Family holiday review - Kinderhotel in Austria

Siân, 36, and Tom Lyde, 39, from Surrey, took Cerys, 2, to Europe’s 1st Baby & Children’s Hotel, part of the Kinderhotels chain, in southern Austria. They flew from London Stansted to Klagenfurt (though you can also fly to Salzburg) and got a one-hour taxi transfer to the hotel.

“From the moment that we arrived at the hotel, it was clear that Cerys was going to enjoy her first holiday abroad as she received such a warm welcome, plus a present – a very cute doll. In fact, it soon became apparent that looking after children’s needs and ensuring their happiness is paramount at this family-friendly hotel nestling in a valley in the Austrian alps.

Thoughtful touches

Our room had all those little parenting essentials that make life easier, such as a potty, toilet training seat, step stool and bed guard. Cerys also loved the little touches like the bedtime stories booklet left on her bed.

Then it was time to explore. Our 2 year old was in her element as she discovered the large outdoor play area (the bouncy castle was her favourite). There’s also a small farm at the hotel, housing rabbits, donkeys, birds and kangaroos (yes, kangaroos!). Another big hit was the children’s pool, complete with loads of fun toys.

One of the main reasons we chose one of the Kinderhotels is that they offer great childcare for free. We dropped Cerys off while we went for a walk and the friendly English-speaking staff soon put her at ease – you’re given a special mobile phone they can contact you on if there’s a problem.

All you could need

The hotel is totally geared up to make your break stress-free – the company has thought of everything, from car seats in the transfer taxi to buggy hire. And if you have a young baby, it provides everything from bibs to baby food.

The adult food was great, too. The hotel runs a special children’s buffet from 5.30pm-6.30pm then offers childcare from 6.30pm-8.30pm so adults can enjoy a civilised meal together.

There are too many little touches to mention here that made our trip special, but it’s safe to say they all added up to make it a big success.”

More info

Kinderhotels