Whether you’re going to the mountains in summer or winter, I personally think it’s good to find the quirky, and boutique style places to stay. The ones that have been family run for years, or ones that really embrace the country traditions in terms of decor. That is exactly what I got when I stayed at the Tirolerhof hotel back when I went skiing.

Whilst I know this hotel will be heavily used in the ski season, it is important to remember summer in the mountains is just as good – if not better. The Tirolerhof hotel is a family run hotel, it is based in Ehrwald in the Zugspitz Arena and only a 5minute walk to the chairlift. Why is that important? Who likes to walk in ski boots for more than 10 minutes? Nobody! So finding a hotel that is super close to everything is mighty important. Nearby there were shops, cafes, a bar, and of course, a ski hire place, so if you didn’t want to bring your own kit there was a hire shop 5 minutes away. Ehrwald was an amazing place to stay as it has a satisfying balance between a relaxing and peaceful, but you’re also really close to where all the skiing and apres ski action is if obviously, you want to indulge in that as well. You have a total of 139km of slopes and 2 ski lifts all close by, so you’ll never be bored or suffer from a lack of skiing!

The Tirolerhof is your typical Tyrolean and alpine-inspired venue, full of tradition woodwork and beautiful decorations throughout the premises. It’s a 4-star hotel, and after staying for a few days I can say it is certainly worthy of that grading. It has so many things that other hotels in the area don’t have, or are limited by.  They have a children’s club area, and ski schools are all close by, and as someone who doesn’t have children, I’m always a bit hesitant when visiting hotels with children’s club as it can be a bit noisy, but I never even heard the children when we were there. One of the big things for a ski resort hotel is having a spa! You cannot beat a good swim, beauty treatment or a steam after a tough day on the slopes, and the Tirolerhof Hotel has a wonderful spa complete with indoor pool and whirlpool, sauna area, Alpine Swiss pine relaxation room and of course, dressing gowns and slippers!

The bedroom was nice and big with a comfortable bed, which is very important for all the skiing or hiking, (depending on the time of year) you might be doing. We had a lovely balcony that looked out over towards the Ehrwald ski lifts but also had a big bathroom too. There was plenty of space to keep all your ski wear in your room, however, there was a specific ski room where you could leave all your equipment. It had a boot warmer too which is always welcomed when you’re getting kitted up first thing in the morning! This particular room had a separate street entrance as well as through the hotel, this is so you’d access it after a ski without having to go through the reception.

One of the most adorable and wonderful touches in the Tirolerhof was having our own designated table for each at for breakfast and dinner. When we went through the dining area, it was clear that every guest had assigned seating, so morning and evening any newsletters or information was left on your table for you. The food was incredible with such a variety! If you were full board, you got breakfast (a late-riser breakfast is also optional), lunch, afternoon tea, then a 5-course dinner. They also liked to do a BBQ every Saturday evening, so you’ll see your meal cooked right in front of you. You’re also welcome to help yourselves to tea, coffee and ice cream right the way through from 7.30am to 5 pm!

Overall this was a hotel I’d summarise as the equivalent of staying with a member of the family, but one that really looks after you. It just felt warm, welcoming and cosy. The staff were wonderful and very attentive, a few language hiccups but both myself and whoever I was talking to would laugh about it once we’d figured it out. If you read my previous post about skiing in the Zugspitz Arena, then I’d strongly suggest a hotel like this – we absolutely loved it and fell in love with Ehrwald because of it.