Spring 2020

16 The pinnacle of luxury in one of the top ski destinations in Europe. The Almhof Schneider is a family owned hotel with all the trappings of modern 5-star luxury, yet it remains reflective of the traditions of the Austrian alps. The Hotel Before we showcase our appreciation of the Almhof itself, we should first introduce the Schneider family and their long history in Lech, since it is their approach and commitment that has made the hotel (and maybe Lech itself) the place it is today. The family settled in Lech in 1451 and were pivotal in the development of tourism in the area and built their first 40 bed guest house in 1929. The Schneider’s holdings and the Almhof itself have been passed from generation to generation ever since and the current custodian Gerold and Katia Schneider now run the hotel; so expect a warm welcome from them and Gerold’s mother Hannelore on arrival and be made to feel part of the family throughout your stay. The hotel has been continually modernised, which has allowed Gerold and Katia to apply their own architectural prowess and their obvious passion for quality shines through in the attention to detail that runs throughout the hotel. You can see the personal touch in everything from the bespoke fireplace in reception, to the panoramic window in the bar, to the collection of art that adorn the walls. The whole concept is pinned together by the use of high-quality timbers and it seems it is the appreciation of the grains, textures and hues of these different woods that allows the Almhof to blend alpine tradition with modern luxury but you still get that experience of mountain life that we all want. The hotel is a thing of grandeur, during our stay the Almhof’s 47 rooms were fully occupied, but due to the spacious communal areas and the shear options of places to sit, relax or indulge, you never felt like this was the case. The ceiling in one of the hotel’s three restaurants, the Wunderkammer, is so striking it deserves a mention of its own. The ceiling has 116 individual Almhof Schneider Lech Austria Exclusive