Attersee - upper Austria

Attersee general info:

The attersee is the largest lake in Austria with 47km round. It is one of the only lakes where diving is very popular (which is rarely done in sweet water). There is a depth up to 170meter with 26 kinds of fish and a large range of plants.

Around the lake there is several parking spots with plates that indicate what kind of fish/ plants you can see in that area of the lake, this is unique!

Of course diving lessons and packages are sold, even in combination with overnight stays (packages).

Gustav Klimmt museum:

There is a  constant exhibition of Gustav Klimmt since 2012 with always one original painting in the museum at the Attersee. This is a very small museum and only for those people really familiar with this artist (I was not impressed about this style of painting and the museum is just 1 room large).

Waterfalls & waterstreams:

There is a big waterfall at the other side of the Attersee (from the hotel point of view) who is really worth visiting (forgot about the name, but there is just this big one here).

Next to that there is some remarkablr spots to visit with beautiful waterstreams.

For the real active persons there is the possibility to 'hike with your scuba mask'. This excursion is unique as you walk up along the river with a wetsuit and come down in the river while you slide down and snorkle in the small water parts full of fish. All info via www.up-group.at.

Really a unique experience and I was very disappointed not to have had the opportunity to do this as the water was to wild at the moment of my visit.

Diner cruise on the Attersee:

I was lucky I had the opportunity to enjoy dinner on a boat floating around the Attersee during 2 hours. The chef prepared great food on a buffet (vitelli tonato & mozzarella with tomatoes as a starter/ pork fillet with potatoes or rissotto with a mix of vegetables/ fresh strawberries with mascarpone). The food was of great quality and had a very good taste! 

It was amazing to have dinner with such and amazing Sunset and the Tirol accordeon at the background. 

Really worth trying!

Hotel Attersee 4* - Upper Austria

I' ve stayed in this 4* hotel directly at the Attersee. This hotel is very traditional and Family owned (as most of the Austrian hotels). But the rooms are very outdated.

The restaurant and it's terrace has a stuning view overlooking the Attersee (biggest lake of Austria). And so do all rooms overlook the lake, which is a big advantage.

Room:

The rooms 1 to 5 are spacious but rather old (I slept in room 104). There is a double bed in the room with 2 matrasses and 2 seperate blanquets. There is even an old fashioned TV. My colleagues slept in a real single bedroom which was small with a tiny bathroom. All beds are only 180cm long, which is very small (so I wss lucky to have a double bed).

There is a small balcony overlooking the Atter lake (unfortunately the railings are of wood which makes it impossible to see the lake out of your bed (which would have been a big plus).

Unfortunately the curtains are not dark at all, so light enters the room very early in the morning.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is rather spacious, but also looking old (but very clean). The toilet is in the same space. There is a bath with shower facilities. Soap & body lotion are provided in individual bottles.

There is a tissue box & vanity kid.

There is 1 big, 1 large and a pool towel per person provided.

The hairdryer is rather of poor quality, you can better take your own when you have long hair.

Breakfast:

The breakfast is traditional but there is a remarquable strange offer of fish preperations. The following things are provided:

- fresh breads (6 species)

- nutella

- 3 kinds of jam

- yoghurt

- mixed fruit

- cereals

- cheese and ham (several kinds)

- orange juice (not fresh)

- water

- ...

Lake = pool:

The lake in front of the hotel is used as a huge pool. I swom for a few minutes and it was great to swim in this cristal clear water. It's end of juni, so the water is not that warm but do-able for a refreshing dive. 

There is a lift going down to the lake where sunbeds are provided. There is also a bathrobe and towel provided in the room to go down.

Restaurant:

The terrace is the best place to eat with a view on the lake. There is a a la carte restaurant with a selection of pasta's & typical austrian food. 

The quality of the food is ok, but was not the best I've already experiended in Austria. I have to add my salad was not even washed, as you could see the dirth on every piece (so skipped the salad). But it had a good taste.

Advantages:

- the location at the lake and the view from the room is definitely the biggest highlight of this hotel.

- all rooms are having a balcony and are overlooking the lake.

