Vital & Sporthotel Brixen

Simona, Christian, Sebastian, and the rest of the staff made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived at Vital Sporthotel Brixen. Their kindness and attention to detail, along with the comfort and atmosphere, made our stay special. We had a wonderful time and would gladly come back. Highly recommend for a genuine, relaxing stay in Brixen im Thale.

The spa pools and saunas were just right after being outdoors, and the bar had delicious drinks. I loved the balance of sport, wellness, and time to relax at this hotel in the Austrian Alps. The food was excellent, and the friendly, welcoming staff made the stay feel cozy and warm.

The rooms are clean and well designed, and the facilities are high quality. The spa and pool are great, the ski room is modern, and there's a fitness room and games room too. Breakfast was varied and good, with nice bread and a cheese plate. The dining room feels a bit old-fashioned, but it's comfortable. The dinners were a serious letdown. The meat and fish were consistently overcooked, sometimes dry and inedible. The salmon on Thursday was one example, and when I asked about a substitute, I was told the kitchen had nothing left. Desserts were scarce and not very good. That might pass in a canteen, but not at a four-star hotel. Service was the other big problem. Some staff seemed to miss the basics of hospitality: smiling, paying attention, and making guests comfortable. If someone doesn't know an answer, they should offer to find out. I also saw a staff member return to their smartphone instead of helping, and food being eaten at reception while guests were checking in. In the dining room, service felt focused on logistics rather than welcoming guests. We were chased away from a table because it had to be prepared for the next day, instead of being politely invited to have a drink at the bar. Three or four friendly staff members made a real difference, but they were exceptions. It's a shame, because I came away with very mixed feelings. Before publishing this review, I sent it to management and asked them to explain. Two months after my stay, there was still no reply, which suggests they don't care about improving. Others had already raised some of these points in previous reviews, so I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

We stayed for a week in February, and the manager, hotel, and reception couldn't have been more accommodating. Our suite was wonderful, and the children loved the pool so much that we're coming back next year for the half-term ski break. We would highly recommend it. The children felt much more relaxed here, and the welcome was warmer than at the Hohe Salve hotel where we stayed the year before. The restaurant food was amazing, so we didn't need the kitchenette in the suite.