JUFA Hotel Erlaufsee

For the money, this was still a great choice. Everything else was fine, and the reception staff were great. The kitchen staff, though, came across as completely unfriendly toward clients. Overall, five stars.

We've stayed here twice now and would happily come again. It's a comfortable, homely place for families, and dogs are welcome too. Our room was cozy and clean, and breakfast was delicious, with a range of pastries. There's a well-equipped gym and sauna you can use for free, and a tennis court as well. The hotel also functions as a sports hall. The location is lovely if you like nature. Grocery stores are a 10-minute walk away, about 1 km, and ski areas and bike paths are nearby.

There were lots of children, and both the rooms and breakfast were very basic. The hotel is behind the railway station, about a 20-25 minute walk from Mariazell, and the location was worse than we expected. It's fine if you just need somewhere to sleep, but not if you're after something special.

The room was cleaned every day, even on January 1st, and there were plenty of safe parking spaces. Cleanliness was excellent, but the food was a letdown. Some hot dishes were cold, the food wasn't always replenished, and the same meals appeared every morning, with the same dessert each evening. Many products seemed bought in rather than fresh. Near the end of breakfast, the dishes were simply left as they were. I asked for more of something and got it after 10 minutes. The staff didn't seem attentive to the food quality either. The coffee was the worst I've tasted in a hotel, kept in a boiler, and the cappuccino wasn't really cappuccino. The pillows were extremely worn out, shapeless, and probably the cheapest available. After five nights, I had neck pain.