Our Experience:
Travelling in from London, the wife and I left our kids at home and spent our anniversary here for a weekend getaway.
At no fault of the hotel, we unfortunately arrived really late due to delays by Austrian airlines, making us miss our connecting flight and missing a whole day, as well as treatments we had booked. All the negative issues we faced trying to get here dissipated the moment we entered Aqua Dome. From the smiley receptionist who showed empathy, to upgrading our room to a 'Familien Paradise Suite' and upon entering the room were pleasantly surprised to see they had decorated the bed with roses and a heart shaped duvet arrangement, to the additional spa day fee wavered on the day of departure, to the late check out, we were absolutely delighted at the care and attention we received. They really did everything to make our stay memorable and it was much appreciated.
The Spa:
Well this place is absolutely spectacular. The pictures don't do it justice. Its a huge wellness complex surrounded by the spectacular Alps. Outside there are numerous pools at varying levels containing the healing hot water so many people come here for. Its absolutely stunning in the evening too when they light it all up with beautiful purple, blue, and green hues. A very romantic dreamlike atmosphere. Within Spa 3000 (exclusive to hotel guests) there are three main sections in terms of dress code referred to as textile and no-textile areas, where some floors are dedicated to nudity and others non-nudity. Being culturally behind here in England we weren't brave enough to show our bits to complete strangers so refrained from entering the nude sections so can't comment on these areas, but be prepared to see naked people walking around the spa, even in the non-nude areas. Its not an issue as you become desensitised to it and its good that both options our provided to guests. One thing I loved about this spa is that it never felt busy or over-crowded within the spa 3000. We were always able to find our own space to relax and feel alone with a beautiful framed view and were really impressed with the quietness and calmness we experienced. Watching my wife fall asleep on the bean bag within 2 mins of sitting down shows how relaxed we felt.
The Room:
We stayed in a Familien Paradise Suite (Room 274) which was fabulous. It is situated in the corner of the building with balconies surrounding the entire suite with magnificent views of Langersfeld and the Alps. Ample space, storage, mood lighting and a super comfy bed are some of the things to expect. There is a bathroom, additional shower room and one separate W.C. Soft drinks are free and restocked in the mini bar every morning, which is perfect to stay hydrated including their own Tyrol coke, diet coke, orange juice, apple juice, berry juice, still and sparkling water. Fresh locally sourced apples and chocolates are provided each day and robes, slippers and a spa bag to carry things you may need while in cloud 9 are provided which was a lovely touch.
Food:
Breakfast and dinner are included and certainly met and even exceeded our expectations in terms of quantity, variety and quality. Service is top notch, with a dedicated waiter/waitress assigned to a designated table that remains yours for the duration of your stay. Expect fresh carrot juice/orange juice etc that you make yourself (which is quite fun), omelette station, soups, varieties of bread, salads, deserts and a furore of starters. Main course and desert at dinner are revised each night with numerous choices that are served on a hot plate separately served but included alongside the buffet.
Negatives:
The main negative point is that the pools are open to the public during the day, which has a negative impact on the general feel of the place, from people smoking outside every exit to kids running around screaming and jumping into the pools and creating a complete contrast from calmness to chaos. Suddenly the whole place feels non-exclusive and unpleasant. A world away from the serenity you feel in the 'hotel guest only' spa.. There is a designated pool world for kids and families but this does not ensure separation as there is an abundant over-spill into the main pool complex. There is a way around this though for hotel guests. We spent early mornings and evenings in the pools avoiding the huge crowds completely and most of the day in the exclusive Spa 3000 which was spectacular, so we still managed to experience what we had envisioned and hoped for before arriving. Also there is a fireplace focal point in the Spa 3000 which was broken unfortunately and remained off during our stay.
Conclusion:
A unique resort in the middle of the mountains with spectacular views, fantastic service and plenty of places to relax and take time out from the rat race. What is there not to love! We thoroughly enjoyed this place and will most definitely return.
