The Central

© Rudi Wyhlidal

Nestled among three-thousand-meter peaks in the middle of the breathtaking beauty of the Ötztal, "Das Central" combines the alpine lifestyle with the best Tyrolean traditions. Thanks to its wellness and activity options, both mountain enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility are drawn to the elegant five-star hotel. Their focus, however, is on excellent cuisine - "Das Central" has been featured in the Gault & Millau gourmet guide for over 20 years. In-house, their "Ötztaler Stube", with its rustic pine interior and locally inspired dishes, ensures a cozy experience. The more adventurous can head to the peaks: Several mountain restaurants are part of the hotel, including the "ice Q" at 3,048 meters. Here, you can dine in full view of the summit of the Gaislachkogl as the finest haute cuisine is served up behind their glass facade. There's even a hint of Hollywood: the "ice Q" once served as a location for the James Bond film "Spectre". Additionally, you can stop off at the "FALCON" restaurant at the middle station of the Gaislachkogl cable car.

The Central - Alpine. Luxury. Life. 
Auweg 3, 6450 Sölden, Austria
Tel.: +43 525 422600
Web: central-soelden.com
Price: Doubles including half board from € 225,- per person

Ansitz Plantitscherhof

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The Ansitz Plantitscherhof, which has an outstanding holistic wellness program, is located in the chic villa district just a stone’s throw from the center of Merano. The hotel epitomizes the spirit of warmth and friendliness: from the moment you step through its grand golden entrance gate, you sense hospitality and positive vibes. The lush hotel garden, where you're welcome to pick fruit to your heart’s content, resembles a small oasis. The terrace – a romantic place to relax and unwind – has a magnificent view of the beautiful garden. You can spend entire warm summer days here, concluding with an apéritif or dinner in the garden restaurant – under the stars if you wish, thanks to the convertible glass roof. Connoisseurs of the hard stuff will also find something to their taste, as the menu includes a selection of spirits such as whiskey and gin, while the hotel’s Cigar Lounge invites you to indulge in a smoky tasting experience. Their vault holds around 21,000 fine wines from South Tyrol and around the world. In addition, wine lovers can explore the local vineyards firsthand on a tour in the hotel’s vintage VW camper van. 

Hotel Ansitz Plantitscherhof
Via Dante 56, 39012 Merano, Italy
Tel.: +39 04732 30577
Web: plantitscherhof.com
Price: Doubles incl. breakfast from €320 per night

Hotel Castel

© Koenigshofer Michael

Summers in the Merano region offer an amazing spectacle: flowering alpine meadows fade into mighty gray peaks as the sun blazes in the blue sky. It's the best time to enjoy the great outdoors - by (e-)bike or on foot, in a convertible or on the golf course. What could be better than enjoying exceptional delicacies afterward? The "Hotel Castel" on the sunny side of the Alps is the perfect vacation spot for mountain enthusiasts and connoisseurs. You can start your mornings with a varied gourmet breakfast, while in the evenings, top chef Gerhard Wieser provides unique creations: Either á la carte with a large selection of daily specialties (included in your room rate) or in their two-star restaurant Castel finedining. The highlight in the warm summer months is their panoramic facade, which lets you dine under the stars while enjoying the view over the valleys.

Hotel Castel
Keschtngasse 18, 39019 Dorf Tirol, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 923693
Web: hotel-castel.com
Price: Doubles from € 254,- per person.
Secure an introductory voucher worth up to € 300 now: Just enter the code FAL-SUN-300 at hotel-castel.com/welcome2023!

Hotel Pienzenau

© Tiberio Sorvillo

Romantic is the perfect word to describe the "Hotel Pienzenau": The four-star-superior boutique hotel sits atop a small hill not far from the spa town of Merano and offers a fantastic view of the mountains. Apart from its proximity to several golf courses and its relaxed rose-themed design, the "Pienzenau" also enjoys a reputation for the very finest cuisine. Its menu is as Mediterranean as the surroundings, making it hard to pick your favorites. Chef Maximilian Mair excels in down-to-earth, excellent creations made from fresh and regional products, which can be enjoyed on the large sun terrace. Whether it's South Tyrolean red wines such as Lagrein or Vernatsch, white Spritzers from small, regional vineyards or international classics - the hotel's cellar always has the right accompaniment. You can get a closer look at the local producers with a guided hike around the surrounding vineyards. 

Hotel Pienzenau am Schlosspark
Pienzenauweg 1, 39012 Merano, Italy
Tel.: +39 0340 6530224
Web: hotelpienzenau.com
Price: Doubles including half board from € 368,-.

Palais Hansen

© Elisabeth Fransdonk

Magnificent is the best way to describe the "Palais Hansen Kempinski", a five-star jewel on Vienna's legendary Ringstrasse. Built 150 years ago by Theophil Edvard Hansen, simply gazing upon the stately façade of the listed building transports you back in time. An elegant, straightforward and graceful style permeates throughout the 152 rooms and suites, which have been cleverly upgraded with modern amenities. It's a prime place to let yourself unwind: The wellness area boasts an extensive hydro pool and sauna world with day spa, as well as various regenerative treatments. Gourmets who appreciate traditional Viennese cuisine will really get their money's worth at the "Palais Hansen" – either in the winter garden, where you can enjoy the breakfast buffet and Sunday brunch, or at the "EDVARD," which serves Alpine-Mediterranean cuisine in a casual, yet elegant setting. 

Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna
Schottenring 24, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 1 236 1000
Web: kempinski.com
Price: Doubles including breakfast from € 504,-.

