Sometimes family vacations are more work for parents than staying at home. Family hotels help solve this problem by providing childcare and kids clubs so parents can enjoy activities and meals on their own. With these “all-inclusive” packages, so-called “Kinderhotels” can be quite expensive, but worth it for parents who need a well deserved break and want to relax on their vacation.
Although our family has never been to a Kinderhotel, many of our friends and readers have. So I asked them for their suggestions to help you get started on your search. For each hotel, I also link to the closest ski resort so you can see if it’s a good fit for your family.
Do you have a Kinderhotel to recommend? Leave a comment below and tell us which one and why you liked it.
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What to expect at a Kinderhotel
Most Kinderhotels are “all-inclusive” meaning that your booking price includes meals and many services and activities including the childcare and kids club. However the services provided by each Kinderhotel varies, so you check your package carefully to see what is included and what costs extra.
In general, most Kinderhotels include full day childcare for children 3 to 12, with organized activities for different age groups. Many will also take babies and toddlers from about 3 mos to 2 years old, but sometimes this is needs to be specially arranged before your arrival. Some offer teen clubs, with gaming rooms and activities for older children.
Some offer separate restaurants and supervised meals for the children, so parents can enjoy nicer meals without the children. Some hotels keep the kids club open late so kids can play while parents are enjoying the evening kid-free. Others offer evening babysitting for an extra fee.
Many Kinderhotels are also spas, with indoor and outdoor pools (included) and spa services (extra fee). Some are situated on farms so children can interact with the animals. Some in the mountains, giving direct access to ski slopes or hiking. Some have themes like theater, circus, fairy tales, or cooking, with kids activities and classes centered around these themes. Many have nighttime entertainment for children, including cinemas and kid discos.
Many provide baby equipment, like portable cribs, high chairs, baby monitors, strollers, and baby carriers so you don’t have to bring all that with you. But verify with the specific hotel beforehand.
Winter at Kinderhotels
Winter packages typically do not include ski passes, ski school or equipment rental. But they usually will arrange these directly through the hotel, saving you time and hassle.
Some hotels are directly on the ski piste while others provide shuttle services to the ski slopes. If you have little children (under 5), you may want a hotel that has a snow garden with magic carpets directly at the hotel. This makes the whole day easier for children that age.
Some hotels will drop off and pick up your kids from ski school, bringing them back to the hotel kids club. This makes for a much more relaxed day on the slopes for parents. Others require that parents accompany children to their ski school. In any case, make sure to book ski school well before your arrival as these often sell out.
What does a Kinderhotel cost?
Kinderhotels are expensive and some are really expensive. For a winter ski holiday, expect to pay around CHF 400-800/night for a family of four. The price varies based on the star rating of the resort, what type of room you book, and the season.
The basic package typically includes your room, meals, childcare, kids club, and access to resort amenities like pool, spa, and sport facilities. Some offer additional services like evening babysitting or activities like swim lessons for an additional fee. Some provide discounts on activities in the region, like excursions for kids or other activities not on the resort property. Carefully check what is included in your package before booking.
Language barrier
Although many Kinderhotel websites are in English and many staff members speak English, you may find that some caregivers primarily speak in the local language, for example German in Austria and Germany or Italian in the Dolomites. This may be problematic for some children that may feel shy or confused when activities are explained in a language they don’t understand. If it is important that the caregivers speak to your children in English, verify this with the hotel beforehand.
How to find a suitable Kinderhotel
You will find hundreds of Kinderhotels all over Europe, offering holiday packages year round. Here are a few Kinderhotel associations and directories where you can search for Kinderhotels and family holiday packages:
- Swiss Family Hotels – association of eight family-friendly hotels that offer a similar class of service and quality.
- Reka Feriendorf – family hotels in Switzerland where you can use Reka credits
- The Original Kinderhotels – association of European Kinderhotel
- Familien Hotels Dolomiti – family hotels in Südtirol
- Kinderhotel / Familienhotel Austausch Schweiz Facebook group – German only
Below are some Kinderhotels in Switzerland, Austria and Italy, suggested by our readers. I have not visited them so I can’t personally vouch for any of them. Please use your best judgment when booking.
