We've never before been to a hotel where there seems to be some kind of telepathy between the staff. From the moment we checked in, everyone seemed to know who we were, would address us by name, show us to the table, bill to the room, without ever having to ask. This is in a hotel with about 60 rooms and very many staff!

If anyone is running or thinking of running a hotel, they should visit The Bear, and see how it is done. The family are closely invovled - with one of the family members seeing all guests at their dinner tables in the evening. And the head waiter/sommelier, runs a very tight but friendly ship.

Half board was well worth enjoying - the food quality, presentation and variation was excellent, and the recommended wines for each evening well worth trying. They even include a free lunch/afternoon snack (meal) service for guests on half board.

A nice touch was the little newsletter each morning at breakfast with weather and events updates - provided in English as German.

When our daughter was feeling unwell one day, the hotel didn't hesitate to provide our evening meal in our room, braving pouring rain to bring 4 courses.

We stayed in the Kamin Suite (large) which was very well appointed, comfortable and with a small kitchenette if you wanted a little flexibility. The chambermaid arranged our daughter's teddy bear in a different way each day!

The health suite is one of the best appointed we've ever seen - well above the standard of many much larger hotels. The indoor swimming pool is small, but there is also a reasonable outdoor pool when the weather is good enough. The saune, steam room, tepinarium, and pine rooms provided a great selection for relaxing away from children (for over 14's).

Location is good - Ellmau was one of the prettiest villages we saw, and is a good point for touring the Tyrol and enjoying the mountains in summer.

Well done to the family Windisch, Robert and all the staff for making our stay so enjoyable!

We have visited here several times over the past few years. We love the atmosphere, the warm appreciation for families, the feeling of instant relaxation when we walk in the door. Although the room decor needs updating and the beds are too soft for my taste, none of that is remembered while enjoying SUPERB food and extraordinary wine while gazing on gorgeous mountain scenery. A true gem! (Access literally out the door and across the road to ski school and almost unlimited ski possibilities.)

I shouldn’t tell anyone about this little gem , but the owners truly deserve a praise.
So here we are :
my little boy and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay last winter. the hotel is very classy yet friendly and caters well for children ( it doesn't mean that the place is full of kids jumping up and down everywhere, far from it)

Food is delicious and varied and the afternoon snacks very generous. Children have their own menu, and, Oh joy, no hamburgers or pasta hoops there. Kids get the best as well.

Our bedroom (nbr 19) is spacious, clean and well equipped. The décor is a tad dated but the view is amazing.
Room service(cleaning) is very efficient and polite.
TV channels are mainly in German , only BBC for Britons. It didn't bother us as we had brought our DVD player.
Or we were outside most of the time anyway.

The pool is good ; clean and very warm. But you won’t spend hours there (it’s small and there are no steps or any other features to relax)

the staff will go at lengths to help. I had about 10 questions per day and needed various services, and the ladies at reception were so helpful.

The basement is dedicated for ski gear, sleighs, etc . It is, again, very spacious, safe and clean. There are special ‘pole’ radiator things on which you stick the ski boots to warm them up; and excellent ski racks. It is the first skiing trip when I didn’t feel any hassle at all with the gear.
At the end of your week you don’t need to bring the rental gear back to the shop, the hotel will do it for you !

Location is another asset of the hotel. it is right on the slopes and only 200 meters from shops and children ski lessons ('topski' Schule), ). it is on a hill, so the steep road might be a bit difficult in some cases but then it is really worth it.

Now, a word about the resort. It does what it says on the tin, that is: it's perfect for families. But it's got very few slopes and the village is so spread out ; so you'll be happy if you have rented a car, otherwise it can be frustrating.
If you are a good skier Ellmau is not for you.

Also, a word of warning about ski lessons: there are several ski schools in Ellmau, if you choose '1. ellmauer skischule' (owned by Fuchs) it's on the other side of the mountain. so not convenient at all.

We visited this hotel 3 years ago and thought it was good then, but this has now got to be classed as one of the best hotels in Europe. The food is quite exceptional and the staff so very welcoming - they remembered us from our previous stay, even remembering my wife's birthday in style (without seeing her passport this time around!!!

Ellmau is a wonderful base for walking (particularly if you take out a 7 day lift pass that covers not only the furnicular in Ellmau but all the Gondola Rides in the surrounding area). The village is as lively as most "mature couples" would want and the Der Baer is far enough from the centre, that if there is a key social event, your slumbers will not be disturbed.

All in all a great resort for walking, golfing, swimming etc in the summer months and the best hotel we have experienced in 30 years of visiting the Tirol!!!! Go there and enjoy.
David Thorpe