Hotel Pichlmayrgut

The New Year’s celebration was wild: a seven-course gourmet dinner, a DJ and fireworks, followed after midnight by a buffet with fresh oysters, carpaccio, a whole Parmesan wheel and even a pig’s head. We spent a week skiing here with family, and the regular shuttle to the lift, running every 15 minutes, made getting around easy. The spa has a great range of saunas, and there’s also a gym, tennis court and plenty more. Breakfast had lots to choose from, but dinner was the real highlight, with a changing three-course menu and a salad bar with bread, cheese and fruit each night. The staff were warm and welcoming, and it’s family run. I’d happily recommend it.

We really enjoyed our stay. The atmosphere was pleasant, the staff were genuinely kind and always ready to help, and the food was excellent. The only small thing missing was bottled water in the room. Apart from that, everything was fine.

The outdoor saunas are lovely, but inside the design is a jumble of styles, with artificial stone and cave effects that feel kitschy. There’s also a window between the bathroom and bedroom, so you can clearly see someone showering, which is really uncomfortable. From outside, the hotel looks beautiful, almost like a fairy tale and reminiscent of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Inside, though, it’s a completely different story. It feels more like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on mescaline, with nothing seeming to fit together. Old carpets, loads of lamps with fake plastic candles, and badly done ceiling details meant to look neo-baroque are everywhere. There are clumsy faux-marble paintings, furniture with no real logic or consistency, and absurd curtains. Even the otherwise lovely metal relaxation area after the spa has plastic windows.

The shuttle to the ski lift was especially handy, so we didn’t have to drive ourselves to the ski area. This was our second stay at Pichlmayrgut, this time for skiing and some downtime while my partner and I celebrated our second anniversary. People’s comments about worn facilities and the need for renovation seem exaggerated, though there’s a little truth to them. Some parts show their age, but that didn’t really spoil the experience. It’s a very old hotel, and that’s part of its charm. The food and service were incredible. Lorenzo, Constantinos and Juan were fantastic and made sure we had what we needed. Everything tasted fresh, and breakfast left little to be desired. The sauna and swimming areas were fully working, though it was disappointing that the aroma bath was still out of order and the steam room didn’t seem to work very well. I can definitely recommend a relaxing stay at Pichlmayrgut.