Harfenwirt Hotel

This was our third visit to the Harfenwirt, this time we were moved up to the the small annex run by Maria, which was wonderful.
As always we had lovely freindly serivce, Herbert and Anton remebered us from our honeymoon two years previous.
The food as always was both tasty and filling, and as a note to all those that have moaned on here previously, eggs are availible at breakfast, you just have to ask!
Herbert played his harp for us up at the cosy bar in the annex which was brilliant, I think Walter has kicked him out of the main bar ha ha!
The skiing for me was great as I am just a learner, my husband enjoyed the resort but also had a visit to Auffach, where the snow was a bit better.
As always Herbert knew exaclty who to sit with who at dinner and we had some very nice companions for the week.
We had a lovely relaxing holiday once again at the Harfenwirt thanks to Herbert, his family and the staff who all work their socks off so that we can all enjoy ourselves. Can't wait to reutrn for my skiing next year!
I say to all, the Harfenwirt is a wonderful family run hotel, the service and the food are excellent, the satff are great and the atmosphere is lovely! I reccomend joining Herbet for a harp night too, miss it, miss out!

The Hotel Harfenwirt sounds really nice. That's why we booked it. Unfortunately Inghams moved us to a different hotel in a different resort when we arrived. The owner, the much loved harp-playing Herbert forced us from his reception into a waiting taxi. No explanation. No reason. Nothing.
Thank you Inghams and Herbert. If anyone can tell us what the Hotel was like that would be great, and if anyone wants to know about the Gasthof Schneerose in Oberau, and not the Hotel Harfenwirt in Neiderau, please drop me a line.

This hotel is good value for money, the rooms are basic but more than adequate all have baths which is what you need after a day skiing, food very good.
The resort was lovely, great après ski, although not many shops, it was made up for by the atmosphere. Skiing was limited due to lack of snow, but we managed to ski every day.
The nursery slopes are directly opposite the hotel, the kids can toboggan etc on the slopes opposite whilst you enjoy the sun with a beer.
We would love to go back when more snow, as I am sure it would be excellent all round.
Would recommend.

I booked very last minute for a lone holiday. The Harfenwirt was a welcoming, clean and friendly hotel.
The food was basic but more than adequate to fill up after a hard days skiing. The room was immaculate and comfortable with a beautiful view and balcony (VERY rare in single rooms!!).
Herbert and his family went out of their way to make me welcome and, although I am not sure Herbert approves of women holidaying alone, he seemed to take my welfare very seriously (he seemed to pop up every where I was in the village like a very Austrian father figure).
The resort is beautiful and the skiing was good even with limited snow. I have already booked to return to the Harfenwirt.
This is not a 5* hotel - but it doesn't pretend to be - but if you want to actually feel like you are in Austria (rather than some sterile hotel that could be anywhere) this is the place.. and even the hardest heart can't fail to tap a toe to Herbert's harp.

We have just come back from a week holiday in Niederau/ Hotel Harfenwirt - booked with Lastminute Ingham’s lakes & mountains on HB basis. Hoping my review will help other fellow travellers.
Resort:
It was a lovely quiet resort – beautiful Wildschonau valley. Picturesque village nestling in the hills. Unspoiled and preserved. Best place for relaxing and walking. Excursions were also available through the tour operators and local travel agent at a very reasonable price. Paragliding is also available if you are keen to ‘fly’.
There is a gondola (cable car) just a couple of mins walk from the hotel. The view on the top was just superb. Another cable car is about 7km away from the hotel, takes you even higher. The price is a lot cheaper than what we pay for an attraction in the UK. Two supermarkets are also available about 500m away from the hotel.
Hotel:
Nice location. We were given a room in the nearby annexe. Our room was nice, good views, clean and plenty of space - cleaned everyday too. For just 10 Euros for the whole week, you can use the fridge, cooker, & kettle. If you can get a room in the main hotel as view was much much better than the annexe.
Food:
Breakfast was OK – bread roll, ham, cheese, butter, jam etc everyday – no eggs or fresh fruits! Three course dinner (and salad buffet) - it was really good. Got different main dish each day. Sometimes it was a bit salty otherwise no complain.
Hotel Staff:
Friendly, nice & helpful. They speak English too. The service was also good.
Hotel Owner – Herbert:
I really can’t write this review without mentioning him. He greets & chats with guests every day. The man controls everything, including reception! He plays harp and very good at it too. Although maintenance problems were never sorted.
My verdict on the hotel:
For the price (£249 pp) we paid, it was a worthy holiday and we enjoyed it. Like other travellers we will go back to the resort again & again but Hotel Harfenwirt will be my second choice.

I have read a few of the other comments but totally agree with all of the positive ones. This hotel, staff, food, cleanliness, location, was second to none. Excellent vegetarian meals if needed which believe you me are very hit and miss during holidays in other countries.
Herbert our host for the week entertained us with his incredible harp playing and his sense of humour. We enjoyed the company of our dinner companions, discussing our plans each day.
The weather was glorious and we enjoyed good well signposted walks in lovely countryside, as easy or as hard as you wanted. The hotel is well situated for the gondola and the ski runs. The village is lovely and the people were very friendly. The bus stop is directly outside the hotel for trips to nearby villages. All in all it was a holiday we will certainly remember as "one of the best".

