Austria

Sports Hotel Edelweiss, Obertauern, Austria

Last updated 9th June 2017

The on-site ski rental makes hitting the slopes with a family easier than ever. And there’s an in-house skiing and snowboarding school for beginners.

Why go?

Sports Hotel Edelweiss in Obertauern has just added on-site ski rental to its property, making hitting the slopes with a family easier than ever. The hotel also has an in-house skiing and snowboarding school with English-speaking instructors and a convenient ski storage room with heated boot racks and sleds.

Located in the Salzburg region of Austria, Obertauern is a picture-perfect ski destination. The area has 56 blue, 35 red and four black-marked pistes, providing possibilities for skiers and boarders of all skill levels. Intermediate and advanced skiers can spend the day on the Tauern Round, a circuit which connects lifts around the entire valley. The hotel is located near the base of Edelweissbahn, one of the easier runs and part of the route for night skiing. Ski rental for kids ages 10 and under is free at the hotel.

There are two bedroom suites and larger apartments for families, all decorated in a cheery, candy cane-striped decor similar, I’m sure, to Santa’s North Pole lodge. The rooms have large entrances to hang wet snow gear, as well as fluffy bathrobes and comfy slippers.

 Activities

Swim in the indoor pool; just watch out for the tourists who bare it all in the hot tub. The spa offers massages, including a kid’s massage with cocoa oil. In the evening, teenagers can enjoy the game room with table tennis, foosball and billiards, or relax around the lounge fireplaces. The resort also provides free childcare from Sunday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm and from 6-9pm, should you want to venture out to an après-ski bar.

Food: Family meals are one of the highlights at Sportshotel Edelweiss. The room rate includes breakfast, but I’d recommend adding dinner as well. Breakfast is a rich buffet of organic whole foods and a gourmand corner and for dinner you can order from the main, vegetarian or kids’ menu. Make sure to try the Austrian schnitzel and save room for the vast selection of freshly-made desserts.

Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve is a truly magical night at the hotel, when guests share a traditional dinner, carols, and a candle-lit reading of the Christmas story in German. Even if you can’t understand the words, the atmosphere is exciting enough.  

The lowdown

Travel time: The nearest airport is Salzburg, which is an hour from Obertauern.  

Getting there: British Airways flies to Salzburg from London Gatwick from £164, round-trip. easyJet flies from London Gatwick to Salzburg (December to April only) from £163 return. 

From the Salzburg airport, take a shuttle or a taxi to Obertauern. You should avoid driving yourself, as the snow-covered mountain roads can be treacherous.

Where to stay: Stay at the Sports Hotel Edelweiss from £65 per night per person. Children aged five and under stay free.