Luxvisor.com has already reported on the 5-star Travel Charme Ifen Hotel in Hirschegg in Kleinwalsertal, Austria, one of the most beautiful high mountain valleys in the Alps. It is time to take a closer look at this hotel.
Getting There
Getting there by car was not easy. It should be said that the hotel was not responsible for this! There were torrential rains, aquaplaning, visibility sometimes below 100 meters, and it was dark. The highlight was probably the roadblock on the only federal road leading to Kleinwalsertal. An alternative route was taken, which was difficult to follow. This led through countless villages with speed limits of 30 and 40 km/h. But every detour comes to an end, as happened at a T-junction. The question was: left or right? Since there was no detour sign, the wrong direction was taken, according to Murphy’s Law. The navigation system was also clueless and did not find an alternative route. Since the rough direction was no longer correct, a U-turn was made and the right direction was finally taken. The arrival was delayed by a good 30 minutes.
The Room
The double room with a panoramic mountain view was modern and harmoniously furnished, both in terms of style and color concept. This is not surprising, as the interior design is exclusively by the Italian designer Lorenzo Bellini. The room (like all the rooms) had a balcony, a very spacious bathroom with two sinks, a bathtub and a shower, as well as a separate toilet. The bed was also very generous, measuring 2.00 x 2.10 m. The room also had free Wi-Fi and a minibar. All non-alcoholic drinks in the minibar are free and are refilled once a day. The room was very quiet. Nothing was heard from the hotel corridor or from the surroundings. This is how it should be…
The hotel has 87 double rooms, 5 family rooms, 25 junior suites, and 8 suites. A pleasant size for a hotel.
The Rood at Theo’s
When booking, a “Genuss Plus” package is offered as an option. This includes a 4-course dinner and breakfast at the Theo’s restaurant, as well as free water and tea at the PURIA Premium Spa and a snack with cold or sweet treats in the afternoon. The non-alcoholic drinks in the minibar are also free.
Dinner is a mix of buffet for the starter and intermediate course. The main course is served (a choice of three dishes), and dessert can be ordered directly from the show kitchen. Let’s just say it’s a pretty exciting concept with potential.
The reception at the Theo’s restaurant was warm and well-organized. On the way to the assigned seat, the opportunity was taken to explain the buffet and have some small talk. You feel welcome. The menu is already on the table, which provides an overview of the evening culinary program. The selection of dishes offered is quite impressive and of good quality.
However, the only downside of this review concerns the presentation of the buffet during dinner. The individual plates, bowls and containers are relatively “naked” arranged next to each other. If decoration had been completely dispensed with, it would not have been better, but at least there would have been a clear concept. However, every felt 2.5m or even individual decorative items such as stacked raw vegetables were also arranged at irregular intervals. However, the quality of the food was corresponding to a five-star rating.
The breakfast buffet in the same restaurant (Theo’s) was presented completely differently. The breakfast buffet was just as large as at dinner, incredibly rich, abundant and lovingly arranged. The selection was so extensive that it was impossible to try everything during one breakfast. In the show kitchen, fried eggs and omelets are prepared according to your wishes. I also had breakfast here for a good 90 minutes and wasn’t completely done.
The performance of the staff was also particularly noteworthy: always friendly, confident and partly with personal introductions.
By the way, all dishes are prepared according to the “GreenGusto” concept – which means mainly with regional products, ingredients and organic products from sustainable, ecologically conscious agriculture and production.
Note: It should be mentioned that the Travel Charme Ifen Hotel also has a gourmet restaurant (Kilian Stuba), which was awarded a star by the Guide Michelin in 2013, as well as 16 points from Gault Millau and holds a “Haube”. The restaurant is led by top chef Sascha Kemmerer (we reported). A review of the “Kilian Stuba” will be postponed as I did not manage to visit due to time constraints this time.
The PURIA Premium Spa
It is probably one of the best and most beautifully implemented spa facilities in the Alpine region. The PURIA Premium Spa covers 2,300 m2. Whether in the pool, the spacious outdoor or indoor sauna – the unique view through the panorama windows of the Alpine panorama does its part.
- 2,300 m² spa area with swimming pool and sauna landscape
- 18 m indoor pool and outdoor whirlpool with panoramic views
- 8 different relaxation areas (including waterbeds, hanging baskets)
- Private and VIP suites
- Products from Vinoble and PURIA Natur
- Various saunas and treatment rooms
- Sole sound basin with Alpine salt
- Ideal high-altitude conditions (1,100m) for outdoor activities
- Cardio and fitness room with state-of-the-art equipment
- PURIA Bistro with GreenGusto® delicacies
There is also an almost endless range of offers in the premium spa area. There are also special and unusual applications, such as AlphaSphere deep relaxation in 7D. This is a interplay of color, shape, sound, light, warmth, breath, and vibration that puts the body into the so-called alpha state within a few minutes, a state in which the mind is awake but the body is in deep relaxation. An ideal state to reduce stress symptoms.
The Lobby/Bar Area
This area forms the central living room and is therefore the meeting point of the entire hotel. In the evening, an entertainer plays the beautiful grand piano. Whether his singing fits perfectly is a matter of taste, however. It wasn’t that it didn’t fit, but it was rather average than outstanding. Only the volume was perceived as very loud. At least to the point that I could hardly understand the incredibly friendly staff. And I just wanted to place a simple Coke order.
However, the atmosphere, exciting guests, and an incredibly well-designed ambiance made the evening very pleasant and interesting nonetheless. Being in such a hotel lobby is more exciting than reading a newspaper or watching TV.
Did you know that Travel Charme Hotels also have their own coffee? It’s the Mama Mina Estate coffee from the northwest of Nicaragua, where a German family once founded a coffee plantation. Once again, Travel Charme shows that they have found a product that perfectly matches their philosophy of individuality with special details and exquisite highlights.
The Check-Out and Departure
The check-out process was carried out with attention to detail. All receipts (e.g. restaurant, etc.) were presented upon departure in their original form and could be compared with the total bill. These original receipts were also given to me to take home. It was a rare and very fair experience!
I was bid farewell with a handshake and asked if I wanted a small refreshment for the journey home. I accepted and was given a bag of deposit-free apple juice and mint candies.
But the next surprise followed immediately: Unnoticed by me, the hotel staff had brought my car directly to the hotel entrance and loaded my luggage during the check-out process. Five stars or not, all of this was done so smoothly and seamlessly that I didn’t even notice, and I’m quite impressed because of it.
As a farewell, “George,” the ever-present hotel butler, waved goodbye one last time! Looking back, it was an exciting stay full of positive impressions!