Christmas in a holiday home
Your festive celebrations in the mountains
Away from the Christmas hustle and bustle, with the mountains on your doorstep and plenty of space for everyone who matters to you: This is how you can spend Christmas in a holiday home or apartment in the Austrian mountains. The festive season will be as relaxed as you make it. You can go for a ski, have a toboggan ride or take a stroll through the winter landscape, cook in the fully equipped kitchen and read Christmas stories aloud in the living area. The time until the presents are unwrapped will fly by.
ALPS RESORTS offers holiday homes and apartments for your Christmas holiday in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, the Salzburg region and Styria. Here you can read about the benefits of spending Christmas in a holiday home or flat, what you can get up to in the mountains over the festive period, and what you should bear in mind when planning your Christmas holiday.
Good reasons for a Christmas holiday in a holiday home
- Away from the Christmas hustle and bustle: a marathon of visits, the stress of hosting, packed diaries: on a Christmas holiday in a holiday home, you can leave all that behind. You can celebrate in a small or large group, just as you like.
- Room for everyone: Grandparents, parents, children, friends: in a holiday home or apartment, everyone has their own space to retreat to, yet you can all sit round the same table. Depending on the accommodation, there are several bedrooms and a living area. You’ll exchange presents in the shared living space.
- Flexible daily routine: As you’re self-catering, you decide when to eat. You’ll cook Christmas dinner together, with no set mealtimes. Breakfast at 7.00 am or not until 11.00 am? It’s up to you. If you’re planning to eat out at a restaurant over the festive period, we recommend booking well in advance.
- Winter as the programme: If you’re spending Christmas in the mountains, winter itself becomes your daily programme. Instead of ticking off a list of appointments, you plan your break according to your mood and the weather: a day on the slopes, on a sledge, or simply relaxing in the warmth.
Christmas in the snow: Activities over the festive season
As much as we’d love it, there’s no guarantee of snow in the valley. Whether you spend Christmas in the snow depends on the altitude of your holiday destination and the weather conditions. To be prepared for any eventuality, it’s best to check the weather and snow forecast shortly before you set off. Here are some ideas for days with plenty of snow, days with little snow, and the hours leading up to the present-giving.
Skiing & Snowboarding: Holiday homes on the slopes
For many people, skiing is an integral part of a Christmas holiday in the mountains. Many of ALPS RESORTS’ holiday homes and apartments are located right by the slopes or close to ski lifts. Most of Austria’s ski resorts open between late November and mid-December.
Tobogganing, winter walking, cross-country skiing
Not keen on skiing? Depending on the region and snow conditions, there are toboggan runs, winter walking trails, cross-country ski trails – and the chance to go on snowshoe walks.
Strolling through town, Advent markets, thermal spas
A Christmas holiday isn’t just about days on the slopes. If there’s not much snow or you simply fancy something different, visit your festively decorated holiday resort, the nearest Advent market or a spa.
Counting down to the presents: Ideas for 24 December
The hours leading up to the festivities can seem to drag on, especially with children. These ideas will help pass the time:
- Skiing or tobogganing
- A winter walk followed by hot chocolate in your holiday flat
- Making apple punch and roasting chestnuts
- Baking biscuits or setting the table festively
- Playing games, listening to Christmas music or wrapping presents
- Relaxing in the pool or sauna
- Strolling through the holiday resort
Christmas in the mountains: festive spirit without the hustle and bustle
Enjoy the festive spirit whilst escaping the hustle and bustle outside. During your Christmas holiday, you can make yourself really comfortable in your holiday home – with no commitments whatsoever. And perhaps the snowflakes will be dancing outside your windows too… Here’s how you could make your festive celebrations in the mountains and the holidays particularly special:
Decorations & traditions for your holiday home
A string of fairy lights or some Christmas decorations taken from your suitcase will turn your holiday home into a real home. Bring your own traditions with you: a walk before unwrapping presents, your Christmas playlist, your favourite evening game or reading Christmas stories aloud. That way, the festive season feels familiar, even if the location is new.
