Ski, hike or simply unwind with all the family at the magical Naturhotel Forsthofgut hotel in the heart of the Salzburger mountains.
Steeped in local culture and history, Naturhotel Forsthofgut is a family-run hotel that could not be more welcoming of children. With tons of activities, dedicated playrooms and excellent childcare, this alpine hideaway is the perfect base for a ski holiday or just a relaxing winter break. Citizen Enfants checked in to enjoy the very best of Austrian hospitality in the chicest spot.
The Vibe
Naturhotel Forsthofgut began over 400 years ago as a forestry company, and these roots are still very much present – from the wooden key cards to the timber-clad spa. The atmosphere here is one of quiet luxury, with a focus on personal wellbeing and quality family time in nature. The hotel has passed through five generations of the same family, the Schmucks, who have transformed a humble family business into a luxury retreat. Grandfather Rupert still takes care of the wood for the fireplaces in the cosy lobby, where the family hold a weekly drinks reception. Their Austrian heritage is very much celebrated with staff wearing traditional dirndls and cuisine sourced from the Tyrolean region. This family orientated ethos translates into a hotel that is incredibly welcoming of children, and one that prides itself on being a place that parents want to return to with their little ones, year on year – whether for a ski holiday in the winter or to explore the mountains by bike or foot in summer. Not only does the hotel adhere to a strong sense of family values, there is also a strong sense of purpose that the magical surrounding natural environment must be preserved; the hotel is plastic-free, powered by green electricity and only cleaned with biodegradable products.
The Rooms
Snooze in modern Alpine luxury with minimally decorated rooms and natural fabrics. Think blonde timber walls and oak wood flooring cosied with oatmeal linen throws and fluffy boucle seats. It’s chic and quite minimalist, but who needs artwork when you have a stunning view of the mountains or forest? The majority of rooms aren’t huge, but family suites come with separate bunk bed rooms for little ones and ample storage for all your outdoor gear. The rooms seem simple at first glance, but hide many little luxuries: a yoga mat and weights, dreamy underfloor heating, a Dyson hairdryer, a hiking backpack and a swimming bag to use during your stay – plus a yummy traditional bundt cake waiting for your arrival. You’ll also find all you need for little ones, such as cots and high chairs. The Chalet Suites have their own roof terrace and private sauna. Or escape to the three-bedroom mountain hut, which is only accessed by a winding woodland trail – and such an exciting little adventure for kids.
The Food + Drink
Every stay at Forsthofgut is three-quarter board, and you’ll have the same table for the duration of your stay. As such, dining has a family feel (albeit quite formal) with small dining rooms leading from the central ‘delicacies market’, which is piled with rustic breads, a rainbow of fruits and – most importantly – a pancake station and cheese buffet each morning. Open from 7-11am, it’s ideal for those who love a lie-in or who are returning from rushing their kids to ski-school. At 3.30pm a daily dish with a simple offering is served, such as a sweet-and-savoury strudel or a thin alpine pizza. The children’s buffet from 6.30pm ends with a naturally sweetened ice lolly, much to every child’s delight. At dinner, pick from three themed five-course menus: Alpine-Mediterranean, Vegan or ‘R50’ which admirably only uses produce from the hotel’s own farm or within a 50km radius. Should you fancy an earlier lunch or a slice of cake, the bar has an à la carte menu, or you can dine in your bathrobe at Mizumi, the contemporary Japanese restaurant which overlooks the lake. Restaurant 1617 pays homage to the hotel’s heritage, serving Austrian classics such as Salzburger Nockerl or fondue (the holy grail: meat, cheese and chocolate) in a rustic chalet setting.
The Child’s Play
Family is in the DNA of this hotel. Little ones can embark on their own adventures with a wholesome roster of activities detailed on the hotel’s clever app. The MiniGUT petting farm and forest playground take centre stage; here kids can play families in the adorable mini chalet, conquer the treehouse slide or race the giant marble run. Indoors you’ll find a parent-child play room with wooden toys, a slide and teepees open 24/7, or drop them at Rocky’s Club from the age of two for childcare 12 hours a day. There’s a soft-play room, but you’ll most likely find kids wanting to explore nature’s own playground. The ‘Edutainment’ programme includes forest bingo, animal feeding, pony riding and plentiful crafting in the separate art studio and wood workshop.
Older kids get their own Teens’ Lounge with air hockey and cinema nights, football and tennis camp or, for thrill seekers, an indoor obstacle course at the ‘Parcours Lounge’. At the other end of the spectrum, babies are very welcome with Bugaboo strollers, snow sleds and video baby monitors available to hire, as well as babysitters for an extra cost. Kids of all ages will want to visit the swimming area, found in an indoor forest with rows of cosy day-beds from which parents can relax while keeping a watchful eye. The indoor pool is heated to a glorious 33C with a shallow baby pool, splash park, a 70-metre slide and family sauna. Once a week children can dress up as a mermaid or shark for a supervised playtime.
The To-Do List
For a few lucky months of the year (weather dependant!), the hotel becomes ski in, ski out, and you’ll arrive back for hot chocolate (or something stronger) by the deer enclosure. The gondola is a mere five-minute walk away (perfect if you are skiing with kids) and will take you up to the picturesque Saalbach ski area, which is great for all abilities and particularly geared up for families. The hotel can arrange ski hire, guides and instructors. Little ones can learn at the Kinderland located right by the hotel, making it super convenient for parents. In warmer months, there are guided hikes up the mountain – kids can be spurred along the trail with treasure hunts, activity stations, and even an outdoor cinema. This is also the largest bike region in Austria with championship trails and an exhilarating bikepark, or tow your little ones on a gentler route with e-bikes and Thule trailers hired from the hotel. Forsthofgut is also a horseriding haven – domestic guests sometimes bring their own horses to pasture in the hillside meadows or indoor riding hall – and there’s a pony riding camp, plus an alpaca walk with the cheeky Max and Moritz.
If a relaxing rather than an active break is more your thing then you won’t be disappointed. The hotel is also a marvellous spa destination with the stunning recently renovated, 5,700 metre award-winning waldSPA. It centres around the natural bathing lake (where you can also try paddle boarding) and has an onsen pool, an elevated outdoor lap pool, a forest whirlpool, herbal steam baths and many hidden relaxation nooks with roaring log fires and panoramic views of the Leogang mountains. Don’t miss a complimentary ritual in one of the four organic saunas, where the resident sauna master uses everything from scented ice and giant fans to hike your temperature and endorphins. If a day on the mountains doesn’t exhaust you completely, there’s a stylish gym open 24/7 and outdoor yoga platforms within the trees. After all this activity, a massage is a joy. The signature spa treatments are based on the movements of a tree, combining binaural beats with rhythmic stretches.
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