Stayed for a long weekend at Villa Solitude.

Got there after 11pm on the Friday night. A very nice chap showed us to our room, pointed out the waterfall visible from the room balcony and then invited us back down to the bar for something to eat or drink.
Nothing felt like it was going to be too much trouble.
The bar restaurant area is really cosy and quirky with wine bottles in racks adorning the walls.
A lovely bowl of soup and a glass of wine and off to bed.

The room was large with high ceilings, a great view and big bathroom. OK it's a little "tired" but it all adds to the character. If you like your hotel rooms like little boxes this is not the place for you.

If you like carved wood ceilings and wooden paneled walls, rugs on wooden floors and old windows then Villa Solitude fits the bill.

The other point of note is how nice and quiet the Hotel was at night. I suspect this
Breakfast was cold meats, cheeses, rolls croissants cereal etc. I'm sure if you wanted something else you only need ask.

Bad Gastein is well located for skiing. Bad Gastein, Hof Gastein or Dorf Gastein are great areas (Dorf was our favourite), although a car has to be recommended for getting to the skiing as the trudge on foot in ski boots from Villa Solitude to the lift at Bad Gastein is a bit too much to start and finish the day. There are buses, but we did not sample them.

The food was great, service attentive and enthusiastic and the selection of wine impressive. Anything from Euro 20 up to Euro 2400 a bottle if I recall. We had some really lovely Austrian reds at about Euro 40-50.

To cap the great experience, they even offered us a late checkout for the last day which was lovely as we had a late evening flight and planned to ski all day. Back to the room, shower, quick snooze, pay bill and off to the airport at 6pm. Sure they had the room free and it didn;t cost them anything, but you do not get this kind of consideration in many places I've been.

Great ambience, friendly staff. Recommended

When I went to Villa Solitude to see some friends last week while staying in Bad Gastein, the welcome we got was shocking and rude. I asked to see the family concerned, the first person we spoke to did not know who they were, and the second asked in a very abrupt fashion "Why did we want to see them", I replied "because we were friends" and I was told they were having a massage. iasked to leave a message and they reluctantly gave me a pen. Fine - but we did not need to be treated like second class [--], and this second man was the only person in my 6 visits to Austria who was rude. What a shame! One arrogant idiot could have ruined my holiday!

We came here end of ski season with two teenage children, only one of whom is into skiing. We have found Villa Solitude a very relaxing hotel: loads of character and nice touches such as really gorgeous fresh flowers and a very good restaurant with an exceptional wine cellar. We tried both the half board and the a la carte: both can be recommended.

Impromtu late lunches on the terrace in the unexpected sunshine were provided with the minimum of fuss and were really very tasty. Thoughtful provison of blankets for those sitting outside the moment the sun dipped behind the building was much appreciated by all.

The rooms are spaciousand interesting to stay in, with well appointed bathrooms and not your usual furnishings: antiques and wood panneling without being over precious. The hotel looks out onto the main waterfall and its great to go to sleep at night with the sound of the water in the background.

In terms of a destination, Bad Gastein has much to offer in terms of skiing, and just a short drive away is some great walking areas for those not so keen on the snow. Its easy to get to from the UK by plane to Salzburg and then to take the train to Bad Gastein, but a car ihas been useful for non skiing people in the party. Some of the town could do with a face lift, but the access to the beautiful mountains is quick and efficient and that's what we came for in the main.

I can imagine us returning here....