Living Lech: Summer at the Magnificent Hotel Aurelio

During her three night visit to the “fairytale landscape” of Lech, Maddie Salters stayed at Hotel Aurelio, where her “every impulse and need was catered to in a decadent manner indicative of the finest five-star hotels.” According to Maddie, “to say the Hotel Aurelio spoils you would be an understatement: choices seem boundless, from cuisine to entertainment, and bespoke itineraries are par for the course.”

Located in the heart of town, with a vantage point overlooking the cleave of the river Lech through a tousle of pretty Austrian-style cabins, the Aurelio offers a staggering view of the mountain ranges beyond. From the front gate, it’s just a short walk into the city centre, with luxury shopping, weekday markets, fine dining, and terraced cafes serving iced lattes and green apple gelato. A bit of a cool breeze blowing in from snowcapped hills helped to take the edge off the swelter – I happened to visit during the warmest week of the year. The heat made Aurelio’s personal ski lifts an attractive summer option, a fine way to scale the distance to the mountain tops for a picnic, a vista, or a jaunty hike back downhill. You can’t argue with door-to-peak service.

There’s nothing quite like settling in to a welcome glass of bubbly on Aurelio’s terrace, gulping in honeyed air and listening to the faint tinkle of cowbells in the distance to set you right after a day of air travel. The hotel arranged for my transport from Innsbruck airport a private car that tarried through winding mountain paths only open to summer visitors, taking an hour and a half to reach the hotel. Other ports of entry include Friedrichshafen airport, and both Langen and Sankt Anton rail stations. My own trip was preciously scenic—Lech sees to it that its summer slopes are verdant and green as soon as the snow clears, ablaze with wildflowers and offering commanding panoramas.

The first thing that struck me about Aurelio was that it offered the luxury of peace. Lech is hardly what I’d call the boonies, being an elegant, charming, and refined little town, somehow deeply international despite its traditional trappings. But it is nearly untouched by the racket of cars and the clamor of crowds. (Crowd-control in Lech is even in place in the winter, where quality favors quantity, and there are caps on the number of hotel and ski guests allowed. The city prides itself in accommodating every sense, including that of space.) So unusual is it for a Londoner to hear silence that the hotel might have felt removed from contemporary reality, if not for the thoroughly modern service (which includes WiFi on tap across its grounds).

Service at the Aurelio was seamless. My bags didn’t touch my hands between the car and my room, and I knew the first name of each pleasant member of staff within the first half-hour. When I did retire to my room, the signs of exemplary attention to detail were waiting: a welcome bundle of fruit, and sparkling wine on ice. Austrian, of course.  

My room itself, a lavish double, was wide and sun-dappled. All of the Aurelio’s rooms, from its 14 doubles to five suites, inclusive of its private Chalet, were built using local wood. The smell of sun-baked cedar and pine lulls with rustic charm, and blends seamlessly with its modish style and amenities: a flatscreen high definition television, a minibar stocked with sparkling cider and cool water, and a balcony with cozy blankets included. Aurelio’s restrictive size meant that it was never too crowded, and staffers are always on hand to assist guests.

The rooms themselves feature queen-sized beds with twice-changed sheets, and a bathroom with an eight-pronged shower and waterfall faucet, accessorized by products from L’Occitane en Provence and the St Barth’s line. (Unashamedly, I spent about two hours each night enjoying these facilities, primping away. Naturally, a hair drier is provided, and the full bath has neck pillows for easy reading. Going above and beyond expectation, you can request any toiletries you may need from reception that are not immediately available.) Speaking as someone who travels light, I marveled at the four closets. I found the lack of a coffee or tea maker initially confusing, but the point of Aurelio is to be hands-off: your doppio or earl gray is brought to your room, no need to take off your slippers.

The double rooms struck me as ideal for a romantic getaway or honeymoon. Aurelio’s suites are just right for larger families, accommodating children and incorporating office space for the businessman or woman. For the traveler who wants the very best, the Aurelio Chalet with its own live-in spa, theater, and restaurant offers a multi-floor refuge of comfort. Best of all, each of these options are notably more economic in the summer, paradoxically considered the “off” season.

As for special touches, I was especially delighted to have the opportunity to swathe myself in one of Aurelio’s comely robes and take a moment alone on the balcony with the nightly refresher of fruit that was brought up. The soft, cool sheets of the bed offered a seamless nights’ sleep, perfected by the light waft of sprightly country air coming in from the terrace.

Hotel Aurelio was the focal point of my trip, providing activities, dining, and spa packages which I enjoyed throughout my stay. Check out my other Living Lech posts to find out more.

Hotel Aurelio is located at Tannberg 130, A-6764 Lech am Arlberg, Austria. Learn more at aureliolech.com.