Haven Mountain Retreat

Framing the mountains, this doorstep ski-in and ski-out alpine retreat of stylish apartments is unashamedly smooth and modern, found in the small Austrian town of St. Johann im Pongau. Haven Mountain Retreat is geared for the winter ski aficionados as well as summertime activity junkies and wellness bunnies who gravitate towards the slow lane and chillax time. 

Created by a third generation of hoteliers, it feels like the Höllwart family have found the elixir for modern travel with their soft, sleek-touch interior design, on-point location and a simple, freeing concept in creating hotel-style apartments ideal for a couple to the whole family clan. Haven is a luxe pitstop of easy style with more than a hint of purist Scandi design, creating cocoons of comfort through thoughtful and crafted spaces.  Cereal tones, linens, tactile wood and over-sized contemporary furnishings in ivory bouclé wools add to the agreeable modern-alpine aesthetic. 

In snow-dusted winter, guests can benefit from the much sought-after holy grail of ski holidays – the covetable luxury of ski-in and ski-out. Making life on the slopes so much easier, this epitomises Haven’s modern approach to mountain hospitality. And it’s not just for the snowy season – open year-round, Haven Mountain Retreat apartments are here for the hikers, bikers and wild swimmers, creating a comfortable base to explore the scenic surrounds of the Salzburg Alps.

And at any time of year, Haven services that other luxury need in the mountains – wellness. Recognizing that spa and ski go together like cheese and fondue, Haven has a heavenly spa area – including a sun deck with heated outdoor infinity pool, plus herbal and Finnish saunas. Apartments continue the theme of effortless luxe with soothing muted colour palettes, flexible layouts, bathtubs, terraces and super comfy beds. You come for the mountains, but Haven is the destination.

Do you fancy a ‘bubbly’ apartment or perhaps a ‘fancy’, ‘lovely’, or ‘cosy’ spot to rest your head? All these options are available at Haven Mountain Retreat plus pull-out-the-stops choices like ‘grand heavenly’ for that special occasion.

Designed to be flexible and uber comfortable places to stay, all the apartments come with the components to make your stay stylish yet convenient including kitchens, Nespresso coffee machines, fluffy bathrobes, terraces and smart TVs. In case you get too relaxed there are floor-to-ceiling views of the mountains to tempt you out.

With a well-equipped kitchen to make self-catering super easy with a dishwasher and all your utensils, cooking your favourite meals should be a breeze, especially with Haven’s penchant for filling up your fridge with local delicacies before you arrive…

However, it is a holiday after all, so you may prefer to take the easier option – enter breakfast boxes, morning pastries on the doormat, fresh coffee or wine via room service.  Or you may like to head to Deck 7, a flexible restaurant space and terrace that overlooks the slopes and provides the works from full Viennese breakfasts, coffee and cake, après ski cocktails or boozy hot chocolate to a full dinner in the evening.

The ace in Haven’s deck must surely be its invigorating spa area – perfect for muscle de-stress of skied-out legs and hiker’s thighs. Although you don’t need a reason to come here, a little pampering on holiday is certainly your prerogative.

The panoramic sun deck is the big draw with its wow-factor outdoor, infinity pool – open all year round and nicely heated, surrounded by soul-enhancing mountain views and fresh air. A few gentle laps and you’re ready for the sauna – choose from organic herbal, Finnish or infra-red, and alternate with the steam bath and relaxing lounge, perfect for a herbal cuppa.

Perfectly placed for authentic mountain pursuits, Haven Mountain Retreat is located in the small Austrian village of St. Johann im Pongau where the ski resort of Snow Space Salzburg resides, also linked to the Ski Amadé, named after Mozart, and making up the second largest ski area in Europe.

Nearby, visitors will find an alpine-lovely selection of artisan shops and bakeries, restaurants and bars, and up in the mountains, year-round gondolas at Snow Space Salzburg take hikers and skiers to trails that cross the Salzburg Alps, dotted with wooden huts to fuel up in. A little further afield is the Liechtenstein Gorge, is one of the longest, deepest and most impressive gorges in the Alps – to descend you climb down a swirly ‘helix’ staircase made out of steel – quite the fusion of nature and architecture. Salzburg Airport is around 30 miles from Haven Mountain Retreat.

Hoteliers since 1985 since the inception of a Bed and Breakfast called Sonnhof, followed by luxe hotel Oberforsthof, family Höllwart clearly have the hospitality gene flowing through their DNA. The hattrick, Haven Mountain Retreat, feels like the culmination of their hotel learnings, presenting a highly evolved yet simple concept – to make a soothing, everything’s-easy atmosphere thereby creating happy guests. Thanks family Höllwart!