Visit Advent markets
There are Advent markets in many places across Austria. The dates are provided by the relevant tourist board; check the opening times in advance. It’s up to you whether you fancy some mulled wine, roasted almonds and chestnuts, or whether you’d rather spend the evening relaxing in your holiday home.
Sauna & Whirlpool: Relaxation after a day in the snow
After a day in the snow, a bit of warmth does you good. At ALPS RESORTS, you can choose between resorts with private or communal wellness areas. Here you’ll find holiday homes, holiday flats or hotels with a pool and sauna, some of which have their own spa area.
Holiday home, apartment, hotel: which is right for your Christmas holiday?
You can find out what facilities a property has (number of bedrooms and bathrooms, sauna, hot tub or proximity to the slopes, dog-friendly) and whether meals are provided on the resort pages.
- Holiday homes for large families, friends and groups: The holiday home usually offers more space and more privacy. It is ideal for large families, multi-generational groups or groups of friends who want to celebrate together.
- Holiday apartments for families and smaller groups: The apartment is ideal if you’re travelling with fewer people but don’t want to compromise on privacy and flexibility.
- Hotel with suites, holiday flats, a wellness area and catering: ALPS RESORTS also offers hotels with suites and holiday flats, including hotel services. You’ll enjoy a private stay whilst also benefiting from the hotel’s services.
- Holiday home for New Year’s Eve: Combine Christmas & New Year’s Eve: If you’d like to spend the festive season without the hustle and bustle, stay over for New Year. The days are yours: sleep in, go skiing – simply enjoy the time between Christmas and New Year in peace.
Checklist for your Christmas holiday in the mountains
- Book early: Christmas and New Year’s Eve are popular times to travel. If you decide on a Christmas holiday early, you’ll have more choice. Current availability is shown on the online booking page.
- Packing: Warm clothes, skiing or hiking gear, Christmas decorations, Christmas stories and games should all be packed. You’ll find a detailed checklist for your winter holiday in the article Packing list for your winter holiday. Don’t forget the presents either: Plan them so that they fit in your luggage. Space-saving ideas such as books, games or vouchers are easy to carry.
- Shopping & planning meals: Before you set off, write a shopping list and plan your meals for all the festive days. Also check the opening hours of shops in your holiday destination over the festive period, so that you don’t run out of anything on Christmas Eve. On the ALPS RESORTS blog, you’ll also find quick and simple recipes for your holiday home.
- Holidays with your dog: You’ll find tips for winter holidays with your dog in the post Winter holidays with your dog in a chalet.
Your Christmas in the mountains with ALPS RESORTS
Whether it’s a family celebration, Christmas with friends or a quiet break: with a holiday home or apartment from ALPS RESORTS, you can celebrate Christmas just the way you like it. You can look forward to plenty of privacy and space, the freedom to plan your days as you wish – and winter right on your doorstep.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions about Christmas in a holiday home
The 45+ ALPS RESORTS offer holiday homes, apartments and hotels in the mountains. In the resort overview, you can filter the accommodation by region and facilities.
There is no guarantee of snow in the valley. Most ski resorts in Austria start their winter season between late November and mid-December. You can find the current snow conditions in the ski resorts on their respective websites.
Yes, at ALPS RESORTS you’ll also find accommodation with a swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Depending on the resort, there are holiday flats and chalets with private spas or communal wellness areas.
Holiday homes and holiday apartments with several bedrooms, a living area and a kitchen are ideal for large families. On the details pages for our resorts, you can see how many people each property can accommodate and how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has.
Images © ALPS RESORTS, iStock
Verena Junger
Content Manager at ALPS RESORTS
Verena has been working in the tourism industry for more than 20 years and loves exploring Austria’s mountains. For the ALPS RESORTS blog, she writes about family vacations, vacation rentals, tips for day trips - and how to enjoy a relaxing self-catering vacation. More about Verena
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