Falkensteiner Club Funimation Katschberg hotel can be best described by pointing out three main things that make it so special: 1000 square meters of play area just for kids, so you can enjoy 2000 square meters of their SPA. All of it situated against the backdrop of stunning Austrian mountains in the Katschberg area.

From hiking to skiing, Austria’s region of Katschberg is a hub for active and fun holidays. It offers some of the best skiing (so I’ve been told) and it is close to attractions such as Malta High Alpine Road and Nockalm Alpine Road right next to the beautiful Millstatt lake. In this region being bored is a foreign concept. Perhaps that is why the hotel situated right in the middle of it, has the word fun in its name. Though it is less than 2 hours away from Ljubljana, with the light snow and bitter coldness the difference from home couldn’t have been more striking. So, while the surroundings looked very exciting, I much preferred to just enjoy the amenities the hotel has to offer and that is a lot already.

Dwindling one’s fingers is not an option at the Falkensteiner Club Funimation hotel. There is too much to do.

But the rest of the family was eager to experience this Season’s first snow – so after a hearty breakfast off we went to enjoy the views.

Since the Falkensteiner Club Funimation Katschberg hotel is located at 1600 meters of altitude we were already high enough but going further up hill made us feel as entering a Winter wonderland. While not a fan of cold and snow myself, I couldn’t help but enjoy it. Besides we all desperately needed to burn off some calories accumulated by digging into a delicious breakfast with too many great options.  We hit the morning buffet like there was no tomorrow let alone lunch served at noon.

All the meals at the hotel are included and they are very tasty: combining great Austrian delicacies with all time children’s favorites – ensuring nobody here stays hungry.

The hike and other activities here need to be good. Still, I was thrilled when we got back to the warmth and coziness of the hotel, that has so neatly modernized the Austrian traditional architectural style. Lots of wood make this place homely and welcoming and so perfectly attuned to the surrounding nature. I only have a problem with the logo of the hotel: welcome home. Though very welcoming and homey, if this was my home, I would absolutely never have any need for a hotel.

This right here is my dream home.

I enjoyed putting on my fluffy robe and appreciated the tote prepared so I could head out straight to the pool. Everything just worked. The hotel also offers child care for the kids (by the way they speak Slovene as well – since my kids aren’t yet fluent in English) and after taking them to the indoor playground, which includes a huge jungle gym, we were happy to have an hour alone at the SPA. Happy? Ecstatic. Enjoying the saunas and the outdoor pool while taking in the snow peaks in the distance – not a lot of things can beat this.

Rest at noon come literally to soon – but the rooms are comfortable and with lots of wood and wooden details they add a  warm cottage feel to a classic hotel room. And the kids fell in love with their bunk bed and the climbing of the tree trunk to reach the top. It is great how they incorporated these tree trunks throughout the hotel: in the fabulous fitness room, at the reception hall, everywhere really.

The afternoon brought more fun at the pool and playground, a lovely dinner and a well deserved rest. Even the two of us hit the bed before ten and if we were skiing as well, I don’t see us staying awake past eight. This is a terrific place for active families. And the fact that is meant for families – is great. Nobody looks at you or your kids, nobody cringes and hopes you don’t sit next to them at lunch, kids have their own options of food and fun and well everything works. It was a smooth stay with no glitches and I could really get used to it. It was truly hard to leave and go back home.