Lodging

Zell am See (telephone prefix is 06542)

Many of Zell’s hotels and pensions are near the lifts. In addition, for those who want to be closer to the Kaprun glacier, there are accommodations in Kaprun.

Thumersbach, across the lake, is separated from the best skiing but quite scenic. Check with the tourist office in Zell for further information.

Zell also offers 24-hour service to individuals who come without reservations. Visitors can use an infor-mation board similar to those used at airports: push a button next to the ho-tel name, and its location is illuminated on the map. You can then tele-phone the hotel directly and check on room availability.

The all-in-one-week package is called Schnee-Okay, and is available in low and middle season. A Schnee-Okay package in a four star hotel with half board is available in January at the starting price of €511. Schnee-Okay includes seven days accommodation, a six-day regional pass, unlimited use of the ski shuttlebus and six days’ admittance to swim-ming pools in Zell and Kaprun. Schnee-Okay also includes six days’ use of the indoor ice rink in Zell, a 10 percent discount on ski rental and a €10 discount on a four- or five-day ski course at either the Zell am See or Kaprun ski school. At the other end of the price scale is the simple B&B starting at €345 a week.

Lodges are plentiful in Zell am See. One of the most romantic is the Grand Hotel at Esplanade 4 (806; €€) on the shores of Lake Zell. This stylish beauty was built to be enjoyed from bottom to top. Dine in its casually elegant restaurant, then head upstairs to the glass-domed Wunderbar for a nightcap.

The Hotel Salzburgerhof, Auerspergstrasse 11 (765; €€€; photo left) is Zell am See’s only five-star hotel. Lodging at this large, chalet-style hotel includes a Wellness Center with a whirlpool, sauna, swimming pool, solarium, massage facilities and exceptional cuisine in its award-winning restaurant.

A very nice four-star hotel is the Hotel Neue Post, Schlossplatz 2 (73773; €€€; photo above). Well- located and handy to shops and restaurants, this family-owned condominium property features an outdoor hot tub, sauna, massage, fitness room, and television in all rooms. The lobby bar is a good place to meet friends. Friendly desk clerks will have your laundry done for a very reasonable price.

Closer to the slopes, the Hotel Berner, at Nikolaus-Gassner-Promenade 1 (779; €€€) sits just a block or so off the main thoroughfares, a short walk from the Zeller Bergbahn gondolas. The warm friendly personalities of the Berner family will make you feel very much at home. Other recommended four-star hotels are: Hotel Zum Hirschen, Dreifaltigkeitgasse (774; €€€); Hotel St. Georg Schillerstrasse (768; €€€; photo below); Romantikhotel zum Metzgerwirt Sebastian Horl Str. 11 (72520; €€€); and Hotel Alpenblick, Alte Landstrasse (5433; €€€).

Three-star recommendations:
The Sporthotel Lebzelter, Dreifaltigkeitgasse 7 (06542/ 776; €€) is one of Zell am See’s most conveniently located lodges, right in the heart of town and just a few steps away from prime shopping.

Hotel Krone Kitzsteinhornstrasse 16 (57421; €€).

An excellent two-star choice is Gasthof Steinerwirt, Schlossplatz 1 (72502; €).

For B&Bs or Frühstückspension, try the Alpenrose (72570; €), the Landhaus Buchner (72062; €), the Hubertus (72427; €), or the Klothilde (72660; €), all of which have English-speaking employees, who are quite interested in interaction with tourists.

Kaprun (telephone prefix is 06547)

For its size, Kaprun boasts an array of accommodations you would expect to find at much larger resorts, and the Kaprun/Zell am See transportation system has so many pickup spots that location isn’t really an issue.

Sporthotel Falkenstein Kaprun (8625; €€€) is one of the better full-service lodges. At the south end of town, it offers a panoramic view of the village from its north-facing side and a dazzling look at the Kitzsteinhorn from the other. Sit on the terrace in early morning and watch the sun dance off the Kitzsteinhorn’s peaks. Hearty buffet breakfasts are served each morning. Lunch and dinner are also served in the hotel’s spacious dining room.

One of the best four-star “downtown” hotels is the Orgler (8205; €€€). You’ll want to tiptoe over the fine oriental rugs scattered about its light pine-paneled lobby.

Other recommended four-star hotels: Steigenberger Kaprun, Schlossstrasse 751 (7647, fax 7680; €€€). Hotel Antonius, Schlossstrasse 744, (7670, fax 76706; €€€). The Hotel Zur Burgruine (8306, fax 830660; €€€) is near the Kaprun fortress ruins. The hotel’s cheerful dining room is excellent for dinner whether you stay here or not. The Hotel Sonnblick (8301, fax 830166; €€€), just off town central, is another outstand-ing spot if only for its wide balconies made for enjoying the views.

Other three- & two-star recommendations are: Katharinehof (8866; € B&B), Alpenrose (7240; €€ B&B), Eschenhof (8674; € B&B), Alpenblick (8477; € B&B; photo right), Jaga-Hias (8345; € B&B) and Heidi, near town center (8223; €).

Ski Chalets: Inghams/Bladon. Click here for more information on ski chalets.

Apartments, condominiums, flats
The tourist office will provide a list of available apartments and chalets in the area. In addition, you can book directly through agencies in the area. For more in-formation, call Apartmentservice (80480). Apartments large enough to sleep four will range in price from €60–90 per night.