Disadvantages:

- all rooms are full of carpets on the floor and even on the walls

- the room as rather old furniture (but clean)

- there is only one plug in the corner of the room, so no chance to have your iPhone on the bedside while charging

Conclusion:

This hotel is a passing by hotel to spent 1 or 2 nights to explore the Attersee. It is clean and if you do not expect to much luxury it is definitely OK.

I would rate it a 6/10 for a 4* hotel because of the great location and the cleanliness. But it is definitely not worth a 4 star hotel as it needs a renovation. So would this have been a 3*, it would get a 7/10.

Hotel Gradonna mountain resort 4*+ Kals - Austria

I've stayed for 2 nights in this wonderfull and brand new 4*+ hotel in Kals / Austria. It was really a great experience to stay in this great hotel surrounded by the mountains. This hotel is situated on the mountain which offers you a great view overlooking the Alps without seeing any house in the neighbourhood.

That's why the pool is one of the unique experiences of this hotel - to swim with a view on the mountains!

It has been a while since I've stayed ik a hotel that is so new, clean, well organized  and spacious. This is the example of how a hotel should look like!

Rooms:

I was staying in one of the standard rooms with a view on the back of the hotel. Of course the front side has a better view overlooking the moutains, but  there was nothing to complain about. Because the rooms are overlooking the nature.

There is a double bed with 2 seperate matrasses and 2 seperate covers.

The rooms are spacious with a small balcony and a kind of sofa corner.

There is a big flat screen which can be used as computer. There are big wardrobes with plenty of space and a seperate toilet in the hallway.

No airconditioning in the rooms, but as it always cool down in the mountains at night, this should not be an issue in summer.

The rooms have very dark curtains that keeps your room dark in the morning.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is as modern as the rest of the room and practical equipt. It is not that large, but there is a big shower and a sink next to it. Both have a soap distributer (no shampoo)- body lotion and tissues are also provided.

There is also a make-up mirror and a good hairdryer.

There is a soft bathrobe and a pair of very nice slippers provided in the room.

Restaurant:

The restaurant is very large and overlooking the mountains. As the rest of the hotel it is very modern and woody. There is also a terrace to eat and you can even have a drink on the pool side.

The service and the food are of very high quality! 

Breakfast:

The buffet breakfast is ons of the largest I've ever seen with a broad variety of local and organic food.

There is 10 kinds of bread, selfmade jams, juices, yoghurts, cereals, salmon,... 

Eggs/bacon and pancakes are prepared on one of the islands. But there was really to much to mention.

But as a nutella freak I have to mention, there was nutella and they where great with the pancakes 😀.

Wellness:

Everything in this hotel is large and varied, well so is the wellness area with 1 large indoor pool with a great view, a seperate indoor pool with slide for children and a sauna where clothes are allowed (in the same area). 

There is also an external heated pool (32degrees I guess), which was adorable!

Of course there are sunbeds and even big sofa's with lots of pillows provided in the garden and also inside.

The sauna's & steambath are located in a seperate space where clothes and children are not allowed. Here you can find 2 sauna's (1 very big one and 1 smaller) with different degrees and 3 stel baths (with different tastes).

There is also a small swimming pool in this area, which is great to swim naked after your sauna session and relax on one of the beds or even lay outside in one of the outdoor spaces provided.

Really one of the best and very clean wellness area's privatly for hotelguests.

There is free drinking water, tea and fruit provided at the wellness reception. There is also a hairdresser in this area.

Advantages:

- luxury hotel with varieted wellness offer

- high quality food and a wide range of food at breakfast

- modern and spacious rooms with all equipments needed

- direct acces from the hotel to the slopes. (Ski in/out)

Disadvantages:

- this hotel is situated above the city center of Kals (small village) and is isolated. So you need a car whenever you plan to do some excursions.

- the ski area of Kals-Matrei is rather small and advisable for a short ski or non- experienced skiers who do not need that much km of slopes.

Conclusion:

I can only say this was an extraordinary experience to stay in this hotel! It has friendly staff members, good quality food and very modern and well equiped rooms. Therefor I would rate it 9/10 and it would have been 9,5 should the location be more central. But of course the kalmed of this area also has it's opportunities for those people who want to revive and enjoy the nature at it's best!

