Winter Retreat at Ebner's Waldhof Am See

think gypsy running in the snow at Fuschl

For me, first impressions are everything! Let's face it when you are traveling and you visit a new place for the first time, you are going to have certain expectations. You want a place to take your breath away, to leave you speechless. You want a place to be so perfect that even the simplest of pictures will make all your friends back home super jealous! No shame, expectations are just part of traveling! So when it comes to first impressions, they can really make or break a trip sometimes.

Last week, Austin and I got to spend a couple of days at Ebner's Waldhof Am See and this was one hotel that definitely knew how to make a first impression! Right as we drove up the road, the Fuschl lake simmered on one side and the mountains stood tall on the other. It was so beautiful it made us feel like we were driving through an Ad Campaign for Austria. As the hotel appeared in front of us, we immediately fell in love with the castle-like structure!

Once we were all checked in and escorted to our room, we decided to do what we do best, EXPLORE! Little side note, one of my favorite things to do when I get to a new hotel is just walk around and figure out where everything is. As we walked around we also got to learn a bit about the hotel. Turns out, the hotel was originally a small bed and breakfast that has simply grown bigger and bigger throughout the years while also always staying in the family! This mix of traditional wooden decor and modern finishings could be seen in every room.

Speaking of rooms, I was more than a little obsessed with ours! The classic wood and red room was every bit as perfect as I had pictured in my head and the cozy look made us feel right at home. (Take a look at the different room options!)

After a beautiful day of getting to know the hotel and the area, we headed down for dinner. A little fun fact, not only does the hotel include all of your daily meals in the room price but also the option to sit for a 5-course dinner. So, we decided to get a little dressed up and have ourselves an elegant evening. As I sat at that table with its proper setting, I was suddenly super grateful that my grandma had taught me which silverware to use for what course! From the cold appetizer to the dessert and cheese platter, everything delicious!

P.S. Don't forget to end your night with one of their signature gin cocktails!

Waking up the next morning we decided to spoil ourselves and get a room service breakfast. Can we just take a second to talk about the view? Every room in the hotel has at least a partial view of Lake Fuschl and trust me, that is a view that you want to wake up to in the morning. Once again, I felt like I was stepping into a brochure as I sipped my coffee on the snowy balcony and watched the sun rise over the lake! From now on, that's the only way I want to drink my morning coffee! I probably could have sat on our balcony for hours if it wasn't winter and my toes weren't frozen solid.

With a blue sky and an open day ahead of us, we decided to take the opportunity to test out some of the fun winter activities Ebner's Waldhof Am See offers. Because Fuschl isn't a ski area, people have a tendency to overlook the hotel during the snowy months. They think that just because they can't ski that there will be nothing to do. Boy, are those people wrong! The hotel offered us a variety of activities from horse carriage rides to cross country skiing. In fact, if guests want to try out something like cross country skiing, the hotel provides all of the equipment and transportation to the perfect spot!

Wanting to channel our inner children and play in the snow, we decided to try out the fun tobogganing set up! After just a short hike up to the Waldhof Alm, we grabbed some tubes and slid down the courses that the hotel creates every winter. The best part of the whole experience…. The magic carpet lift! Being lazy little me, I was so happy that I could just stand on this lift and have it pull me and my tube up the hill!

After a quick lunch, we headed to our favorite place… the spa! Now I am not kidding when I say that we literally got lost in paradise. I mean, one minute we are getting out of the outdoor heated pool in the Waterworld and next thing you know we were standing in a hallway that was filled with all different types of saunas and steam rooms. There was even a room filled with actual pine trees!!

There were relaxing features as far as the eye could see. In fact, after being treated to a massage, I felt more relaxed and rejuvenated than I had in a long time! We spent the rest of the day lounging in one of the quiet rooms and staring out the floor length windows at the snow!

Having spent our afternoon being in the relaxing oasis, we decided to squeeze in a quick workout before dinner. The gym was completely empty and the view actually made me feel motivated to workout! Across the hall from the gym, there is also a huge yoga and aerobics room that has daily classes.

As we packed up our things the next morning and got ready to check out, I tried to take in that balcony view one last time. Our stay at Ebner's Waldhof Am See felt like a dream come true. I could go on and on about how beautiful it was but what really stood out to me was how much there was to do! There were daily activities and schedules for those who wanted to be active and a variety of aromatherapy and theraputic massage treatments for those who wanted to get pampered. Ebner's Waldhof Am See seemed to have something for everyone! So next time you are planning a winter getaway, this hotel is one you should definitely consider!

Click here to book your stay now!

Contact Info:
Ebner's Waldhof Am See
Seestraße 30
5330 Fuschl am See, Österreich
Tel: 0043 6226 8264
Email: info@ebners-waldhof.at