Suggested Kinderhotels in Switzerland
Reka Holiday Village Morschach
One reader says: “Huge family resort with many kids activities and childcare. Large and nice apartments. Off season prices can be quite good, but rather expensive in season.”
| Address: | Dorfstrasse 10, 6443 Morschach |
| By Car: | 50mins from Zurich |
| Ski resort: | Stoos with 3 chairlifts, 3 T-bars and 35km of pistes |
| Notes: | Includes entrance to Swiss Holiday Park pool and fitness center. Evening babysitting available for a fee. |
| More info: | reka.ch |
Märchenhotel Braunwald
One reader says: “So good that you start to feel child yourself again”
| Address: | Dorfstrasse 24, 8784 Glarus Süd |
| By Car: | 1hr15 from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Braunwald with 5 lifts and 26km of pistes |
| Notes: | Fairy tale theme in rooms and evening storytelling |
| More info: | www.maerchenhotel.ch |
Swiss Family Hotel Alphubel
| Address: | Hügelweg 3, 3906 Saas-Fee |
| By Car: | 3hr45 from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Saas-Fee with 150km of pistes at high elevation up to 3600m |
| Notes: | Kids club include baking and crafts |
| More info: | www.hotelalphubel.ch |
Aparthotel Muchetta – Davos
One reader says: “Very cosy and offers many services and support, but we felt the infrastructure is more like a 3 star hotel.”
| Address: | Aussergasse 18, 7494 Wiesen |
| By Car: | 2hr from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | small ski hill for beginners next to hotel 10 min drive to Davos-Klosters with 57 lifts and 300km of pistes |
| Notes: | Craft room for children where they can paint |
| More info: | aparthotel-davos.ch |
Suggested Kinderhotels in Austria
Kinderhotel Alpenresidenz Ballunspitze
One reader says: “It doesn’t offer such fine dining as some other Kinderhotels, but the food is still good and the offerings are very diverse. The kids’ play area is much bigger than we had at the Märchenhotel Braunwald and they offer many fun activities for the kids. Nearby are some beautiful hikes, skiing in winter, a kid-friendly wildlife park, and many more activities.“
| Address: | Galtür 20, 6563 Galtür, Austria |
| By Car: | 3hr from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Galtür with 8 lifts and 43km of pistes Ten min drive to Ischgal with 45 lifts and 239 km of pistes |
| Notes: | hotel manages drop-off and pick up for ski school |
| More info: | www.ballunspitze.com |
Hotel Löwe & Bär
| Address: | Untere Dorfstraße 5, 6534 Serfaus, Austria |
| By Car: | 3hr from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis with 68 lifts and 214 km of pistes |
| Notes: | snow garden with magic carpet for 3-4 year olds directly outside hotel |
| More info: | www.loewebaer.com |
Alpenrose in Lermoos
| Address: | Danielstraße 3, 6631 Lermoos, Austria |
| By Car: | 3hr30 from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Lermoos – Biberwier and Zugspitz Arena with 44 lifts and 102 km of pistes |
| Notes: | 90m water slide, children swimming lessons for extra fee |
| More info: | www.hotelalpenrose.at |
Kinderhotel Almhof
| Address: | Gerlos 45, 6281 Gerlos, Austria |
| By Car: | 4hr30 from Zurich |
| Ski resort: | Zillertal Arena with 4 mountains, 143 km of pistes and 52 lifts |
| Notes: | large indoor pool with 110m water slide |
| More info: | www.familyresort.at |
Sporthotel Achensee
| Address: | Achenkirch 114, 6215 Achenkirch, Austria |
| By Car: | 4hr from Zurich |
| Ski resort: | Christlum |
| Notes: | large indoor playground |
| More info: | www.sporthotel-achensee.com |
Kinderhotel Ramsi
| Address: | Kameritsch 8, 9620 Hermagor-Nassfeld-Presseggersee, Austria |
| By Car: | 7hr from Zurich |
| Ski resort: | Nassfeld with 30 lifts and 110km of pistes |
| Notes: | snow garden for little children with two magic carpets right at hotel |
| More info: | www.ramsi.at |
Ellmauhof Family Resort
| Address: | Ellmauweg 35, 5754 Hinterglemm, Austria |
| By Car: | 7hr from Zurich |
| Ski resort: | Saalbach with 70 lifts and 270km of pistes |
| Notes: | 50m indoor water slide, hotel situated next to ski lift. If this is booked, our readers suggest Theresia Garten also in this area |
| More info: | www.ellmauhof.at |
Suggested Kinderhotels in Italian Dolomites
Family Resort Rainer
| Address: | Via S. Giuseppe, 40, 39030 Sesto, Moso BZ, Italy |
| By Car: | 5hr20 from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Drei Zinnen with 30 lifts and 115 km of pistes |
| Notes: | climbing wall and craft workshops can book hotel rooms or apartments with or without meals |
| More info: | www.familyresort-rainer.com |
Hotel Biancaneve
| Address: | Str. Cir, 36, 39048 Selva di Val Gardena BZ, Italy |
| By Car: | 5hr from Zürich |
| Ski resort: | Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi with 175 km of pistes Part of the Dolomiti Super Ski area |
| Notes: | hotel will drop off and pick up kids from ski school |
| More info: | www.biancaneve.it |
