Auszeit Chalets: A Private Alpine Escape in Großarl, Austria

There is something particularly appealing about having your own chalet in the Austrian Alps.

You wake up to mountains rather than a hotel corridor, make coffee in your own kitchen, step outside into crisp mountain air and, later in the day, retreat to your own sauna and hot tub. There is no need to dress up for dinner unless you want to. No need to rush downstairs for breakfast. And no need to share your wellness time with a room full of strangers.

That is the idea behind Auszeit Chalets, a small chalet village in Hüttschlag in the Großarltal, Salzburg.

The name, Auszeit, translates loosely to "time out" or "break from everyday life," and the concept is wonderfully straightforward. Come here to slow down, enjoy the mountains, eat well and spend time together.

The property combines the independence of having your own holiday home with some of the comforts you would normally expect from a boutique hotel. Breakfast can be served in your chalet, there is an exclusive restaurant for chalet guests, and every chalet has its own private relaxation area with a Zirben wood sauna, rain shower and warm outdoor soaking tub.

It is the sort of place where a weekend can very easily turn into a week.

A Mountain Retreat in the Großarltal

Auszeit Chalets are in Hüttschlag, at the far end of the Großarltal in Salzburg.

Although the property is associated with the Großarl region, Hüttschlag has a quieter, more village-like character. The Großarltal is known as the "Valley of Alpine Pastures," and the surrounding landscape is exactly what you hope for from an Austrian mountain escape: forests, meadows, dramatic peaks, hiking trails and fresh alpine air.

The chalet village is surrounded by nature, with walking and cycling routes nearby in summer and winter activities including cross-country skiing, winter walking and access to the Großarl-Dorfgastein ski area.

This is an especially appealing location if your idea of an Austrian holiday involves spending your mornings outdoors and your afternoons doing very little.

You can hike.

You can ski.

You can explore the valley.

Or you can simply sit on your terrace and look at the mountains.

The last option is surprisingly easy to choose.

A Chalet Rather Than a Hotel Room

The experience starts with the accommodation itself.

Auszeit is made up of individual chalets rather than a conventional hotel building. The current tourism listing identifies seven chalets, with the property designed around privacy and independent living.

The interiors use plenty of natural wood and have a distinctly Alpine feel, but without becoming overly rustic.

There is a proper living and dining area, a kitchen and separate sleeping space, allowing you to settle into the chalet rather than simply using it as somewhere to sleep.

That difference becomes noticeable after a couple of days.

You can leave your boots by the door.

Make breakfast slowly.

Sit down with a book.

Cook dinner if you feel like it.

Then step outside into your own wellness area.

It feels more like having a beautifully appointed mountain home for a few days than staying in a hotel.

The Private Wellness Area

One of the strongest features of Auszeit is that wellness isn't necessarily something you have to share.

Each chalet has its own relaxation area with a Zirben sauna, rain shower and warm outdoor soaking tub.

Zirben, or Swiss stone pine, has long been associated with Alpine interiors, and here it gives the sauna a very natural connection to the surrounding mountains.

Imagine coming back from a winter walk with cold cheeks and tired legs.

You light up the sauna.

Step into the warmth.

Then move outside to the hot tub, with the mountains and evening sky around you.

It is exactly the kind of ritual that makes an Alpine holiday feel different from an ordinary city break.

And because the wellness space belongs to your chalet, you can use it whenever you want.

No timetable.

No communal spa.

Just your own space.

The Outdoor Hot Tub

The outdoor soaking tub deserves particular attention.

It is one of those simple pleasures that works in every season.

In winter, the contrast between the warm water and cold mountain air is hard to beat. In summer, it becomes a place to sit outside after a day of hiking.

There is also something wonderful about not having to go anywhere for the experience.

The spa is right outside your door.

The mountains are right outside your door.

And your bathrobe is already on.

Breakfast Delivered to Your Chalet

One of the details that pushes Auszeit beyond a standard self-catering chalet is the option of having breakfast brought directly to your accommodation.

The property's philosophy is very much about taking the pressure out of the day, and having breakfast served at your chalet fits perfectly into that idea. The official property information highlights a pampering breakfast served and set up in the chalet.

There is something particularly pleasant about an Alpine breakfast when you don't have to leave your chalet for it.

Coffee.

Fresh bread.

Breakfast favorites.

A table with the mountains outside the window.

And no reason to hurry.

You can take your time because there is nowhere else you need to be.

The Kitchen: Stay In or Go Out

Having a kitchen gives you another choice that isn't always available at a hotel.

You can cook.

You can prepare snacks after a day in the mountains.

You can stock the fridge with local ingredients.

Or you can decide that tonight is a restaurant night and let someone else do the cooking.

That flexibility is one of the reasons chalet holidays work so well for couples, families and groups of friends.

Everyone can follow their own rhythm.

A slow breakfast one morning.

An early start the next.

Dinner at the restaurant one evening.

Something simple in the chalet the next.

There is no rigid schedule.

Dining at Auszeit

Despite the independent nature of the chalets, guests don't have to sacrifice good food.

Auszeit has its own exclusive gourmet restaurant for chalet guests, along with a wine cellar and restaurant facilities listed by the local tourism authority.