Niederau is a beautiful village in a most lovely setting, only accessible by road since the 1930's this is a real gem of a place.
Staying at the Harfenwirt, a traditional hotel in a good location with balconies covered in flowers, is like travelling back in time. A little regimented, you are allocated a table to sit at all week, a curious range of food offered, there are two choices per evening ranging from venison stew to spam? and eccentric staff. Off half-board menu food however is especially delicious and to be recommended. The spam though - for me -oh dear!
It is however wonderful- the type of holiday I thought had disappeared forever. The owner Herbert uses his considerable knowledge to sit people together, organize and sort things out for you, he really seems to care. We ended up making many friends and having a great time at Herbert's harp evenings and traditional tryolean nights. Herbert is an unusual character as other reviews have said but this all adds to the fun, his harp playing is beautiful and he never appears to stop working. He does seem to own a lot of the village!
The hotel was very clean and everyone was very kind, from Herbert's sister lending us an umbrella for a trip, to Barbara the waitress finding a lost item for us using her own phone. Going with children wasn't a problem either. All the staff loved them and so did the other guests. We had no problems at all.
At first we were in an annex, very clean and functional and then moved to the main hotel, where the clean room had the most beautiful views over the mountains. The rooms are dated though and in need of a refurbishment, apparently this is being done next year.
The Inghams trips were well organized, although a little long, and were very good value. We visited Lake Garda, Munich, Hintertux glacier and Hitler's Eagles nest at Bertesgarten.
The sister hotel the Sonnschein is very nice but I think has less character and as we had booked with last minute.com we had to pay to use the outdoor pool there - it was supposed to be free for the Harfenwirt guests (perhaps Inghams only).
The valley has lots to see and do in it from beautiful mountain walks to a fun outdoor public pool. There aren't a lot of shops to visit so if you like shopping it is a problem, it is also quite a quiet village although this wasn't a problem for anyone we met, ranging from small children to teenagers to older people.
This was an exceptionally good holiday and is to be recommended. I would go again especially when the hotel is refurbished (and at the same time the menu too I hope).
Well done Herbert and family.

Having had 5 previously great holidays in Austria - we feel that comments must be made on our stay at the Harfenwirt. After a 2.5 hour journey from Salzburg via Kitzbuhel (to drop off other passengers) in a hot, sticky minibus/van, the driver constantly on his phone when he discovered he had 2 passengers missing, but 2 extra passengers on board with the same surname - he thankfully still decided to carry on to Niederau.
On our arrival at the hotel we were not made welcome, but told our room was not ready and go and buy a drink from the bar. Finally we went up to our room - it was so depressing! It was more than tired - but in complete need of refurbishment! Several lights did not work (in fact many light bulbs seem to be missing in many of the areas of the hotel - maybe a good way of saving money?). The only light in the bathroom was a shaver light. Cobwebs/dust in the corners, towels clean but worn out and ready for cleaning rags.
The balcony did have a lovely view but, was not private - no screens - and in fact one day we had youths crawling from one end to the other via our balcony. These youths were loud at night on the balconies - up to 3am - behaviour expected from 18 to 30 holiday clubs. Several guests complained to Herbert - all to be told that they could move to the guest house up the road.
The food was poor, done on the cheap - fresh fruit non existent. Much of the vegetables was tinned or frozen. No bread available with the soup course. Ice cream with cream served one night with half an ice cream wafer!! Fruit juice always orange but made from a packet - varied daily as to how much water was added. No hot choice - no boiled eggs etc. On first evening made to line up and be told your seat for the rest of the holiday - joining other guests on same tables and then engaging in small talk whether you felt like it or not. Sign at entrance stated that jugs of water not available at mealtimes - must purchase bottled water. Again this was a way of making money from the guests - a shrewd business move - no wonder he owns half the town! The Tyrolean night was again charged 10 euros each - even if you were a guest - and you are told where to sit. We will never recommend or return here again.
Niederau is a quaint, quiet village by day with a gondola to take you to the top of the mountain - but deserted at night time - many of the bars closed and most restaurants are in the hotels.

please ignore all the negative comments about herbert & his hotel, just got back from there with my wife & 2 children aged 6 & 9, he was very friendly to us, as were the staff, especially barbara who took our meal orders every day.
they are very hard-working, herbert never seems to stop running between the hotels he & his wife own. the food was excellent & i'm fussy.....the area top drawer.....herberts harp playing has to be seen to be believed...

Have just returned from a fantastic holiday at this hotel. Have stayed in this resort before but not at this hotel and we were a little apprehensive after reading recent reviews.
Food was good, rooms were clean and we had excellent views from our balcony. The host of the hotel, Herbert, really made the holiday, he and his staff were hard working, friendly and tried their best to keep the guests happy. Herbert playing Beatles songs on his harp is not to be missed.
We are already planning to return next year!