A spa weekend in the Austrian Alps, how does that grab you, darlin’?

Earlier this summer, I was in Rome for meetings – with busy days and long nights. So when I was invited for a short spa holiday in the Austrian Alps on the way home, I jumped at the chance. Nothing like a few days of fun and relaxation with three fellow bloggers before returning to the hustle and bustle of everyday family life.

Sounds good that, doesn’t it? Perhaps you might like a few days off yourself? Just the two of you, sans kids?

I have just the place for you.

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Bleibergerhof offers a gorgeous Alpine setting, a child-free zone, daily culinary feasts, a large AcquaPura spa, and an all-round air of romance.

The setting

Fresh Alpine air at 920 metres above sea level – in Austria’s southernmost province, Carinthia.

The zone

If you’ve left your kids with the grandparents for the weekend, you don’t want to deal with other people’s kids, do you? The Bleibergerhof is child-free for most of the year, only allowing children at Christmas, Easter and in the summer holidays (July and August). As you can imagine, this has proven a very successful concept.

The cuisine

Georg Klammer, head chef at Bleibergerhof, sees to it that you’ll never leave the table dissatisfied – whether it’s the scrumptious and healthy (a difficult combination) breakfast buffet or a five-course gala dinner – all made with fresh, local produce.

The spa

The huge 2 500 m² wellness area has fitness rooms, thermal pools indoors and out, saunas, steam baths and a variety of fab massage treatments.

Spa manager Alexandra Klammer has a garden here, growing thyme, oregano, rosemary, peppermint, chamomile and much more. Herbs from the garden are used in the spa as well as in the kitchen.

Alexandra also happens to be the best yoga instructor I’ve ever had. No requirements to bend like a pretzel here, just relaxing, soothing exercises in a peaceful setting, while listening to her soft, hypnotic voice practically lulling me to sleep.


Yoga room

The four of us sampled various delicious treatments: oil massages, herbal baths, four-handed massages and hay packs. My favourite was the hot stamp massage: it’s much like a hot stone massage, only with bags of tightly packed aromatic herbs soaked in hot water.


Herbal stamps

The romance

How about a private spa for the two of you? Get a massage, have a beautifully scented bath and relax in the privacy of your own spa room.

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Bleibergerhof practicals

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Bleibergerhof is located near the village of Bad Bleiberg. The nearest transport hub is 17 km away, in Villach near the Italian border. Transfers can be arranged for a fee, and are free for guests staying minimum 4 nights. There is also a bus service.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Falkensteiner Hotels & Spas. As ever, all opinions are mine all mine.