Little Legs, Wanderful World

🎄Christmas at Waldhof🎄

I am in no way being compensated for this review. I simply loved my time here and want to share that with all the other exhausted Moms out there.

Pre-Christmas:

Oh, what a Christmas! We arrived December 19th, so had plenty of time to check out the hotel before the Christmas festivities. 2025 was not a good snow year for much of Europe, so there wasn’t much snow on the ground at the village level. Even on the piste, there were snow cannons running throughout the day to ensure enough snow for the runs. Global warming is having a huge impact everywhere and very concerning ripple effects.

As the big day came closer, the hotel grew more and more Christmasy! On December 23rd, we were invited to pick out a Christmas tree on the hotel deck outside the dining rooms. There were a few fires in which we could roast marshmallows and small trees were displayed all around from which we could pick the perfect one for our room. (There was also glühwein available, but only for purchase which I thought to be a bit tacky to be honest.) A kind gentleman took a photo of our family picking out our tree who turned out to be Mr. Prommegger, the owner! My husband took the tree up to our room, and Kiddo and I snuggled up under the blanket on the outdoor sofa and enjoyed the views. Mr Prommegger chatted with us for awhile about the lack of kinderhotels in the US (he was surprised that I knew what they were), what it’s like living in the small village of Großarl, and Austrian Christmas traditions. We then headed upstairs, but not before we were given a box filled with baubles to decorate our tree. It was so much fun throwing on the tinsel, hanging up the ornaments, and getting into the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Eve:

In pure Hallmark movie fashion, it began to snow late December 23rd and didn’t stop until Christmas morning! We woke up to a white world on Christmas Eve and spent the entire day playing in the snow. It was pure magic! The Großarl Valley had become a snowglobe and we were right in the middle of it.

In Austria, Christmas Day isn’t the big festive day – it’s Christmas Eve! After a very serious lack of snow, it started to snow this day and didn’t stop until the next morning. Everything looked beautiful, Christmasy, and festive. We all gathered around the lobby Christmas tree, there was a few locals playing music on a harp and accordion, and the Prommegger Family took turns with some readings (most in German so I don’t know what was being said). We sang a few carols and the sparklers were lit on the Christmas tree! I have never seen such a thing in my life and it was so cool!

Next the Christkind (the child-like angel that flies around delivering presents) gave presents to the children. In other words, parents were supposed to bring a present for their child to reception who would wrap it and place it under the tree to be given out to the children, called by room number and name. (We had not anticipated this and with very little room in our suitcases, we had only packed two books for Christmas Day so that felt a bit awkward. I also noticed some kids receiving more elaborate gifts and it made me wonder if there was a better, more equitable way to do this.)

After the sorting of the presents, we headed to dinner. It was a bit later than usual which made for a bit of chaos as all the children were very tired and very hungry. Mr. Prommegger poured everyone a beer or wine and we tucked into a lovely five course meal. At our kiddo’s place at the table was a little present – an adorable Kinderhotel Waldhof apron and a cookie cutter in the shape of the mascot, Wurzl. While we were eating, I noticed the snow was really coming down so kiddo and I popped out on the deck to be serenaded by a brass band at the hotel on the opposite mountain!

Christmas Day

There was nothing special planned by the hotel on Christmas Day since Christmas Eve is the main event, so I planned for a horse drawn sleigh ride. There were two options – to do a ride through Großarl picked up directly from the hotel or a ride through the countryside. I opted for the latter, but didn’t realize we’d have to take a taxi to a village a bit further away which was an additional cost. But the hotel arranged for the sleigh ride and the taxi for us, so that was helpful. The sleigh ride was just the icing on the Christmas cake! Kiddo fell asleep to the gentle rocking of the sleigh, so Husband and I had a chance to chat and enjoy the spectacular countryside.

Tips & Hints

• There is an adorable Christmas market in the village of Großarl, which is about a ten minute walk from the hotel. If you’re in the area before it closes for the season (I believe the weekend before Christmas), I highly recommend a visit! Borrow one of the hotel’s many strollers/prams/buggies and take a hike or the ski bus can drop you off if you ask the driver.
• Book your sleigh ride through reception – either in person whilst there or via email before you leave.
• Check to see if you should bring a present for your child so that they are not left out on Christmas Eve.

What do you think about a kinderhotel stay over Christmas?

I loved not having to lift a finger for the entire week! No cooking, no thorough decorating, no worrying about what finding enough activities to keep everyone entertained. I could simply enjoy hanging out with my family, knowing we would be well fed and have lots of fun things to do. I literally could not ask for more!

So, how about you? Does this sound like a dream vacation? What things would you want from a kinderhotel Christmas?