Romantik Hotel GMACHL, Salzburg, Austria

Nestled in the heart of Elixhausen, Romantik Hotel GMACHL is one of Austria’s oldest family-run businesses, and an ideal base from which to enjoy the many charms of Salzburg and the Austrian countryside. Here’s why.

• Location: Elixhausen, Salzburg.
• Accommodations: There are Double Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Superior Suites to choose from, all offering a clean, comfortable and elegant hideaway for couples. All rooms have hardwood floors and come with complimentary toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, and upon arrival, guests receive a welcoming jar of jam which adds a lot of character to the overall countryside getaway. Rooms also enjoy an outdoor seating or balcony area overlooking the mountains. 
• Dining options: There is an award-wining restaurant on site which is a destination for real gourmets. Run by Chef Christian Kastenmeier, it has all your favourite Austrian dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, as well as creative starters focused on seasonal and local ingredients. The menu changes daily for guests with pink-roasted beef roulade, suckling pig and also stuffed zucchini blossoms with gnocchi gracing the menu for self-professed gourmets to indulge in. Don’t forget the delicious Mille-feuille at the end of your meal. 
• What else is there: The hotel has focus on wellness, and couples, with other facilities on site including a ladies’ spa with an organic sauna and steam bath, a private spa for couple treatments, am infrared deep-heat area, a heated outdoor pool (May to September only), a large sun terrace and sunbathing lawn, and six special studios for beauty and massage treatments.
• What’s nearby: The attractions of Salzburg are accessible by car, also hiking in the countryside. 
• Why go: Besides its romantic charm, the hotel is only a 10-minute drive from Salzburg, yet far away from the crowds. 

The Space

An iconic family-run hotel, Romantik Hotel GMACHL is just five kilometres from the heart of the Salzburg CBD in an idyllic village setting, and ideal for a couple’s romantic getaway. It’s a comfortable, pleasant fusion of charm meets modern, and offers a sense of luxury without the crowds, as well as a convenient location perfect for travellers who want to hike the countryside of Salzburg by day, and drop into the city for a Mozart Concert at night. From a half board rate, which includes a delicious breakfast buffet with Austrian bread, cold-cuts and fresh fruits, as well as an exquisite dinner of all your favourite traditional Austrian dishes done to perfection, a draw card of this hotel is an elaborate wellness centre. 

Where We Stayed

We stayed in a Junior Suite Auberg which was a spacious 40 square metres in size, and came with a small balcony and sitting space overlooking the Austrian mountains. The decor was contemporary modern, with blonde wood floors, simple ultra-modern furniture, shutters on the windows and a soft palette of natural colours spiced up with splashes of vibrancy, such as a bright green wall. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The hospitality, which was both friendly and professional.
• Couples booked on a half-board rate can enjoy a buffet breakfast and dinner, which is convenient after a day of touring.
• It’s affordable luxury in the Austrian countryside.

Insider Tips  

• There is a bus which stops right outside the hotel, and which takes you directly to the heart of the city.
• If you open your large windows at night, you will be subject to the smells of the farm - but it’s bearable.

The Details 

Romantik Gmachl Hotel is located at Dorfstrasse 14, 5161 Salzburg-Elixhausen, Australia, www.gmachl.com.

About Our Guest Writer

Michelle Tchea is the bestselling author of four books on travel, food and culture, and her work has been published in over 100 international magazines. She is also the owner of the Organics Company, Healthy Spoon, in Australia and a consulting firm in Europe, PopIntel Group, a luxury strategy firm in F&B. Michelle was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, and has a steady stream of followers on social media reaching millions. Michelle's new book, Chefs Collective is out now.