Austria is well known for its amazing spa hotels. You find little gems all over the country. By now I had the chance to stay in a few of them and pick my own personal favorites. Next to the Hotel Ronacher in Bad Kleinkirchheim and the Hotel Elisabeth Private Retreat in Mayrhofen the Steirerhof Bad Waltersdorf is for sure on top of that list. Like the before mentioned it’s a luxury hideaway with all the amenities you can imagine and an extraordinary staff.
The hotel is surrounded by Styria’s green and lush nature, little hills and meadows stretch as far as the eye can see. The nature is inviting and a huge network of marked hiking and running trails make sure that you’ll find your perfect route to explore this part of the country. But the serene beauty of the landscape does so much more. It adds to the relaxing atmosphere at the hotel.
A hotel, in which every staff member tries to meet your highest expectations, where you’re greeted by name and with a smile, where you are a member of the family somehow. No wonder that a lot of guests become regulars after a very short while. I spent a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend at the Steirerhof*****S and even after that relatively short stay it was hard to say goodbye to all the lovely people there. Even in this hotel category you don’t always find that level of extraordinary service (from valet parking to custom tips for exploring the surroundings; they even have a person who’s responsible for your perfect sleep).
My room was perfect, I loved the balcony with its panoramic views and the well-sized bathroom a lot. And the garden… it’s just breathtakingly beautiful. You’ll find a relaxing spot there for sure. The cool thing is that there are no day guests at the spa allowed; all the seven (!!!) pools are for hotel guests only. There are ten saunas to relax, some relaxing rooms and there’s also a ladies only spa for women only to relax.
My two favorite spots were the nature pool (without chlorine and for those who like to swim naked) and the infinity pool with it’s cozy little cabanas. The latter is a very romantic spot to watch the sunset from, by the way. And if you like to get a bit pampered, make sure to stop by at the Vitality Area. More than 30 therapists take care of various guest needs, from baths to wraps, massages, beauty and face treatments to TCM expertises: almost everything is possible. Thanks to its team of professional health experts and doctors, the Steirerhof is known as a first class health institute as well.
Speaking of first class: I just have to mention the food. When I told people that I’ll spend a weekend at the Steirerhof, everybody who had already been there was keen on telling me in detail about the amazing food I’ll get there (and about the lbs I’ll gain). I took it with a grain of salt and thought that it will be okay – but I was wrong on so many levels. It wasn’t that fancy schmanzy gourmet stuff where you’re not really sure what (and if) you’re eating; it was honest, delicious food, every plate had a special twist to it but was rooted in traditional Austrian food. After celebrating every meal and every single course I did gain like three lbs but it was worth it.
Due to its proximity to the city of Vienna, the lovely people and the unparalleled surroundings the Steirerhof is still one of my favorite spots in Austria to relax and to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s a source of inspiration and I love the vibe there; actually a few chapters of my book were written there.
More information:
Der Steirerhof*****s
Wagerberg 125 (or if your gps is like mine: Thermenstrasse 1)
8271 Bad Waltersdorf/Austria
www.dersteirerhof.at
Room rates start at around 160 Euros/person in a double on a one to two night stay-basis, with a lot of services and amenities included.
