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If you have been following Your Little Black Book for a while, you know that I am crazy about winter sports. This year is extra special, because for the first time this year we went skiing as a family of three in Grossarltal in beautiful Salzburg . Anyone looking for a child-friendly ski area in Austria need look no further. The Austrian village of Grossarltal is situated at 924 meters and feels very authentic. It is small, cozy, and if you stay at the beautiful Hotel Das Edelweiss , you would almost not want to leave your hotel to go skiing. I say almost: because as soon as you stand at the top of the Panorama cable car and ski your first run, you are hooked.
Why is this ski resort so wonderful for families? Most hotels offer childcare for little ones who can't ski yet, and you can play and sled endlessly together at the wintery kids' playground in the village. But perhaps the best part: you step out of the hotel, click on your skis, take a lift next to the hotel, and you can immediately start your wonderful ski trip.
About the Grossarltal-Dorfgastein ski area
Grossarltal, together with Dorfgastein located on the other side of the mountain, forms the Grossarltal-Dorfgastein ski area. What I personally really like is that you can ski right down to the valley. So (if you're lucky) at the end of the day, you only take off your skis right in front of the ski depot at your hotel or apartment. The fact that you don't need a car at your destination is so relaxing and certainly saves a lot of hassle in the morning, especially with small kids. The Grossarltal-Dorfgastein ski area has 73 km of slopes and is part of Ski amadé. For several years now, the area has been using the best technology, making it 90% snow-sure and ensuring the slopes are in perfect condition every single day. As a result, the ski season starts as early as the beginning of December and skiing is possible until the first week of April. You can store your skis at Panorama directly under the Panorama cable car lifts. We always bring our own helmets, but you can also rent them if you prefer to travel with less luggage.
The slopes of Grossarltal-Dorfgastein are wide and not too difficult, making skiing incredibly relaxing. Especially if you're new to a new ski area! I really enjoyed the run from the Kreuzkogel (at over 2.000 meters) to the Gehwolf Alm ski hut. What I really love about this ski area is that you can ski right into the villages. This means you often ski through the forest, and I always find that magical, navigating between the enormous pine trees. For another beautiful trip, ski from the top of the Kreuzkogel chairlift towards Dorfgastein. Along the way, you'll pass the beautiful Spiegelsee mountain lake, which I would definitely like to return to in the summer. Especially on the way back, at the top of the Fulseck lift, you'll have a fantastic view of Spiegelsee.
Because Grossarltal-Dorfgastein is part of Ski amadé, you have access to 760km of slopes with a single ski pass. We spent a long weekend in Grossarltal and stayed in the local ski area, but if you have more time and would like to see more, you can also take the ski bus or drive to another area.
3 cozy huts directly on the slopes
One of the best things about skiing in Austria is the "huts" where you can eat and drink right on the slopes. Of course, we stayed at as many different huts as possible during our ski trip. I'll share a few of my favorites!
Gehwolf Alm: This cozy hut is located just above the Kreuzkogel chairlift and boasts a large panoramic terrace. In colder weather, you can snuggle up under a blanket on a sheepskin rug while sipping hot chocolate with whipped cream. They also serve excellent schnitzel for lunch!
Wengeralm: If you're looking for a sunny terrace, the Wengeralm hut is the place to be. Settle in, order a ski wash, and swap your goggles for sunglasses if the weather's good. Even when we were there in January, we sat here several times with our coats off on the way to Dorfgastein. It's a lovely terrace where you can relax and also enjoy delicious food.
Laireiteralm: At the end of the day, after your last round of skiing, enjoy a last drink in the sun at Laireiteralm before making the descent to your hotel at the foot of the Panoramabahn.
Reiterhütte: Another great stop where you can even relax in a lounge chair is the Reiterhütte. Are you team apple strudel or team Kaiserschmarrn? At the Reiterhütte, they both are on the menu! Here, team apple strudel, with vanilla sauce, of course, and two forks please.
5 fun things to do in Grossarltal
- Wine lovers can indulge themselves during the annual ski & wine weekThis entire week in March is dedicated to the best of Austrian cuisine and local wines. Several huts partnering with the event will offer special dishes. The highest farmers market in the Alps will also be held that week!
- I did it once and I recommend it to everyone. Book a ski tour where you're already on the lift before sunrise and go on a sunrise ski tour with a guide. It's so special to see the sun rise over the mountains! In Grossarltal, you can book one of these Skikeriki tour including an Austrian breakfast.
- How nice is it to combine skiing with wellnessAre you staying with Hotel Das Edelweiss After a day on the slopes, you can dive straight into the hotel spa for some much-needed me-time. There's a separate area for families and a beautiful heated outdoor pool that's also open in winter.
