Lodging

For reservations contact Tourist Office Söll (tel. 05333-5216, fax 05333-6180) or SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental (05358-505, fax 05358-50555).

Rates: Based on double occupancy with half board in February. €€€—€125+; €€—€75–€124; €€—less than €75.

Two of the best hotels in the area are in Ellmau. Hotel Bär (05358-2395, fax 239596; €€€) and the Kaiserhof (05358-2022, fax 220260; €€€; photo right) both have all the amenities including indoor pool, saunas and steam baths.

For the most part it is hard to find many hotels that will cost more than about €100 for half board during the ski season. In Westendorf, the top hotels in town don’t cost more than €75 for half board during high season!

Hotel Greil (5289; €€; photo right), a 10-minute walk from the center of town, is quiet. The food, both tasty and filling, is served by a friendly staff.

The best hotel in town is Postwirt (5081; €€; photo below), a renovated, beautiful building near the local tourist office. Equally attractive and historic is Feldwebel (5224;€€), a 57-room hotel just down the street. Hotel Tyrol (5273; €€) is about halfway between the Greil and the center of town.

Hotel Alpenschlössl (6400) approximately three kilometers outside of Söll, and Hotel Alpenpanorama (5309) situated on the “Sonnbichl,” are recommended four-star hotels. On the mountain we liked the Salvenmoos (5351; €) for skiers who want to hit the slopes immediately and don’t need to go into town often.

There are over two dozen hotels in the Söll area proper. Private rooms and bed & breakfasts are numerous. The tourist office, next to the Postwirt Hotel, can arrange rooms in all price ranges (5216).

In Brixen im Thale, Gasthof Hoferwirt (05334-6742, fax 30094; €) is almost across the street from the gondola. Pension Sonnhof (05334-8532, fax 6064; €) is the chalet most imagine when heading to the Austrian Alps. Reitlwirt (05334-8119; €) has excellent service and a good restaurant.

In Westendorf, head to Vital-Landhotel Schermer (05334-6268, fax 2384; €) where you get a covered pool and covered parking. At the Hotel Jakobwirt (05334-6245, fax 2467; €) there is another covered pool and the place is perfect for families. The Hotel Glockenstuhl (05334-6175, fax 2462; €) also has an indoor swimming pool, sauna and its own restaurant. There are also three youth hostels where young skiers can stay for as little as €21 a night with half board.

Ski Chalets: Crystal. Click here for more information on ski chalets.