What’s on your family vacation checklist? Amazing landscape, beautiful wellness area, delicious food? If your answer is “all of the above”, then I’ll show you a hotel that has them all.
Located in the heart of the Alps in St. Johann im Pongau – only 45 minutes’ drive from the Salzburg airport – the 4-star superior Alpina Family, Spa & Sporthotel offers great amenities for families with kids. Wellness & sport can be combined wonderfully here, as the hotel is positioned directly at the slopes.
What makes this hotel attractive? St. Johann im Pongau feels a world away from the hustle & bustle of more touristy areas in Salzburger Land, and its vibe is more family fun than pretentious glam – so it will put you into vacation mode right from the start. And the most spectacular thing about Alpina Family, Spa & Sporthotel is of course the SPA. Let’s check it out…
Wellness & Spa
Whether you want to enjoy one of the relaxing pools, or the ASIAN beauty & spa with massages & cosmetic treatments (pamper yourself with SOTHYS products!), the wellness area is sure to revitalize you. Kids can choose between several pools, all of them warm & inviting, and most important – clean & safe.
You can spend all your day in the indoor Lagoon Pool with bubbly Jacuzzi, splashing around and having fun with your family.
The Rooftop Infinity Pool is truly the piece de resistance of the wellness area. Lounge on a cosy chair, sip a green tea, and take a few laps while enjoying the stunning views. There’s nothing more relaxing than this…
Last but not least, you can luxuriate in the Vitality Garden, an oasis of well-being featuring a Finnish Sauna, a Herb Sauna, a Steam Bath, a Saltwater Bath (40°C) and heated day beds.
Rooms & Suites
Alpina Family, Spa & Sporthotel boasts comfortable double rooms, luxurious suites and family friendly vacation appartements. For a relaxing and pampered stay, choose the Alpina Suite “Panorama Design”, featuring 65 sq m, a cosy living room with a couch, two bedrooms, and a large roof terrace with panoramic views. It’s the perfect option for big families (hosts up to 6 persons)!
Delicious Eats
Service at the Panorama Restaurant is unfailingly friendly and helpful, and you can enjoy the Alpina’s Deluxe Meal Plan, which includes a gourmet breakfast buffet, a lunch buffet from 12:30 until 4:30 pm, a cake & coffee buffet with cold plates from 4:00 till 5:00 pm, and a 5-course-dinner in the evening. All soft drinks from the juice fountain are included.
Moreover, you’ll enjoy show cooking and wonderful barbecue evenings. After all, who doesn’t like fine dining atmosphere?
Special tip for moms: you can feed your kids real food here – you’ll find delicious vegetables, lots of salads (lamb’s lettuce with warm bacon & potatoes), fresh fish (like St. Petersfish with herb butter), fruits and a lot of wonderful desserts. However, if you have a picky kid, there is also pizza, pasta and the omnipresent Schnitzel – the restaurant caters for everyone’s needs.
Alternatively you can relax and unwind at the pleasant Bar & Lounge. You’ll be served expertly crafted cocktails – meant to be enjoyed in front of the cozy fireplace.
Fun For Little Guests
Now let me tell you about the awesome kids activities! The hotel is a proud member of the Kinderhotels chain, and the Alpina’s Kids Wonderland features several play rooms, and plenty of activities to keep kids busy.
Everything seems to run effortlessly here but I am sure it takes a lot of work to maintain it. There is the STORK´S NEST – perfect for all babies 4 weeks of age and older. The baby room is specially designed and fully equipped with cots, diaper buckets, HIPP care sets, bottle warmers, baby monitors, electrical outlet safeguards and much more.
There is the MINI CLUB for kids aged 3-6 years with a magical doll corner, an activity room with climbing wall, group activity games, exciting Kiddy-Olympics, outdoor games, arts & handicrafts, creative game evenings, storytelling, comfort-corner with pillows and blankets. Drinks and daily ´Smiley-Snacks´ are included!
There is also a SMILEY ROOM for kids aged 7-15 years – offering adventure games in the woods, exploring, picnic hikes, puzzle rallies, treasure hunts, exciting Junior Olympics, sports tournaments, Indians Days, Pirates Days, children’s disco, and a family recreation room with table tennis, table football and darts.
To Dos While You’re Here
St. Johann im Pongau and skiing are synonymous. You’ll find the registration office for the Alpendorf ski school directly at the hotel, and you can drop your children off at the Kids Wonderland where they get picked up and brought back by the ski instructors. Skiing is not for you? The hotel has plenty of other ways to fill a winter-vacation – it features a GOLF simulator, a well-appointed gym and an indoor tennis center. Rackets, balls, and indoor tennis shoes can be rented in-house.
With all that being said, the Alpina Family, Spa & Sporthotel proves to be a solid value with wonderful amenities and stunning setting. You’ll love it, your kids will adore it… don’t forget to take your dog with you, he needs vacation too! Get started planning your trip now!
Thank you to the Schwarz Family for the fantastic weekend! Once the first snowfall lands, we’ll come back to hit the slopes.
expattrip.com 