Hotel Strolz, Mayrhofen, Austria

I took my teenage and early twenties children for a week, none of us having been to Mayrhofen before. Spring had definitely sprung in the village and valley and everywhere looked incredibly pretty and like something from the Sound of Music. The hotel is a bit of a throwback to the 1970s - all brown and orange decor and a lounge that is about as welcoming as the departure lounge at Luton airport - but the rooms were nice, beds comfortable and good balconies. Facilities great - pool, sauna etc and convenient well planned boot and ski room. The food was cooked from the 1970s themed cook book but was amazingly good and 4 courses every night. Host not over welcoming - it is the only place I have ever been charged for tap water on the table - but other staff very pleasant. We loved the resort itself. The village is picture perfect and with plenty going on. Although there was no snow lower down, the pistes were in fantastic condition - no rocks and and very little ice. Not much in the way of challenging skiing - all bumps pisted out and very little black run skiing but with more snow the off piste would be incredible. We skiied a different area every day all of which were easy to reach by bus or a lovely train ride down the valley. All in all a very good week and we would all return to both the resort and the hotel although a half decent sitting area would improve it enormously. Transport to and fro worked perfectly and tour operator staff pleasant and efficient.

Apres Ski: 4/5
Accommodation & Value: 4/5

philippa Gray

Despite really nice/friendly restaurant staff, the reception staff were very grumpy and accused some of my party of using the wrong boot-room door (she tried to fine my kids EUR50), and accidentally bringing some hotel tap-water into the restaurant (tried to fine them EUR50). You have to pay for tap-watert in this hotel, cost us roughly EUR25 for the week!! Rooms OK, clean, shower was a tiny/bizarre bath with no shower curtain. Would i go back? No, based on the grumpy reception staff (see Trip Advisor, it's not just me!!).

Apres Ski: 3/5
Accommodation & Value: 3/5

Gary Houghton