The Marent

© Andreas Schalber Photography

The Tyrolean Alps have an irresistible draw, with their green mountain meadows, snow-white peaks and many traditional villages. One great example is in beautiful Fiss, where you'll find "Das Marent", a place of power for body and soul. Offering the highest quality and attention to detail, the hotel is flooded with light and exudes authentic and modern feel-good vibes. As hosts Alexander and Christian Marent are personally responsible for the menu, you are treated to a feast every day. Choose between classic à la carte and private dining, and between bistro and gourmet restaurant. Either way, regional and traditional dishes are reinterpreted to the highest standards. Served by a select staff of six to ten people, take a seat in their culinary black box and immerse yourself in a whole new world of individually-prepared delicacies.

The Marent
Oberer Spelsweg 6, 6533, Fiss, Austria
Tel.: +43 5476 20320
Web: dasmarent.at
Price: Doubles incl. board from € 328, -.

Spa Hotel Jagdhof

© Michael Huber

Almost exactly halfway between the Stubai Glacier and Innsbruck, the "Jagdhof" overlooks the beautiful Stubaital, ready to whisk its guests away into a world of indulgence. The traditional spa hotel places great emphasis on relaxation - its 20 bathing, relaxation and sauna experiences, as well as its new "Mylife Changer" spa concept speak for themselves. However, the comfortable five-star hotel is also a gourmet's paradise. The "Jagdhof" dining philosophy rests on three principles: traditional and regional dishes, sustainable and healthy ingredients and top-tier culinary arts. While you enjoy their award-winning specialties, treat yourself to a bottle from the hotel's own wine cellar. "Feasting and floating above the clouds" is the motto of their "Genuss & Fondue Gondola": The redesigned cable-car gondola is reminiscent of a cozy Tyrolean parlor and offers a very special private dining experience.

Spa Hotel Jagdhof
Scheibe 44, 6167 Neustift im Stubaital, Austria
Tel.: +43 5226 2666
Web: hotel-jagdhof.at
Price: Doubles including half board from € 237,- per person

Gnollhof

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Located south of Bressanone on the edge of the forest, the "Gnollhof" is already a winner, thanks to its unique location. Where clear air and a breathtaking view complement each other, where the scent of pine resin permeates the environment and the spruces gently bend in the wind – that's where the "Gnollhof" invites you to the vacation experience of a lifetime. Typical South Tyrolean alpine fare peppered with Mediterranean accents matches the mountain idyll at 1160 meters. And when you uncork one of the fine wines from the hotel's own vineyard, you know you have arrived. Hospitality was already perfected here in 1888: Classic recipes handed down from earlier times are the cornerstone of today's cuisine, which takes pride in reinterpreting regional products for modern sensibilities.

Hotel Gnollhof
Gufidaun 81, 39043 Chiusa, Italy
Tel.: +39 0472 847323
Web: gnollhof.it
Price: Doubles including board from € 121,- per person

VILA VITA Pannonia

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Just in time for the 2023 summer season, the picturesque "VILA VITA Pannonia" in northern Burgenland has undergone a major makeover: The main restaurant "VITAVESTA" in particular is now an absolute gem, featuring a new front cooking station as well as an enlarged buffet area serving Austrian treats and international delicacies. The highest standards are maintained in all four of the hotel's own restaurants and bars, with top-quality wines available to accompany the exceptional meals. In addition, former standard hotel rooms have been combined to create the new Pannonia suites, and new chalets at the lake offer private living comfort. The sauna area was significantly expanded, with a new outdoor whirlpool serving as the centerpiece. Around 25 million euros were put into the redesign of the resort, which is now making a big splash on Lake Neusiedl. 

VILA VITA Pannonia
Storchengasse 1, 7152 Pamhagen, Austria
Tel.: +43 2175 21800
Web: vilavitapannonia.at
Price: Doubles including breakfast from € 378,-.

Hotel Sand

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The "Hotel Sand" is an impressive mix of the traditional and the modern: its architecturally outstanding new building with its clean lines, exposed concrete elements and the large surrounding garden with a pool on the one side meets a 300-year-old farmhouse and a classic winter garden on the other. Located right in the middle of South Tyrol among vineyards and apple orchards, the family-run four-star hotel exudes a special charm. This is evident in the rooms: the only place that's even more relaxing is their wellness area, which features massages and treatments, a sauna and a bathing area. Inspired by regional foods and organic products, chef Florian Volgger creates choice Mediterranean and hearty South Tyrolean specialties, complemented by fine wines from their cellar. 

Hotel Sand
Mühlweg 2, 39020 Castelbello-Castello, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 624 130
Web: hotel-sand.com
Price: Doubles including half board from € 150,- per person

Rote Wand Gourmet Hotel

© Angela Lamprecht

Nowhere else is leisure quite as enjoyable as at the "Rote Wand" in Lech – the charming four-star hotel on the Arlberg knows how to pamper its guests with its homey atmosphere, magnificent panoramas and the finest dishes. Host "Joschi" Walch is known for his dedication to all things good: The award-winning creations in the "Rote Wand Chef's Table" and in the "Rote Wand Stuben" show their commitment to excellence and love of experimentation. One highlight is their new "Friends and Fools" concept: guests can purchase packages and enjoy exclusive vouchers, discounts and events which support regional partners taking the first step toward a more sustainable future, whether it's the in-house "Culinary Lab," farming with goats and sheep, the "Cookery School" or the "Fromagerie." Each of these projects then supplies choice ingredients to the "Red Wall", benefitting everyone. 

Rote Wand Gourmet Hotel
Train 5, 6764 Lech, Austria
Tel.: +43 5583 34350
Web: redwall.com
Price: Doubles including breakfast from € 260,-.