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Ski holidays with a twist

20th October 2014 Print

The Niche Destinations collection of exclusive privately-owned four-star hotels in Austria includes six spectacular ski properties in the Tyrol. Each has its niche, adding an extra dimension to make a ski holiday memorable.

Gourmet-Ski : Kitzbühel/Kirchberg : rosengarten-taxacher.com
Relais & Chateaux Rosengarten, in the pretty village of Kirchberg, near Kitzbühel, is a must for the skier who demands the best in world-class skiing and gastronomy. Restaurant Simon Taxacher’s culinary pedigree - 4 toques and 19/20 in the definitive Gault Millau guide – speaks for itself, and the hotel combines warm Tyrolean hospitality with a chic modern style note. The world famous Kitzbühel ski circus, reached via the comfortable new Maierlbahn lift 500 yards from the hotel, offers inexhaustible skiing for all abilities, with 170km of pistes and 59 mountain huts in the Kirchberg/Kitzbühel area, and a further 280 km of pistes and 77 huts in the nearby Skiwelt Wilde Kaiser area also covered by the regional lift pass. Gourmet Ski weekends (3 nights) from €519 and Gourmet-Ski weeks (7 nights) from €1,141.

Spa-Ski : Zugspitz Arena/Berwang : hotelsinger.at
Relais & Chateaux Singer Sporthotel & SPA benefits from a ski-in, ski-out location in Berwang, a peaceful Tyrolean bolthole where guests return year after year to relax and be pampered in the elegant Singer SPA hotel, with its 1800 sq m of superior spa facilities and glorious pool looking out over the snow-covered landscape and surrounding mountains. The high-altitude Zugspitz ski area offers blissful sunny skiing and reliable snow, with exciting powder runs, beautiful cross-country and snow-shoeing trails above the Lechtal valley. Ski & Spa weekends (4 nights) from €739 and Ski & Spa weeks (7 nights) from €1,304.

Powder-Ski : St Christoph am Arlberg : arlberghoehe.at
Hotel Arlberghöhe, enjoys a superb ski-in ski-out situation beside the Arlberg Pass, one of the most snowy places in the Alps and the fulcrum of Austria’s premier ski region, shared by the famous resorts of St Anton and Lech. In the home of Austrian ski instruction, the hotel’s location next to the ski school is perfectly convenient, and its large ‘guests-only’ sun terrace looks directly on to the Arlberg‘s favourite family piste. For confirmed skiers St Christoph is the ideal gateway to the Arlberg, giving privileged access to 280 km of thrilling pistes and limitless off-piste skiing – a pilgrimage for every aspiring powder hound. Powder-Ski warm-up breaks (3 nights) from €230; Powder-Snow weeks (7 nights) from €1145.

Healthy-Ski : Ski Jewel Alpbachtal-Wildschönau/Reith : pirchnerhof.at
In a sunny part of the delightful Alpbachtal village of Reith, Hotel Pirchner Hof makes vitality its focus and mission. In this pristine natural environment, and inspired by the Hildegard von Bingen philosophy, the hotel embraces a heathy approach to living. All food is locally sourced and mostly organic, menus include a good range of vegetarian options and exercise is actively encouraged. For total immersion in wellbeing, visit the Health House to discuss an individually tailored programme combining exercise and diet for a complete tonic. One lift pass covers 145 km of sparkling pistes, including a high proportion of gentle runs for less experienced skiers. Healthy Ski weekends (3 nights) from €342 and Healthy Ski weeks (7 nights) from €750.50.

Family-Ski : Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis : hotel-tirol.net
Hotel Tirol is at the heart of Fiss, a typically charming Tyrolean set high above the Inn valley on a sunny plateau with big mountain views. This family-run hotel is perfect for families, in Europe’s most family-friendly ski areas, which comes with pistes reserved for children, kids’ snow parks, playgrounds, dedicated junior restaurants and even snowmobiles. And if there’s more energy to burn before bed, the children’s playroom in the hotel will tire them out in the most enjoyable way - happy kids mean happy parents. With skiing between 1200 m and 2800 m, snow is guaranteed into Easter and beyond. Family Ski weeks (7 nights) from €1,043.50.

Luxury-Ski : Stubai Glacier/Neustift : hotel-jagdhof.at
Relais & Chateaux Jagdhof Spa Hotel nestles in picturesque Neustift in the Stubai Valley, 20 minutes from Innsbruck. It’s an exclusive destination resort where décor, food, service and spa are all as good as it gets: gracious living in a hunting lodge ambience. The Stubai skiing is a worthy complement to this beautiful property: Austria’s largest glacier ski area is open for snowsport from October to June and its 34 pistes cater for all standards from beginner to expert. Wrap up for a visit to the new Ice Grotto Stubai Glacier – time frozen at 3000m. Luxury Ski weekends (4 nights) from €712 and Gourmet-Ski weeks (7 nights) from €1,512.