- Want a day full of WOW moments? Then book the Grossarltal Ski amadé Made My Day Package. During the Relaxing Nature Ski Day, you'll be the first on the slopes in the morning, before the lifts officially open. End the day with a snowshoe hike, taking you through the forest and off-trails for a walk in nature. Magical!
- For the kids, there's a fun slope full of challenges and a tunnel they can ski through. Down in the village, there's also a fun playground where the little ones can safely play in the snow. With a bit of luck, fresh snow will have fallen, and you can set off on a sledding adventure right from the hotel.
Tips for winter sports with a baby or toddler in Grossarltal
From the age of four, kids can join a ski class in Grossarltal, and there are two ski schools that offer lessons for children. I started skiing when I was 3 and a half, and we want to do the same with Manuel. I've received so many questions on Instagram Stories about how we organized our winter sports so we could actually ski together. The kids' club at our hotel was for ages three and up, so I booked a babysitter for Manuel through the hotel who looked after him one-on-one while we went skiing. Every day from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the babysitter played with him at the hotel, so he could sleep comfortably in his own bed. We made sure we were home when he woke up! In the morning, we'd go sledding and play in the playground together, and at the end of the day, we'd go swimming together. It was a perfect solution for us, allowing us to take Manuel along while also having the opportunity to ski together.
Stay at Hotel Das Edelweiss in Grossarltal
If you go skiing in Grossarltal, you can't miss Hotel Das Edelweiss . Built against the mountainside right next to the Panorama cable car, where a day on the slopes of Grossarltal-Dorfgastein begins, it is a true family hotel, run with great love from generation to generation. The hotel's latest addition (including a massive spa and wellness area) is built in a beautiful modern Alpine style. We stayed in a family suite in the new section, and it felt almost like an apartment. It features two bedrooms, a sitting area, a walk-in closet, and two wonderfully spacious bathrooms. On the balcony, you can enjoy your first cup of coffee in the morning sun. And at the end of the day, it is lovely to come home and enjoy a cozy drink in your own room while the little one happily plays with their Duplo from home.
One of the most important things about choosing a hotel when traveling with small kids or a baby, in my opinion, is that there is a good restaurant on-site. That way, you don't have to go anywhere in the evening and can have a quiet dinner (and on time) before the kids go to bed. That always gives us a lot of peace of mind and the little one more routine. I really enjoyed seeing that Hotel Das Edelweiss is truly a family hotel. Many young families were staying there, and you can tell from everything that they are geared towards this. Everyone has a fixed table, and in the evening, you sit down for a four-course dinner. There is a special kids' menu for the children. From pasta to a piece of salmon, but of course also a chicken schnitzel. We are in Austria, after all! The wine list at Hotel Das Edelweiss is impressive, and they recommend a glass for every course. We really ate deliciously every evening, and the breakfast is also incredibly extensive.
The hotel spa is simply fantastic. And here, too, everything has been thought of to please families with young children. There's a separate spa where families are welcome, and an adults-only spa. This way, everyone can enjoy what they're looking for. There's a special pool for toddlers, which is a bit warmer, and where you can all relax together in a cabana. But the best part, for me, was the mountain spa, where you can watch the skiers descend from the heated outdoor pool. Manuel thought it was fantastic too!
We really enjoyed heading to the spa at the end of the day for a swim together. Then, we relaxed in our suite and enjoyed a drink, before sitting down to a leisurely dinner without having to think twice. That's truly a carefree way to enjoy winter sports, even with small children. We would definitely return to Grossarltal-Dorfgastein! Nothing beats being right on the slopes from your hotel.
How to get to Grossarltal
If you have the time, you can of course drive to the Salzburgerland , but if you are going skiing for a long weekend like we did, flying is much more efficient. In winter, Transavia flies directly to Salzburg. From the airport, there are various taxi services that you can book in advance to take you to your hotel in the ski area. Your hotel can often arrange such a transfer as well. Buses also run from the airport to most villages. Once you arrive at your destination, you won't need a car if you stay at a hotel like Das Edelweiss . Salzburg is a very beautiful city, and the next time we head that way, I would definitely combine it with a visit to the city!
Would you like to know more about Grossarltal in Salzburgerland? Then take a look at the region's website here >>
Do you have any winter sports tips for Salzburgerland? Let us know via the button below and TIP THE EDITORS!
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With love,
Anne
| PS: Do you know Your Little Black Book's Green Policy ? Here you will find my personal tips on how to travel and live greener, and I explain why and how I offset the CO2 emissions of all the trips #teamyourlbb takes.
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