I should really advice this hotel for those people who are looking for a holiday in the mountain with a great wellness experience, good food and the calmed of the mountains. 

Hotel Baobab - Gran Canaria 5*

I've stayed in this hotel last year with some friends. We had a great experience in this extraordinary 5*resort!

The hotel is set up in an african style. As soon as the taxi drops you in front of the hotel, you have to walk over a lake surrounded by the noise of all kinds of animale and waterfalls. Really a cool and unique jungle experience.

Even though the resort is not directly situated at the beach, I didn't miss the beach as there is 2 swimming Pools surrounded by sand. And their is no private beach anyhow in this area. 

The beach is only a 7 min walk, but very busy. So you will not regret have chosin this resort because of it's location (which was one of my doubts before I confirmed this holiday, as this is usually one of my criteria to select a hotel)

Rooms:

We were happy to have one of the suites on the top floor, overlooking the resort, the famous dunes of Gran Canaria & the sea. The rooms are very spacious with a big double bed, a big wardrobe, minibar and a big bathroom. All very clean! 

There was a big balcony which was great to enjoy the view.

Bathroom:

The bathroom was very large with a tub and a rain shower (seperate).

There is a window you can open to enjoy the view from your bath or shower (great, cause nobody could see you on the top floor).

Amenities like soap, shampoo and conditioneer are provided at the sink with a big mirror. 

One of the less positive points was the fact the toilet was also in this bathroom.

We've also seen the standard room of our friends and they're also spacious with seperate bath & shower. And there is a separate toilet in the stnd. rooms too.

Exactly the same facilities, but less wardrobe space and less space.

Restaurant:

We booked this hotel in halfboard and enjoyed the very large and variated buffet as well in the morning as in the evening. 

There is really a very broad choise at any time in the mail restaurant. There is also a smaller restaurant next door with themed buffets with great and fresh products. This to switch from atmosphere from time to time. But I have to be honest  9 out of 10 times we took diner in the mail restaurant, as we preferred the larger choise.

The fact we could eat on the terrace every morning and evening was such a great feeling. In the morning you wake up with the sun on your face and in the evening you could enjoy the romantic atmosphere with candles in the middle of green trees.

Facilities:

One of the most positive things in this hotel is the variety of Pools, you have 3 big Pools in total:

1. Pool with waterfall, sand beach with the water going down slowly (like the sea) and a seperate part for children (Family pool). Also small poolbar.

2. Adult only pool (much smaller, but still large) who is round shaped directly to the main bar (also night bar with live music)

3. Largest pool with river and partially sanded pool side. Connected to a la carte restaurant and poolbar. You can take a sunbed along the river in one of the corners and be quiet private.

There is free WiFi in the lobby of the hotel and in the rooms, but as the resort is so big you can better by a router at the reception. It is not expensive (forgot the price) and you can use it all over the island without any xtra cost (small box you can carry with you along the beach)

The resort is very large and with its typical african trees and flowerd it is just amazing to walk through the resort in the evening when everything is lighted.

We really had a romantic stay and enjoyed this hotel for the full. 

We're definitely planning to go back (even though this is not one of my habits as I'm willing to explore as much as possible).

Positive points:

- wide range of facilities

- special african atmosphere

- wide variety of food at the buffets ( always very varieted starters buffet, cheese buffet and desert buffet)

- modern and large rooms

Negative points:

- staff is not always as helpfull as you would expect in a 5* spain resort.

- the choise of the main course was not always very varieted (should be more fish instead of pork and veal)

I would rate this hotel 8,5/10. I would have given a 9 should the service be more smoothly, but for a 5* resort it was not always as it should be. But the facilities are really worth a 9/10!

HINT: make sure you have a room overlooking the dunes and the sea, this is really worth paying for (as half of the rooms are overlooking the inner country = nothing to see)

HINT: go for a walk to the shopping center at the promenade for real brands.

And definitely make a walk through the dunes of Gran Canaria.

The nightlife is great (especially for gay people) and you can easily pick a taxi for a reasonable rate to the city centre.