary as it's far removed from other dining options! A breakfast buffet is offered daily with a lunch buffet offered between noon and 2 p.m. serving salads and soup, and a 5-course a la carte dinner available at night. During the winter months, the hotel expects you to be enjoying the mountains and does not provide lunch, instead serving cakes and snacks 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays are gala dinners and on Wednesday nights are local specialties served in a buffet. Cheese and snacks are available from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Knapplhof
An a la carte restaurant is available between 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and services visitors from the mountain, as well as hotel guests. You'll find soups, pastas, full meals and light menu options here.

Note: Foods served in the dining room are local and regional specialties and may be difficult for picky young eaters.

Planning & Tips

All About the Extras
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is included in your stay.

Guided Walks
During the summer months, guests receive six guided walks a week.

Kids' Amenities
Children's programs are included, as well as amenities such as child carrier backpacks for hikes, goodnight stories, baby bathtubs, diaper changers and diaper pails.

The Art of Smart Timing
The resort is a summer and winter destination, offering ski-in/ski-out services in the winter and hiking in the summer and fall. Winter is peak season for the resort, especially during the holidays, when it books quickly and sells out.

Getting There
The resort is located in the Austrian Alps with direct routes from Linz, Salzburg and Graz. It is a two-hour drive from Salzburg and three hours from Vienna, and both of the international airports located in these cities. Train service is available to the valley below, and Hoflehner can arrange transportation from the station to the resort.

Getting Around
This is a vacation resort where families come to spend their time in the mountains and leave the property only by foot or ski. Its remote location does not afford other quick visits to attractions and it's best to plan to stay here and enjoy the mountains.

For Mom and Dad
The main feature of this wellness resort is its expansive spa with multiple pools, both indoor, outdoor, heated and mineral. There are a number of places to relax, all of which feature expansive mountain views from panoramic windows. Be sure to try a spa treatment and let the resort do its magic on you.