If you were to ask me why we keep going to Hotel Oberschwarzach in Saalbach, Austria for our skiing holidays, I would just show you this picture. It pretty much sums up all of the things that I love about this magical place, and why we haven't looked anywhere else to ski for the past few years! Why Saalbach?The village of Saalbach is quaint enough to not attract excessive amounts of tourism, but still lively and well-kept enough to make you feel comfortable and safe while skiing. It's our slice of family paradise! A couple of hours from the major cities of Vienna and Munich, as well as Salzburg, your skiing holiday can be added on to a cultural excursion or city shopping spree. There is a massive Saalbach "Ski Circus", meaning that one lift will take you up the mountain from your doorstep (if staying at Oberschwarzach, at least!) and you can ski to the bottom of the other side of the mountain or to the next mountain over, and then take a different lift up. This leaves you with almost endless options for different runs with various difficulty levels, and you could ski the Alps for weeks and not do the same run twice. Ideal Weather & ConditionsIf you love to ski, this is the place for you! Even if you aren't so keen on hurling yourself down the slopes, there are plenty of options for other winter activities such as snowshoeing, tubing and winter carriage rides. Rental of equipment is also super simple in the large selections of sports stores which are just a short walk down the road! In the winter and spring we love variation of sunny and snowy weather, and in our latest trip with Ryan's family, we had so much beautiful sunshine and I almost had to be pulled off the slopes at the end of the day! When I lived in Dubai, my mom used to tell us, "enjoy the fresh air while you can"... and when we were in Austria we would breathe more deeply for those few days before we went back to the heat. I would even sometimes stick my head in the fridge for minutes at a time on arrival to our place in Dubai, to my father's dismay (he pays the electrical bills!). But, there is something healing and pure about the fresh mountain air that makes me believe that it truly is the best medicine.
Our Second HomeWhen you move around a lot, there isn't really a constant place that you can call home... but the welcoming environment at this place and the format of their homey hotel rooms made me miss it as if it was home when I wasn't there! Sharing the skiing experience and Christmas with Ryan's family alongside my grandparents meant that every meal was like a celebration. Ryan's sister Kiley is hilarious and such good friend to both of my siblings, we were the loudest table by far. But also the most fun table! I am so grateful for how accommodating Oberschwarzach was and how fantastic the winter experience continually is. Summertime?Visiting Oberschwarzach in the summer definitely does not disappoint either... well, I am biased as I worked there last summer as the horse riding instructor, but also enjoyed the hotel in the summer for around ten years! Stay tuned for my summer experience in Saalbach fending for myself & trying to keep kids safe and happy on horses!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |