We have visited the Romantik Hotel / Metzgerwirt for many years and with each visit, it honestly just gets better! This trip was a bit different for us, as I have retired recently and wanted to do something a little special and memorable, as a treat to ourselves to mark the occasion, so we booked as usual via Inghams but contacted the hotel to ask if we could pay the upgrade fee to them direct to secure one of their amazing and new suites with a personal sauna. We had a very prompt reply and everything was arranged! On arrival, check-in was done within a minute or two, excluding the ever-present warm welcome we always receive which adds a bit to the check-in time! Up to the room, we were definitely not disappointed - spacious, spotlessly clean, modern, contemporary and well-equipped, and there was the sauna next to the walk in rainfall shower! This was heaven, every day we would use it after skiing, it was fully adjustable to suit heat preferences, and perfect. I did still visit the steam room in the Emotion spa downstairs, and popped in the hotter of the two sauna's there, but most of the week we used just our own. This is a treat which is well worth investing in the upgrade cost.
The hotel has always had some work done between seasons for as long as we can remember and this year is no exception, but we didn't notice in a good way, as the same cosy, warm welcome was ever-present and the services we are used to still continue as normal, or rather even better. Primary amongst these, for us, is the quality of the food and dining experience. This year really was the best ever - the soups were amazing, the salad buffet and cheese buffet generous and very fresh, presented like a work of art - some people we met there were amazed at the choice and quality and said it was amazing to have honeycomb honey and we couldn't agree more, everything is fresh, local, and carefully chosen and presented. Breakfast by the wonderful Erika is always a highlight, and her team including the lady who's name I always struggle to pronounce who has been there for around 30-40 years does the BEST omelettes ever! There are some new staff, all of whom seem to come from a secret place where only the best, nicest people are produced (Zell am See!) and they are all so helpful - from the reception staff, the lovely room fairies, the restaurant staff (Patrick was really on form this year!) and of course the Family Horl - who I will have to give a special mention to this year as we were really spoilt by them!
Anna manages the reception area amongst other roles, and booked us for example a lovely table at Franzl's restaurant on the Schmittenhohe one day, which her brother Sebastian manages, and wow - what a meal! We also had help with our lift passes from a lovely lady who sorted us out with hiking and ski passes, directions, tips and advice, etc. and always the warmest greeting every day (she even gave us a bottle of water each as we waited for our taxi to the bus depot on our last morning so that we wouldn't be thirsty on the trip to the airport). Werner organised an ice curling event one evening, always great fun, with Gluhwein afterwards, and Sabine and Werner organised a very special final night for us and some other longstanding guests with a private and 'secret' surprise schnapps tasting evening in the wine cellar, which was the best night ever, with gifts, cheese snacks, singing and stories being shared. Where else would you have that experience but here!
We returned home a little depressed, knowing that even as I type this, the hotel is continuing with wow-ing new and regular guests, but most of all we miss the feeling that only this hotel can provide - of care and attention to guest experiences, through the warm welcomes and amazing services provided. We saw Josef, the main man of the family every day, and of course Maxi, and we would love to be back having a Guten Morgen from them, but it is also reassuring that when we return, as we will, we will see them all again and find out what is new, what remains the same, and how the two merge into each other with the aim of giving you the best week of the year, every year!
Thank you to all of the staff, from the room fairies who are so lovely to speak to every day, to the restaurant and kitchen staff and the Family Horl who bring it all together for us - what a week!