S’s really good friend Ian (Turkish wedding post) invited us on his birthday adventure to Austria for a family ski trip at a kid friendly hotel. We booked our trip roughly two weeks before the flight out, which is crazy for this planner to do but it worked out great, minus paying a bunch more for the flights.
After a bunch of research on how to navigate traveling internationally during COVID (and during the Omicron variant surge) we made our testing plans. Since we were fully boostered, we did not need a test for Austria/Switzerland, but we had to have a negative test to connect through London. That did make us feel better about the flight. British Airways and Europe in general did not mandate mask wearing for ages 2+ which was so helpful since keeping a mask on a 2 year old is quite the task. We did have him try to wear one as we moved in tight spaces in the airports. We had to obtain a COVID certificate for Switzerland that we could use in an app. We used our CDC card in the interim before getting it to be able to check into hotel and enter restaurants.
We had to wear KN95 rated masks while in Austria, even on the ski lifts! Switzerland was a bit more relaxed, but still had to have COVID certificate to do much of anything. Note these were the directives we were dealing with in Jan 2022 so make sure to check with your destination(s) for current rules.
Friday
The adults had a COVID antigen test Thurs afternoon to be good to fly. We had trouble checking in R to the British Airways Austin to London flight. My guess is something to do with him not having a test loaded even though he did not need one. A friend dropped us off at the airport and then we had to wait in a long check in line for the toddler's boarding pass. We were one of that last folks helped and we ended up checking two of our carryon bags to not have to shlep through airports.
Funny thing, when we got the boarding pass, R's seat was in the bulkhead by himself. Thankfully the lady in our middle seat was more than happy to change seats. There was a sweet family behind us that gifted an awesome vehicle sticker book to us, which I sadly left behind on the Innsbruck flight. I was so upset I did that.
Sleep during the 9 hour overnight flight did not go as planned. R was too jazzed up and did not go to sleep at 8pm like normal. He stayed up through dinner and finally crashed around 11p Austin time. I hardly slept either. He was so grumpy when the lights glowed brighter as we approached London for landing.
Sat
Once we arrived at Heathrow, we discovered they checked our stroller all the way through so R was carried or had to walk which is hard for a 2.5 year old with hardly any sleep. We went through security again and discovered one of my liquids leaked in my bag, awesome. I was able to get a chai and snack at Starbucks while we watched Blippi waiting for the gate to open.
We volunteered to check our last bag in exchange for priority boarding for the second flight. R crashed almost immediately, which was perfect because it was roughly naptime. It was a two hour flight to Innsbruck and we all took a nap. Landing was gorgeous as we glided through the mountains.
Ian picked us up at the airport and drove us to Fiss where we stayed at Laurentius Hotel. It was fabulous! Totally geared towards families. Our suite had a separate bunkbed room for kids (plus bed rails), so much storage and a bathtub and shower (plus toilet insert). They also had all kinds of baby/kid related helpers like a changing table in a huge closet. They had sleds and other snow stuff to borrow as well as lockers with boot dryers! Food, indoor water park, playrooms and childcare included! Each night before dinner, Laurentius the Star would make an appearance and sing and dance with the children.
After dinner, we put R to bed and he crashed immediately. We hung out with Ian and Leyla before going to bed ourselves. Thing to note - the hotel is kept pretty warm so I would bring some clothes to wear to keep you cool in the hotel.
Sun
Weather was snowy so we stayed at the hotel all day and took advantage of all the fun toys like the horses and pool/water slide. S and I rented our snowboard gear. Rounded out the day with dinner and drinks. The ski area is called Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.
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| Someone lined all these toys up... |
Mon
After some “horsey” time, we dropped R off at Star Club (aka daycare) so we could hit the slopes. It was still cloudy and a little snowy up top.
I was very proud of myself for getting back on to the swing of things with snowboarding. I had not boarded in 8 years, plus had a kid! At one point the visibility was about zero up at the top! We stopped for lunch at a lovely restaurant on the mountain with views of the Alps and slopes. I really enjoyed my potato hash thing and a delicious traditional Austrian donut like pastry with lingonberries. Their hot cocoa hit the spot on the cold day.
After a couple more runs, my feet/legs were done for the day and we did not want to overdo it.
I did barre to help loosen up my muscles and then we took the boys out to the playground to sled and play in the snow for a bit.
Then it was the nightly routine of watching the kids dance with Laurentius before dinner. R went to Star Club for dinner and at the dance time, he was strapped into a stroller. This mama and the ladies know he is a runner!
Tues
Wed
The four of us suited up and had a goal to reach the far left side of the mountain to eat at the highest restaurant, Hexensee Hütte. It took most of the morning and we went down many runs and up lifts to traverse to the destination. I lost the group for a bit but we met back up again. The wind was blowing like crazy at the top of one of the mountains. Felt like I was going to be blown off.
We made it to one hut for lunch and then S and I decided to keep going and make it up the last lift to the Hexensee Hütte. We took a wrong turn at the top and had to hike about 100m to get on the correct run. The slopes here are numbered on the map which is nice for those of us that do not speak/read German. They did have a list of all the names on the map, but I really liked the numbers. Also, what we call blue runs in the US are red in Austria.
I loved all the gondolas and bubble lifts (ski lift with a windscreen) - some even had heated seats!! Helps to keep you out of the elements and you are less of a popsicle while dangling a snowboard. We finally made it to the hut only to discover they only take cash and we did not have any Euros. So instead we snacked on a Snickers from my pocket and then started the trek back to the hotel. A skier took me out about 50 yards from the end of the slope on our last run. I was so mad/upset that I had not really “fallen” yet and then she took me out at the very end!
For dinner R joined Star Club so we could have adult dinner. He had a habit of yelling/being loud at meals.... That night was the special appetizer buffet. R joined us at the end for ice cream.
Thurs
Today we trekked up to the ski shop to pick out some tiny skis for R and snowblades for S. I think R was more interested in his lolly.
We forgot sunglasses for R so being on the bright white slopes was hard for him. We tried a couple rides down the bunny slope and then went in for lunch/nap.
S went up the mountain with Ian while I got a pedicure during nap. Also grabbed sunglasses for R. Took it easy that afternoon and went to the waterpark. I think R and I went down the slide about 12 or more times. Liam entertained us during dinner chowing down on a chicken leg.
Fri
One our last full day in Fiss, we hauled the bundled up boys and gear to Bertas Kinderland for sledding and “skiing”. We took R up a gondola for a ride and then took him back to the hotel to Star Club since he was hungry and tired.
The adults headed back out on the mountain during naptime and had an enjoyable midday on the slopes. After turning in our gear, we headed back to the hotel for tea time snacks and I did one last barre class. At dinner, they had a beautiful dessert buffet.
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