Harfenwirt Hotel

My original booking was at the Vicky, after a most enjoyable stay the year before.
Crystal asked our party of four to change to the Harfenwirt at short notice.
Our rooms were very nice, good views, clean and plenty of space.
However our experience in the dining room left a lot to be desired. Food served was very poor quality. We believe that tinned veg and frozen food was being served at evening meals. No cooking smells ever came from the kitchen area, because little or nothing was being cooked. Breakfast was basic, fresh fruit was never on offer morning or evening.
Dining room staff were curt, impolite and appeared to have little idea of what service is all about.
I witnessed a member of staff preparing tables for an evening meal, drop a piece of cutlery on the floor, pick it up, and place it on a table.
A guest at my table used a knife for a starter course, was asked to keep it and use it again for the main course.
These standards are totally unacceptable.

We were booked for the hotel Vicky but because it wasn’t opening on time we were moved to the Harfenwirt.
As we have never stayed at either hotel we can't compare which was better. As it was we were extremely satisfied with the Harfenwirt.
The hotel was spotless. The bedroom was large, with a balcony overlooking the hills. The food was lovely. The resort is unspoiled, lots of walks and mountains to climb. The weather was much hotter than we expected.
Herbert, who owns the hotel is a character. He plays the harp at his sisters hotel, just down the road. We went to watch him on the last night and had a brilliant time. He's a lovely man who works very hard, as do all the staff.
The two reps Giselle and Carl were very friendly and helpful, organising lots of trips on the mini bus, going wherever people wanted to go.
The only downside was the flight home to Manchester. We experienced a two hour delay. Then the plane they sent [Luz Air] was thoroughly disorganised. They were about 42 meals short so had to ask for volunteers to give up a meal.
As it happens they did the right thing as the meal was luke warm when it arrived.
I will be looking for a different travel company in future.
All in all a brilliant holiday despite the delay. I would recommend Niederau, and the Harfenwirt Hotel.

We were booked in to stay at Hotel Vicky. Only told of change at Salzburg Airport on arrival. Told by coach driver that Vicky was closed.
Were notified by rep after enquiring “Where do we go" that we would be staying at Harfenwirt Hotel.
This was an experience in direct contrast to all other reviews submitted here. With the reps help we had to fight for everything that had been arranged for us at Vicky (even though it would all be paid for by Crystal.)
Packed lunches (as included at Vicky) were eventually agreed but only to cheese and ham (spam) sandwich. After a while, a biscuit (at least it was a flat pack of wafers). Definitely NO fruit. Arms waving and definite refusal for drink.
All these are standard in Crystal lunch pack for Vicky. Rep managed to persuade them to provide drink but with great difficulty. Tea/coffee and cakes in afternoon. No way. More tantrums. Eventually rep persuaded him to provide that. No tea, only coffee. We all thought it must be left over from breakfast as it was provided in flasks and was luke warm.
Every one complained but it made no difference until about our fifth day when it was warm but never hot. Tea or coffee after evening meal really upset him and we got a most emphatic NO. This was never served to us.
Departure morning (early) stale bread, cheese curling at edges, cold coffee in all flasks. The bread, coffee etc had all been put on the table the night before. Meals served were good although pork most nights in different disguises. We did have a choice of two main courses. So that was acceptable.
The rooms were clean but we had to drink water out of tooth mugs as no glasses provided. Notice in reception to say, No tap water served in restaurant and all bottled water would be charged for. I don't drink wine as provided (as per Crystal) with evening meal but wouldn't have dared ask for water.
No electric implements to be used in bedrooms (this cuts out brewing a cup of tea) and as their tea cost roughly £2 a cup it was rather a luxury. On the entertainment evening (Tyrolean dancing) guests of the hotel (all Crystal included) were told to leave the room as it was for a party with another tour operator and had to be paid for. Charge 10 eu.
Our night would come later but at the same charge. The curtains were drawn (this on 2 occasions) so that anyone sitting out on the terrace could not see dancing etc.
The brochure stated that anyone staying at the Harfenwirt, could use the gardens and swimming pool at Sonchein Hotel, sister Hotel .That was a good offer as arriving at hotel we were informed that yes that was correct but that there wasn't any water in it.
But for spending the week with a very good crowd who mostly had experienced the hospitality at Vicky, and were expecting all extras as promised to be provided, then the week would have been a disaster.
This fiasco can be blamed on Crystal who had notified some customers in advance but there is no excuse for the shabby way we were treated.

