I love Austria but this was the worst food I have had in 30 years of going to Austria and quite different to other reviews. Also supported by other guests we spoke to. Breakfast was a shambles with empty buffet plates and most things not replaced until we complained. Dinner was average at best with little variation from pork and virtually no vegetables. Starter every night was "Guess what's in the clear soup" . On a-la-carte night, the Chateaubriand consisted of offcuts of steak with potatoes in 4 styles, rice and 1 stick of apragus each! The staff did their best but obviously hindered by poor management and head chef.
Other than that, Schladming is a great ski resort, just find somewhere else to stay.

We have been using this hotel for quite a few years now and have found it to be very comfortable, warm, and always loads of hot water - a must for ageing skiers. The food this year was back to its best - the restaurant gets a lot of local trade and serves a varied menu including traditional Austrian cuisine.
The Staff are all friendly and helpful and this year the No Smoking rules make the restaurant and bars in the town more pleasant for non-smokers. One thing to remember -- this is a very old hotel with 3 floors but no lifts - however, you never have to carry your bags yourself .

PSW

The Kirchenwirt is in a great location in the centre of town, not far from Planai lifts. We were thankful of the lockers at the lift station where we could change boots and leave skiis/boards and have apres ski with more comfort (1 euro per day). The hotel is 5 min walk to the lifts and is very traditional and very charming with lots of photos and relevant/interesting artefacts around the place. It looks pretty from the outside and is quite dark inside but not unwelcoming. If you expect large spacious lobbies, lifts, comfy sofa seating, spa, pools etc this is not a hotel for you. If you like original panelled hallways, boothed seating, scrubbed floors, nice rugs, clean table clothes, real Austrian food done well and happy to do stairs then you will enjoy this place. The Family owners are willing and helpful and interested in pleasing guests. The breakfast was simple but beauitiful, fresh rolls, eggs, hams and cheese and cake; evening meals were spectacular and used by locals also.

The 4 linked (by lifts)mountains offer plenty for the intermediate skiers/boarders mainly reds and blacks and a short bus ride will open a couple of other mountains that are covered on the lift pass. The glacier at Dachstien was perhaps not worth the long bus ride. Hour there and back and fairly uninspiring piste with only one chair lift and the rest are drags. The ice palace there was 7.50 euro and we didn't bother, the views were the main highlight.

There is a fab machine at the planai lift that calculates ski distance, lifts used and distance and prints off a chart for free.

The Tenne bar at the bottom of the black and red run near the planai seems to capture most of the apres ski custom. Thought to be the largest apres ski bar in europe, it is impressive in its structure, music is loud and lively, beer is reasonably priced but better atmosphere can be found across the road at Charlie Kahrs or the igloo round the corner.

The town is pretty with some good clothes shops, 2 churches, a few bars and resteraunts. There is a club in town but Schladming is not a kicking late night town.

The town has its own bewery and a couple of supermarkets nearby which were reasonabley priced. A river runs through the edge of town and adds to the prettiness of the whole place.

For those that might like the more traditional ski experience, this would be a great resort and hotel. As a boarder I noted that there was less than 10% fellow boarders on the piste which might be a selling point to those skiiers who believe the mountains are theirs. I must admit I like the mix to be more even but in the main Austria as a whole has a much more considerate approach to everyone using the mountains.

A top traditional Austrian experience

stayed for week in single room .as been said before rooms little quirky,but clean and warm.front rooms tend to pick up a little noise in early hoursbut this happens in any hotel on a main street in austria .very central for bars ,5 min walk from lifts ,shops ect .staff excellent,very friendly and helpfull. food excellent choice of 8 main meals ,and the staff would make any combination of those if required with full a la carte one night.in all a great old fashioned traditional austrian hotel.no frills so great for cheap holiday.would return any time