Hotel Niederreiter

This feels like more than a three-star hotel to me, at least four. Everything is spacious, nicely decorated, and new. The spa is wonderful and roomy, and the location is right next to the cable car.

There’s a really good cafe here, where you can sit on the terrace with coffee and delicious cake. They served me and my 33 guests quickly and kindly, and did a great job. Try the Marillen brandy, and call ahead if you’re bringing a big group. We didn’t have time to take the cable car to the top of the mountain, unfortunately.

This is a great place for walkers. In the “Boot Room,” you can wash your walking boots at the sink, then leave them on the stand to dry with gentle heat and waterproof them. There are individual lockers opened with your room pass. I was impressed by the spa. There are three areas to relax after bathing, with six kinds of herbal tea provided free. The jacuzzi is massive, with a section where you can lie on a metal frame and rest your head on a padded pillow. There are two saunas, one dry and cooler, and the other hotter, with a water bucket to make it hotter still. For English people reading this, you’re not allowed to wear swimwear in the saunas; you have to go in naked, and there are no separate facilities for men and women. You won’t be out of place, as everyone else is naked too. The hotel is right beside the Naturanbahn gondola lift, and there’s a cracking cafe at the top with wonderful views.

We ended up meeting lots of lovely people, so they must be doing something right. The spa was great, though it had enough kids around that it wasn't quite as relaxing as I'd hoped. Rooms felt a little basic and the food was fine, but could be better. The location is brilliant for Natrunbahn, provided there's enough snow.