Part 1: Where? Why? How? – Dog Holiday in Bad Aussee
To give you a taste of this year's summer – or spring, autumn or even winter – holiday with your beloved furry companion, I'm going to tell you about our Hundereise to the Ausseerland in Styria.
In the year before Murphy moved in, my dearest Mum, Che and I took a short break at the Wasnerin in Bad Aussee. My favourite person stayed at home because he had so much work on.
The preparations.
Che gets to come along on the girls' trip – that much is clear from the start. We don't want to travel too far, as we're only planning five days rather than a whole week. Although South Tyrol was very tempting, it fell at that hurdle, so we settle on green Styria instead. I turn to Google to search for dog-friendly hotels in the neighbouring province and very quickly come across the Wasnerin's 'Auszeit mit Vierbeiner'. I show the 'G'sund und Natur Hotel' to my Mum, she loves it too, agrees straight away, and we book for mid-August at the 4*S hotel!
*swoon***and***squeal*
The journey.
So on Saturday late morning we set off for Ausseer Land. The drive takes around 2 hours 45 minutes, but we need longer because we stop at the ski jump in Kulm. The steep ramp is very impressive and we marvel at how anyone can bring themselves to jump down it with just two skis on their feet...
Che is of course strapped into his harness on the back seat for the journey, and off we go. Taking the Salzkammergut road – with a brief lunch stop along the way – we arrive at our destination feeling relaxed.
The welcome at the hotel.
The car park is quite full, but with Mum's little car we still find a spot. With rather a lot of luggage for such a short stay, and Che on the lead, we trot over to reception. We feel warmly welcomed straight away. We girls toast to a wonderful holiday with our welcome drinks while Che stretches out all four legs in contentment. His peace is disturbed when the young man from reception poses in front of his nose with a camera. Che's model genes are now well and truly awakened and he flashes his most dazzling 'camera smile'. All the while I'm thinking: 'For the guest file? For a blacklist just in case? What on earth is this photo for?' When we've finished our drinks and Che has completed his siesta, the mystery is finally revealed and we're handed an adorable door sign. Right then – off to the room. ♥
The room with garden.
A spacious room with its own fenced garden – Che calls that 'appropriate' for a dog holiday. I'd describe the décor as cosy yet modern. The welcome package for the pooch includes a bowl, dog towels, a bed and poo bags – we are delighted.
The service and other amenities.
The staff and the hotel restaurant.
The hotel staff are very friendly and attentive, yet also genuine – which makes the whole thing feel really lovely and not at all over the top. When it's warm enough to have breakfast or dinner on the terrace, dogs are welcome to join their owners. When it's very busy, seats are assigned. In cooler weather there are tables inside, across from the crystal bar. As the space is generous yet still cosy, and you can enjoy a view of the Dachstein, dog owners feel exceptionally at home here. And so does the dog!
The food.
All I can say is: DELICIOUS!!! and BEAUTIFUL!!!
Breakfast is an absolute showstopper – from the vegan options and freshly pressed juices and smoothies to the wide variety of freshly prepared egg dishes. You can indulge and fuel up for the day until 11:00!!! I honestly have to say I have never experienced such a varied breakfast buffet.
We only take advantage of the afternoon snack with fresh salads and freshly baked cakes on one occasion, but even that is well worth it.
The 5-course dinner makes gourmet hearts leap – ours were certainly doing somersaults when the plates were served. There are always set menus to choose from, and for the main course you get to decide between fish, meat, and vegan/vegetarian. The portions are sized so that we never go to bed with an overly full stomach – and as they say, we eat with our eyes too!
As someone with an aesthetic sensibility, I find the way the dishes are garnished genuinely artistic.
Here's a selection from our 'food porn':
The wellness, spa, fitness & activities.
Luxurious cosiness can also be found in the wellness and spa area, thoughtfully conceived and realised with great taste.
Because we explore the surroundings so actively (you can read more about that next week in Part 2 of the insider tip), Mum and I unfortunately only make use of the wellness area on one afternoon. The restorative factor is definitely there though, because the ambience is so harmonious and we quickly manage to switch off. A basket with a bathrobe, towels and slippers is available in the room for all guests, by the way.
One of my favourite hobbies alongside the dogs is yoga – and the activities programme offers yoga by the lake!
Of course I'm in ;)
Even though it starts early in the morning and I'm not really an early riser on holiday, I want to take part. So at 08:00 I'm standing on the bathing platform of the nearby Sommersbergersee with a few other women, stretching and reaching in every direction. It feels wonderful, and I've definitely earned my breakfast!
In the meantime, Mum is kind enough to take Che on his morning walk around the hotel grounds. On one side you can see the Dachstein; on the other you can watch the golfers teeing off. There's also a poo bag dispenser along the route!
We meet up as a trio on the terrace and enjoy the regional organic breakfast.
Psst: Che gets to sneak a little taste too!
Dog Facts: Hotel Die Wasnerin
A personalised room door sign is created for every four-legged guest
As mentioned above, a welcome package awaits your furry companion in the room, so that owners don't have to pack too much for a dog holiday.
Food and water bowls, a dog bed, blanket, towels & poop bags for your furry friend
Guests are kindly asked not to leave their dog unattended in the garden.
A water bowl for the four-legged guest at every meal for their two-legged companions
At breakfast and dinner, our four-legged companions are welcome guests in designated areas of the restaurant.
Poop bag dispensers available near the hotel
A dog wash station with a water hose for rinsing off is located right by the car park — so that pawed pals don't track too much dirt inside (though we were never actually reminded about this).
Please note: dog-friendly rooms are available in limited numbers, so book early.
Value for money.
The rooms for a dog holiday are certainly not the cheapest, but the pampering on offer is absolutely worth it and the price is more than justified!
In Part 2 and Part 3 of our insider tip "Dog holiday at Die Wasnerin in Bad Aussee" you'll find more about day trip ideas in the Salzkammergut.
This review is an entirely personal assessment and reflection. I was neither asked nor paid by the hotel to write this. The stay was simply so relaxing, dog-friendly and delicious that I couldn't keep it to myself — other dog owners deserve to know.
