Waldchalets Brandnertal

Are you really awake or still dreaming? You can’t be quite sure when you open your eyes here. From your bed, you can see the lush green forest. Whether snow-covered or flooded with sunshine, it makes you want to spend the whole day outside in nature. The view is at least as good as this when enjoying your morning coffee: Floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto meadows and the imposing mountains of the Rätikon. Welcome to the Durnwalders in the Austrian Brandnertal! The family has built five chalets, each with three bedrooms, in typical Vorarlberg timber construction style. They feature an open floor plan, clean lines, a mix of traditional and minimalist-modern design and lots of light-colored wood. The ensemble also includes the Älmele Lodge, a cozy wooden cottage where the host family used to live. Freshly renovated, they now rent it out to vacation guests. From here, you can head out into the magnificent Alpine region of Bludenz for tobogganing, swimming, hiking, skiing or climbing. Despite all these great outdoor adventures, the moment you return to your cottage is always one of the best moments of the day. And that’s saying something.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The matt black wooden cladding of the chalets and the deep green of the trees blend nature and architecture together beautifully.
• The airy gallery in the chalets. It’s a wonderful place to relax on the couch and let your gaze wander over the valley and mountains.
• The balmy summer evenings here, which are best spent in the hammocks behind the houses or around the crackling fire in the barbecue area.
• The peace and quiet! As the chalets are located in the middle of untouched nature, you can hear nothing but the rustling of leaves and the twittering of birds.
• Things are so wonderfully relaxed. In Brandnertal, everyone likes to be on first-name terms, showing just how laid-back and friendly people are in the Alps.
• Almost everything fun can be reached on foot in just a few minutes from here—from the cozy mountain village of Brand, the Brandner Bergbahn cable car to the tennis court, golf course and climbing park.
• The breakfast baskets that guests can have delivered to their door, containing fresh bread, jam, your favorite muesli and eggs from the Durnwalder family’s hens. You can also have the fridge filled before arrival.
• The pantry, called the “Speis”, offers regional delicacies, beer and wine, pasta, milk, butter, cheese, bacon, coffee and a whole lot more.
• A huge bonus for families with small children: There’s a playground just thirty meters away. A pony farm and an animal adventure trail around the corner are further highlights for the little ones.
• The Durnwalder family’s personal tips, which they are happy to share with their guests: For example, a trip to the turquoise-blue Lünersee lake or to the Sarotla mountain hut, which offers creative vegan options as well as traditional dishes.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• The five forest chalets each offer space for two to six people. There’s one bedroom with a double bed on the first floor and two more on the upper floor.
• If you prefer something a little more rustic, check into the Älmele Lodge, which can accommodate up to four people. It has two bedrooms and a garden.
• Shampoos and soaps in the accommodation come from the oldest soap factory in Austria, where the Walde family has been making soaps for 250 years.
• Baby beds, highchairs and changing mats are available for families with small children.
• The chalets are low-energy houses, they’re heated with green electricity and have a photovoltaic system. The nearest bus stop is just five minutes away, and there’s an e-charging station nearby.
• The area around the chalets needs to remain car-free for children, which is why the parking spaces are located around 50 meters from the accommodation. However, the hosts are happy to help with carrying suitcases.
• Good service for active vacationers: Ski storage with boot dryer is located by the cable car; a bike room is right next to the Waldchalets.
• Host Hannes runs the “Spezerei” in the village, where you can stock up on Bündnerfleisch (dried beef), wines from South Tyrol, cheese from the Bludenz Alpine region or olive oil from Lake Garda
• In summer (mid-May to the end of October), guests can use all the mountain railroads in the Brandner Valley free of charge and a visit to the Valblu indoor pool in Bludenz is included.