Bergland Design- und Wellnesshotel

The spa sits high in the building and works its way outdoors. The indoor Sky Pool looks straight out at the Nederkogel, the hotel's local mountain, and the water is energised using the Grander technique — a detail the hotel returns to again and again, and one that guests tend to notice in how the water feels.

Outside there is a heated open-air whirlpool for cold evenings, and in summer the Bergland outdoor pool opens as the hotel's warm-weather highlight: turquoise water in the middle of Sölden's mountain scenery, with loungers in the garden. The neat trick is the Skyfall elevator, which takes you directly from the Sky SPA down into the garden, so you never have to cross a corridor in a bathrobe.

Both pools are open daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The outdoor pool faces south-east, which makes an early-morning swim before breakfast genuinely worthwhile — the hotel suggests exactly that.

Beauty treatments are available in the Sky SPA, and the design throughout uses Swiss pine, larch, felt and wool with glass and white basins, so the wellness area feels of a piece with the rest of the hotel rather than a separate facility.

The hotel describes its rooms and suites as modern and traditional living, with natural regional materials and five-star comfort. Sizes run from 38 m² in the Junior Suite Standard to 212 m² in the Summit Suite, so there is a genuine range rather than one template repeated.

The Junior Suites (Standard, Comfort and Deluxe) are the entry categories and work well for two. Above them come the Suite Family, the Suite Wellness at 85 m², and then the Summit Suite at 212 m² — which is a suite in the true sense of the word, sleeping up to six.

For a couple on a normal trip, a Junior Suite Deluxe at 43 m² is the sensible middle. For a special occasion where the room itself matters, the Suite Wellness at 85 m² is the natural step up. The Summit Suite is for a group or for a stay where space is the whole point.

There are two restaurants in the house. Black Sheep is the fine-dining room, serving a specially created five-course tasting menu with wines from the hotel's selection. Wine & Dine is the à la carte restaurant, with a regional focus and a more relaxed register. Both are also open to guests staying elsewhere, which tells you something about the local reputation.

The Bergland gourmet half board includes a rich breakfast buffet, a multi-course gourmet menu in the evening, and — in summer — an afternoon snack. Themed buffets appear regularly through the year.

The kitchen is led by head chef Hannes Schwaiger, and the sourcing is unusually specific: much of what reaches the plate comes from the surrounding Ötztal, including mountain cheese made on the valley's dairy farms, homemade bread, fresh milk and meat. The host, Sigi Grüner, is a member of the Austrian Sheep Breeding Association and keeps his own flock of mountain sheep — the lamb grazes Ötztal pastures with alpine herbs.

There is also a Japanese menu for a change of register, and a Bar and Cigar Lounge with a fireplace bar for the end of the evening. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free dishes are available on request — mention requirements when you book or check in.

The Bergland is at Dorfstraße 114, in the centre of Sölden, at the end of the Ötztal. That central position is the practical strength: restaurants, bars and shops are within walking distance, and the hotel is a straightforward base rather than a destination you have to drive out of.

Sölden is one of Austria's major ski resorts and runs a long season — glacier skiing in spring, hiking and mountaineering in summer, biking in autumn, and skiing in winter. The hotel notes that Sölden also has a party side in winter, which is worth knowing if you want guaranteed quiet.

By car, Sölden is reached up the Ötztal from the Inntal. The nearest city and airport is Innsbruck. Confirm parking arrangements and any charge with the hotel when you book.

Winter is the classic season for skiing, and the Sky SPA is at its best afterwards. Summer opens up hiking and the outdoor pool. Spring and autumn are quieter and better value, with glacier skiing still possible in spring.