Hotel Almhof Schneider

The property is beautiful, and the service from the waitstaff in particular was exceptional. We spent a week here with my family, and parts of the stay were enjoyable, but several things were disappointing. The biggest room issue was on the fourth floor. The ceilings were sloped and so low that the rooms felt cramped, and the bathroom setup made it impossible to shower standing up. There was no air conditioning either. These rooms cost virtually the same as the more comfortable second-floor rooms, even though the difference in quality was significant. The second-floor rooms had bathtubs, which felt dated for a hotel charging $2,000+ per night. When we raised the fourth-floor room concerns, the hotel agreed those rooms were inferior but offered no compensation or adjustment. They just said the rooms “sell by themselves”. That response was disappointing given the price and our expectations. There was also confusion over our dinner booking. I had called to change it so our whole group could eat in the main dining room, which is included in the stay. The owner and staff insisted I’d booked the hotel’s other restaurant and said cancelling would incur a charge. I explained the front desk had made an error, but they wouldn’t accept that or admit anything was wrong. Earlier that morning, I’d confirmed with the waiter at breakfast that we’d be in the main dining room that evening, so it seemed clear the mix-up was on the hotel’s end. Paying by credit card brought another frustration: the payment terminal added a 3% fee. For a hotel of this standing, passing that cost to guests felt surprising and disappointing, as if they were trying to profit from every angle. After we’d already spent so much on dining and wine, their inflexibility over a simple booking change was particularly frustrating. It was an unfortunate end to what was otherwise an enjoyable stay.

The Schneider family's hospitality is hard to match. From the moment you enter the lobby, you get a warm Austrian welcome that leaves you smiling for the rest of your stay. The Almhof is in a class of its own, right by the town center with fantastic mountain views. Everything was impeccable: the room, food, spa, bar, service and staff. Probably one of the best ski resort hotels I’ve ever stayed at. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the stay of a lifetime in Lech.

The spa is outstanding, and the staff are attentive and always ready to help. The guests are relaxed, well dressed and well mannered, which adds to the pleasant atmosphere. The location, service, design and overall feel are all spot on. It’s certainly one of the most beautiful luxury hotels around, and you really can’t go wrong here. A Nespresso machine in the room would be nice for a quick coffee whenever you want.

We ate here twice during our week-long stay. The food was spectacular, especially the starters, and I couldn’t find much to fault. The saddle of deer was perhaps a little average. Side dishes cost extra and were quite expensive, to be honest. On our second visit, it took the sommelier about 45 minutes to come over and help us choose wine. Given that Europe leads in fresh water quality at 98%, I’d suggest dropping bottled water and serving their immaculate tap water instead.