Chalet Hotel Riegler
Features
The Hotel Riegler is well located only 7 mins from central Saalbach and just a minute on the skibus to the Schattberg gondola. Here we have a ski and boot store which converts a 7 minute walk in ski boots into an easy loosener in street shoes. It's best to start the day from the Schattberg gondola. There are plenty of other buses to other parts of the system that also stop close to the hotel, or you may want to walk around the shops and cafes before taking the lift. It's a colossal lift and one of the focal points of the whole system. From the mid station the blue run goes virtually back to the hotel. From the top an easy black or red eventually joins the blue.
The Riegler has great views of the north-facing slopes of the Schattberg mountain in front of the hotel. On the ground floor, the modern ski store exits onto the hotel terrace where a short, steep access road joins the main road and the ski bus stop. There's also a sauna next to the ski room, and a largish reception with internet access point and a sofa.
Most of the public areas are up on the first floor. The bar is very welcoming and well designed, with a pleasant ambience. The lounge has Sky TV and is a relaxing, quiet area, away from the main bar, which is next to the comfortable restaurant.
Most of the bedrooms have a balcony that gets the sun all day and all have private facilities. They are nicely decorated and comfortable. There are 3 double rooms that are slightly smaller than the twins.
Facilities
Sauna
Ski store
Lift
Bar
TV lounge
Telephone in all rooms
Saalbach Resort Info
Saalbach-Hinterglemm, like Ischgl, is one of the biggest lift-linked resorts in Austria, with 200km of runs. It combines an attractive Austrian village with the convenience (excellent lift links and good piste maintenance) of French resorts. There is skiing/boarding for all abilities, particularly better intermediates. For advanced skiers, there is slightly less appeal, with limited expert-only terrain (the Glemm Valley is an exception). There is an excellent ski school and good nursery slopes for beginners. But, as with many of the pistes, they are south-facing - receiving a lot of sun and marginally poorer snow conditions. The other runs favour second weekers rather than absolute beginners. Boarders are spoilt, with 13km of boarders-only pistes, as well as a specialist park and half-pipe. For kids, facilities are better at Hinterglemm.
Saalbach-Hinterglemm has top après-ski and nightlife, although it can get rather rowdy with hordes of young Dutch, Brits, Scandinavians and Germans flooding the villages' bars and clubs. Saalbach and Hinterglemm are 4km apart, with the former being the more attractive and traditional, as well as being traffic-free. Both offer slope-side accommodation, while the cuisine tends to be largely local. Mountain restaurants are varied and enjoyable and, because there is plenty of sun, they tend to attract the 'tan merchants' en masse. As for other things to do besides skiing, there are usually weekly competitions and ski/boarding demonstrations to watch, but beyond that not much. Unless you like bars and clubs…
Overall, Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a top Austrian destination that has good skiing, a traditional village and fun après-ski.
More Saalbach resort information