That gives the property an interesting balance.

During the day, you have the privacy of your own chalet.

In the evening, you can walk over for dinner and enjoy a more traditional restaurant experience.

The culinary offering is rooted in the region, with the property emphasizing enjoyment and regional ingredients as part of its overall concept. Current property information also highlights regional cuisine and personal hospitality.

For a mountain stay, this is exactly the combination I would want.

A kitchen when you want independence.

A restaurant when you want to be spoiled.

The Wine Cellar

There is also a wine cellar at the property, adding another layer to the dining experience.

It makes sense in a chalet retreat where evenings are meant to be slow.

Dinner doesn't have to be something squeezed between activities.

It can be the activity.

A long meal.

A good bottle.

Conversation.

Then back to the chalet for the sauna.

That is a very good evening in my book.

Summer in the Großarltal

Auszeit works beautifully as a summer base.

The Großarltal is known for its hiking and mountain scenery, and the area offers an extensive network of trails through forests, meadows and Alpine pasture country. The region is also popular with cyclists and mountain bikers.

This is where the private chalet format really comes into its own.

Start the day with breakfast.

Head out for a mountain hike.

Stop at an Alpine hut for lunch.

Return in the afternoon.

Shower.

Sauna.

Hot tub.

Dinner.

Repeat.

You don't need much more.

Winter at Auszeit

Winter changes the atmosphere completely.

Snow-covered mountains replace green meadows, and the chalet becomes even more inviting.

The Großarl-Dorfgastein ski area is nearby, while the wider valley offers winter walking and cross-country skiing. The local tourism information also lists activities such as snowshoeing, sledding and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

After a day outside, the private sauna becomes less of an amenity and more of a necessity.

There is something deeply satisfying about coming in from the cold, changing into something comfortable and spending the rest of the afternoon in your own little mountain retreat.

A Place for Couples

Auszeit is particularly well suited to couples.

The private setting means you can have a genuinely quiet few days together without feeling as though you need to participate in hotel life.

Breakfast in the chalet.

A mountain walk.

A long afternoon in the hot tub.

Dinner.

Wine.

A quiet evening by the fire.

It is romantic without being overly formal.

The property itself describes its chalets as suitable for romantic escapes as well as family holidays and time with friends.

And that versatility is important.

Equally Good for Families and Friends

The chalet format also makes sense for families and small groups.

Having separate bedrooms, a living area and kitchen gives everyone more room to spread out than they would typically have in a hotel room.

Children can have their own space.

Adults can sit together after dinner.

And everyone has access to the outdoor wellness area.

Pets are also welcome at the property, although a fee applies. Current Booking information lists a pet charge of €39 per pet per night.

For anyone who likes the idea of bringing the dog along for a mountain holiday, that is another advantage.

Hospitality With a Personal Touch

Auszeit is privately operated by Stefanie and Rupert Prommegger, and the property places considerable emphasis on personal hospitality.

That comes through in the way the experience is structured.

Breakfast can come to you.

Restaurant dining is available without needing to leave the property.

The chalets are private.

The wellness facilities are your own.

And there is a clear emphasis on helping guests disconnect from everyday routines.

It feels less like a large resort and more like being looked after in someone's very well-designed mountain hideaway.

What I Love About the Concept

The thing that stands out most about Auszeit is the balance.

You have independence, but you are not completely on your own.

You have a kitchen, but you can order breakfast.

You have a private sauna, but there is a restaurant when you don't want to cook.

You have your own chalet, but there is still someone nearby to help.

That is the sweet spot of a good chalet holiday.

Too much independence can make a stay feel like simply renting a house.

Too much service can take away the feeling of having your own retreat.

Auszeit finds a comfortable middle ground.

The Meaning Behind "Auszeit"

The name is more than branding.

The property's stated philosophy is about stepping away from the hectic pace of everyday life and giving guests the chance to unwind and recharge surrounded by nature.

And the setup supports that idea.

There are no complicated rituals.

You don't need to sign up for a packed schedule.

The mountains provide the activities.

The chalet provides the privacy.

The sauna provides the warmth.

The restaurant provides dinner.

The rest is up to you.

Auszeit Chalets is the kind of Alpine escape that makes you want to extend your stay.

It has the independence of a private mountain home, but with enough hotel-style touches to make the experience feel special.

The private Zirben sauna and outdoor hot tub are the standout features, particularly after a day exploring the Großarltal. Having breakfast served directly in your chalet is another thoughtful touch, while the on-site restaurant means you can enjoy a proper dinner without giving up the privacy of your own accommodation.

Then there is the setting.

The Großarltal is beautiful in summer, when hiking trails and Alpine meadows take center stage, and equally atmospheric in winter when the valley becomes a snow-covered playground.

But perhaps the best thing about Auszeit is that you don't have to do anything at all.

Stay in.

Light the sauna.

Get into the hot tub.

Cook something.

Open a bottle of wine.

Watch the mountains change color.

For a place whose name literally suggests taking time out, Auszeit understands the assignment rather well.

Sometimes the best Alpine holiday isn't about seeing how much you can fit into a day.

It is about finally having a day with nowhere to go.

Official website: Auszeit Chalets