I was invited to review the Naturhotel Forsthofgut and our stay was complimentary. I was not paid to visit and was not under contractual obligation to write this blog post or create content on any platform.
Mr S grew up in a ski loving family and was keen to get Oscar on the slopes as soon as possible and fortunately we discovered the absolute best hotel for taking him on his first ski trip. The Naturhotel Forsthofgut in Leogang couldn’t be better for a baby or child’s first time skiing – and here’s ten reasons why.
1. Location, Location, Location!
The Naturhotel Forsthofgut is in Leogang in Austria which is a super laid back family-friendly resort without the insane price tag of some of the well-known locations. We flew into Salzburg and from there it was only an easy one hour drive to the hotel.
2. Ski Kindergarten
Ski kindergarten and children’s ski school was only a few steps away from the hotel with the ski lifts just being a short distance further. At the ski school there are courses for all ages and skills with the flexibility of booking everyday and specially trained instructors are there to help first time ski bunnies. There is also free ski rental and ski passes for children under five!
Leo’s Kids area is a super practice ski playground with magic carpets, a merry go round and a knight’s castle, so perfect for little ones! Kids can also enjoy tobogganing around the hotel’s four toboggan runs.
3. Kids Club
Rocky’s Kids Club at Naturhotel Forsthofgut was one of the best I’ve ever seen! It was absolutely huge with loads of toys, it’s own kitchen and a big soft play area. Trained carers can look after children from the age of two for seven days away from 9am to 9pm leaving mum and dad to go skiing, enjoy the adult’s spa or have an early dinner. If you have a little one under two (like us!) parents are welcome to bring them along to use the facilities – you may even run into Rocky Reindeer himself who visits daily.
The program offered at the Kid’s Club is nature themed so there is an educational element in fitting with the overall style of the hotel and in summer there are nature related excursions in the local area. The hotel even has a game reserve with real life reindeer and in summer the mini GUT children’s farm.
4. The Food!
The three tier philosophy of ForsthofgutKÜCHE (Alpine, regional and vegan) also applies to the children’s food served in the hotel and kids are welcome in the dining parlours and in one of the hotel’s a la carte restaurants. Children can choose from the Delicacies Market buffet at breakfast and dinner with special healthy child-friendly dishes available as well as tasty desserts. There’s a bread room (yes you read that right!) as well as plenty of fresh salads, fruits and vegetables and homemade smoothies.
The Kid’s Club also offers a supervised lunch, an evening children’s buffet as well as cookery classes and bread baking. For babies the hotel offers freshly made purees with daily changing flavours.
5. Eating on the Slopes!
Mr S and I also discovered a fantastic restaurant on the slopes called Hendl Fischerei which also welcomed children and babies. It was an absolutely gorgeous restaurant with delicious Alpine food and a fun atmosphere.
6. Family Rooms
The Naturhotel Forsthofgut offers a number of luxurious family room some of which can accommodate up to six people. Our Family Suite Schwalbennest was absolutely perfect as there was a separate children’s room where I could put Oscar down for a nap while I sat in the main bedroom.
Other rooms even include a separate bathroom for kids.
7. Spa
The Naturhotel Forsthofgut is probably the first hotel I’ve been to that has a dedicated family spa WaldWirbel. There’s an indoor / outdoor pool where we took Oscar for his first ever swim, saunas set at temperatures to suit the kids and children’s spa treatments.
8. The Baby Package
The hotel also offers a free baby package. This includes a cot, changing tables and nappy bin. We even found a kettle and bottle warmer plus baby dressing gown in our room and we were greeted with a cuddly toy reindeer. 
9. Attention to Detail
Naturhotel Forsthofgut gets all the big things right (spa, food, skiing) but there is also great attention to detail in the service offered at the hotel, such as under-floor heating in the bathroom, a chocolate stand in the bar and greeting little Oscar with a reindeer toy. It’s little things like that which made us feel so welcome!
10. Me Time!
There’s also plenty of space for adult’s only! There’s an adult only spa, a gourmet restaurant and an adults only bar… giving you the chance to have a little me time. 
Those are the ten reasons to choose Naturhotel Forsthofgut for your child’s first ski trip. Have you ever taken your child skiing? Where did you go?