Hi once again. We have been to Niederau many times and it is our favourite resort in Austria.
Unspoiled and without corporate hotels - hooray! We stayed 2006 and are coming back May and June 2007 to stay at the Harfenwirt.
Our second trip this year will be with someone who has been to Niederau many times by taking coach parties in the past but has now retired from 'coach' holidays.
Looking forward to seeing Herbert, Walter and Sister Maria who is very charming and hard working. Also looking forward to a solo on the harp from Herbert.

I loved this hotel.
My friend and I arrived tired, grumpy and dirty we were whisked to a beautiful Tyrol house, the Annex across the road, had the most wonderful room.
A large bath room with balcony and fantastic views of the mountains, even a little kitchenette.
Herbert we love you, and Walter, he's Herbert’s Brother, this is a family run hotel in the true sense of that phrase.
All your staff were so kind and helpful; we loved the Sauna and the harp playing, the Tyrol evening and ski prizes.
This is a very friendly laid back hotel with everything you need, even if you travel alone, Herbert will sit you with a group, we were all best friends at the end of the week on our table.
Herbert I will be back I love Niederau; it is so unspoilt, and I loved everything about your hotel.
Herbert even arranged for my lost passport to be sent on to my address, Herbert is seen flitting all around, he is a very busy man, and was sick when we were there, but he seemed to have time to listen, chat and be helpful.
This hotel, thank God has not a smack of corporate chain about it, so if you want the real Austrian experience come here.
The food was good and more than adequate, drinks were reasonably priced, and rooms were kept immaculately clean, beds were made every day wonderful.
The Locals come in to chat with Herbert and ask his advice about all sorts of things, his wife who runs the sister hotel is so charming also and their little one speaks perfect English.
This is a hotel with a lot of caring staff, that catered so well for all the children, from babies to teens. Every need meat, even soft boiled eggs with soldiers for the baby.
So Herbert we will be back in June, hope your cold has gone.

Hardly any snow when we arrived and none fell during week we were there, but as we weren't there for skiing we didn't mind at all.
Village is beautiful and enough bars/eating places to satisfy most people. Not at all expensive - even souvenirs were actually cheaper in village than in bigger shopping towns.
Hotel was great - exceptionally friendly and more than willing to meet your every need if they possibly can. I am disabled and as soon as Herbert (owner and legend in his own right) saw me on crutches he immediately revised his allocation of room without being asked, to one I would find more easily accessible.
I also have difficult dietary needs and no matter what I asked for they came up with the goods without making me feel awkward or that I was 'a nuisance'.
Herbert will play the harp on some nights and as previous reports suggest it is not to be missed. He is also a mine of information on local places to visit.
The rooms were clean, tidy and practical with TV (only CNN in English) and fridge. Ours had an en suite and a balcony with the most spectacular views of the mountains and village.
We booked with Thomsons and wish we hadn't. They were only conspicuous by their absence and lack of communication and when they were tracked down and asked a question the answer was always 'we'll get back to you' - but of course they didn't!
They forgot to organise any of the disabled assistance we had requested throughout the whole trip, ignored our requests to be told if places we visited would entail either a lot of walking or steps to climb and on one memorable occasion, left us standing in the street for over 45 mins to be picked up by coach. My daughter asked to use phone in nearby shop to contact them, only to be told they forgot to tell us the evening mountain train ride we had booked with them, had been cancelled!!
So if you do happen to have your trip to this gem of a place with Thomsons - book any day trips etc via the very competent travel agent in the village - it will cost you exactly the same. Another tip is that from Worgl (7km fro Niederau) you can travel easily and economically by train to any other towns and cities. The local bus will drop you right outside the railway station.

If, like us, you're looking for a quiet, relaxing week away from it all in June/early July this could be the place for you.

