Niederau

I don't think that is right. For several years now, hotels with a restaurant have been smoke free. The Harfenwirt and Sonnschein certainly are.

I don't recollect any smoking in the Austria over the last few years, but you could contact Angelica at the Austria.

"sledging" - they have a sledge run now in Niederau - just in the last 2 seasons.

Are you talking school holidays THIS year??? I would guess lots of places already booked up.

If you have back issues, I would forget about sledging :wink:. You can get knocked about on those things :roll:

Stayed in the Austria 5 times when we first went to Niederau but it is our least favourite now. The bar area is tiny and smoking was still allowed in there, the restaurant, which is v good, is smoke free. The rooms are v small compared to other places we've stayed in the village and it usually seems to be the most expensive to book, (with Crystal anyway). The Sonneschein sits down the hill behind the Austria, probably 10 min walk to the gondola, the Wastlhof also about 10 min and the Harfenwirt about 15. For the skiers though the last two are handiest for the drag lifts.

Smoking - I love Austria to bits but unfortunately a LOT of the on piste bars and cafes still allow people to smoke indoors. If I arrive and people are smoking, I go elsewhere. I haven't come across people smoking inside a hotel/bar in a town for a couple of years now though.

Thank you for all the replies.
Yes - we are looking to go this Feb during half term. Most TO still showing rooms / hotel free ... so here's hoping.

Would any of you book at the Austria? Does the closeness to the ski lifts etc outweigh the negatives for you?

I have stayed in The Austria a few times and I don't think smoking has been allowed in the hotel for the last few years.
This is not a 5 star hotel and the rooms, food and price reflect that. Saying that I have always found the rooms big enough for 2 of us since we don't spend much time in the hotel anyway,and the food was always quite good. If you don't like the food on the menu in the dining room you can get a discount to eat in the hotel restaurant.
The hotel is ideally situated with the main gondola only being about 100 yards away and the bus stop for Auffach being about 20 yards away.
If your family don't feel like hiking around in boots and carrying ski gear it is an ideal place to stay.
I think the hotel location is a big +. The less time I walk around in ski boots the better.

Thanks for the feedback.
There is three of us - my husband, daughter (age 15) and I.
Really like the idea of staying so close to the slope but not 100% sure on the quality of hotel!