Self-catering skiing in the Tirol

Austria is known for its excellent hotels and guest houses, but has an increasing number of contemporary and traditional, purpose built apartments and self-catering properties. Here’s a selection of the best.

Natural surroundings, natural materials
Highly contemporary wood, glass and slate apartments, designed and built in a stepped arrangement up the mountain at Kappl in the extreme west of the Tirol, provide open plan, high ceilinged accommodation for up to six guests, in three bedroom apartments. Each one of the four `Aradira’ apartment buildings has a tiled stove and a private terrace, ideal for winter barbecues, and a baker delivers fresh bread each morning.

The use of natural materials in the construction reflects the apartments’ natural setting, looking out across the famous Silvretta mountain range.
Excellent skiing is right on the doorstep at Kappl and a short bus ride away at Ischgl, with skiing into neighbouring Switzerland. Aradira.at

Luxury for the family
Anti-allergic linen, natural materials, minimalist interiors and natural ventilation system are designed to aid healthy sleep at the `Arche’, a highly contemporary house, with four twin bedded rooms, a saua, steaem bath and hot tub. Located in the top family ski resort of Serfaus, the Arche is a fantastic and luxurious place to spend a family holiday, or to enjoy the activities and winter sports in the vicinity.

The sister property, Villa Rasilla is a state of the art, lavish holiday home for eight people in four spacious twin bedded rooms. Design is minimalist and highly contemporary, the house is well appointed and has a south facing terrace, dining area, kitchen, sauna and wellness area. Skiing is particularly good for families in Serfaus, with Europe’s first children-only run. Villarasilla.at.

Family accommodation for up to 11
The new Pezid apartments are in the heart of the village of Serfaus and provide tastefully appointed accommodation with plenty of room for a family, or group of up to 11. Most of the Pezid apartments take advantage of the mountain scenery and have a chill lounge, a glazed, higher-level room within a room that provides a view of the mountain world.

In some of the apartments the double bed is stored beneath the chill lounge reclining area. It can then be pulled out in the evening and pushed back in the morning. The indoor pool at the Pezid is situated beneath the roof and provides a marvellous view of Serfaus. A sauna landscape with steam bath, sanarium and rest room are available, too, and there's a superbly equipped playroom for the kids. Pezid.at

Light flooded apartments amid nature
Vast balconies and picture windows let in both light and nature at the new CHI-Q apartment house on the slopes of the Kaunergrat nature park in Kauns, 60kms each of Innsbruck. The house has three light-flooded apartments, available for weekly rental, close to the mountains of the Piztal and with a beautiful meadow right in front of the contemporary styled property. A weeek’s rental costs from 1120 euros. Chi-q.at

Ski apartment houses in Paznautal
Built in 2007, the apartment houses at Rifugio Galtür include two houses, Casa Valtellina and Falisia, located in one of the most beautiful and snowiest Austrian ski resorts in the Tirolean Paznauntal, around 1600 m above the sea level. One house, the Falisia, can accommodate eight people comfortably in the four spacious double rooms. It is built over three floors with a kitchenette, sitting room with Swedish stove, a sauna and a ski room. On the roof there is a large sun terrace with a magnificent view of the Silvretta mountain range.

The second house, the Valtellina, comprises five double rooms and one room with several beds, thus comfortably accommodating 15 to 20 people. All rooms have en-suite bathroom, cable and internet facilities. An extensive terrace is also to be found on the roof of this building. Rifugio-galtuer.at

For more information, log on to Tirol.at.