Niederau is a quiet, picturesque village nestling in the hills. The owner of the hotel (and it seems half the village, with the rest owned by relations) is Herbert, whose wife is English.
He's a real character who makes the holiday with his sense of humour and personality. He plays the harp (!) and if you get the chance to attend one of his performances at his sister's place up the road or at his farm up in the hills, don't miss it.
You'll be surprised what this guy can turn out on his harp, everything from Classics to Beatles to rugby songs.
The hotel is excellent and the food more than acceptable. High standards all round and friendly staff. There's an annexe in a farm just up the road, but that's nothing to worry about if you're diverted there.
You get woken up a bit earlier, by the bells round the necks of the goats, when they're let out to graze on the meadow below your balcony at 7am.
Our balcony looked directly across the road, to what is the piste in winter, where a steady stream of paragliders land adding colour to a splendid view right up to the top of the wooded mountain.
The farmer was harvesting this area when we were there, with an interesting variety of specialist machinery due to the steep gradient.
There are plenty of well maintained walking paths through the woods for that holiday exercise and the nearby gondolas can whisk you up to the top of the mountain in 10 minutes or so.
Once there, more paths take you to various locations and there are a number of log-cabin type eating and refreshment places to visit too and magnificent alpine views to drink in.
Niederau itself has a few eating places including a surprisingly good supermarket restaurant. There's an outdoor swimming pool, a farm museum (recommended) car and bike hire, various shops, an excellent bus service to other villages and an indefinably relaxed air about it.
As I said, go here if you want a relaxing week away from it all. The more you forage around this place the more you find. We've been there twice so far and we'll return.
A last-minute week's half board here can be satisfyingly inexpensive too.
Oh, and a word about Inghams who we booked with. For whatever reason there were no seats available for us on the plane back to Newcastle from Innsbruck so they flew us to Leeds Bradford, where a limousine awaited us for the run back to our car or home if we had wanted.
Initially a worrying prospect but it all went so smoothly and all the Inghams staff were so good along the way. Full marks.

What a fantastic holiday! Neiderau is simply stunning - a perfect ski resort for beginners / intermediates. Advanced skiers will get bored staying in the resort for the entire week, however a short bus journey will take you to a resort named Affach.
Neiderau is quite a magical place, its atmosphere is something I’d never quite experienced before, people are so friendly and the place is so small and homely that you quickly start to build up a rapport with everyone there.
Would advise anyone to join the Red ski school. Plentiful local instructors per pupil, excellent night time show display, brilliant race and award ceremony at the end of the week. As a complete beginner I was on red runs by the end of the week!
My husband and I spent a week at Hotel Harfenwirt. Slightly disappointed on arrival as our rooms weren't ready and when they were we were taken to a different guest house which wasn't located next to the Harfenwirt and was a couple of mins walk up the road. Nevertheless, rooms were immaculate and we still ate at the Hotel. Food was of a very high standard however after a long days skiing there simply wasn't enough of it for us and therefore we did end up eating out on three occasions with a number of other couples we met at the hotel because of this fact. Herbert the owner is one of a kind, his harp playing is not to be missed.
Last point to note is that if possible than take a flight into Innsbruck. We flew into Salzburg and coach journey to Neiderau was 2.5 hrs (long enough) however on the way back took 4.5 hrs which wasn't the greatest.
I'd definitely recommend Neiderau and indeed Hotel Harfenwirt to anyone - you really won't be disappointed.

What a fantastic holiday! We had great snow and the pretty resort was perfect for first and second time skiiers. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.
The ski instructors were very good at coping with skiiers who varied more in their bravery than they did their skiing skills! They have to practice lots of psychology as well as being good teachers.
The hotel owner, Herbert, is unique. He genuinely acts as host to everyone who comes in, treating them as special guests, and making sure that they are happy. Not only does he manage his staff and the hotel, he also provides evening entertainment occasionally by playing the harp.
Overall, it was a wonderful holiday and we are thinking of returning at Christmas.

There were five in our group, all ladies and 4 of us beginners to the whole ski thing. Herbert ensured that we had rooms all close together, which was quite a bonus as we all booked at different times.
The food was perfect, one of the group, (Tessa) was a vegetarian - the menu catered ideally for her, also some of us opted for the vegetarian meal anyway, because the dishes sounded so nice.
On my last day, I had a fall and didn't realise the extent of my injuries until after dinner. As I was quite upset, Herbert bathed and dressed my hand. Upon my return to England, I learnt that I had three broken bones, and that Herbert's swift action had reduced the swelling etc. We ladies are meeting up next week to plan and book for next year! Same time, same place, can't wait!
Herbert really is a gem!