Austria in the Spring

Although I have a vague recollection of a previous visit to Austria, I was still excited to see more it. I flew out of Manchester Airport.  I had an hassle free journey and with a two hour transfer I was in the resort of  Saalbach for a 2 night stay in the 4 star Saalbacherhof Hotel. The location is excellent as it is in the center of the resort, it is very modern with a wellness Centre and roof top garden with pool. On another plus there is the Castello club which is great for drink.

A good way to explore the area is the Joker Card which provides you with travel on the train and bus, so it is easy to get about. I used the card to go on the End of the Valley Train, which departs every hour to a beautiful parkland with high ropes and nature walks, it was a good place to grab some lunch and take in the stunning views.  Another must was a walk along the river to see the lovely resort of Hinterglemm to vist ithe Glemmart Wooden Art Shop and by using my Joker ticket it was easy to catch the bus to visit the Aspen hotel.

After my stay in Saalbach it was time to move onto the four star Tirolerhof Hotel in Zell-Am-See for another two-night stay, with beautiful views of the mountains and close to Lake Zell which is the  perfect setting for a morning swim. We had an unforgettable visit to the Romantik Hotel which dates back to 1273. This is a very traditional hotel with the wooden frontage, and beautiful flowers in planters on each window, inside it has many traditional features but with modern touches.

One touch I particularly enjoyed about my stay in Zell-Am-Zee was Crazy Daisys, this was a great place to eat, see a band and enjoy late night drinks. An enjoyable day out was the Gondola to Sonnkogel, in the winter this is used for skiers but in the sunnier months the view of the mountain area were glorious and there are plenty of activities from, bike rides to golf. I took the hike, which was a 60 minute walk with a visit to the Sissi Chapel Ski Museum.

To finish my trip in the area it as lovely to sit back and relax on the MS Schmitternhohe for a 45 minute boat trip on the lake. The majestic hotels and stunning houses which trim the edge of the lake with the mountainous backdrop made me all calm and relaxed, so unwinding in the spa at Tirolerhof Hotel, I was all ready for final meal and my sumptuous bed, before the hassle free flight back to Manchester.

Thinking Austria could be for you, make an appointment with Sam at our Brough shop or email Sam, Sam@andrewearles.co.uk