Scott Dunn: ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST A HOLIDAY

Description

Beautifully furnished and decorated blending traditional Austrian authenticity with stylish modern luxury, Bentleys House is a charming place to stay in the centre of Zurs, only 5 minutes from Lech. Combining boutique hotel with chalet comfort and privacy, Bentleys House is a new concept in five star skiing, eschewing ostentatious luxury in favour of discreet, highly personalized service and facilities from the very top drawer.

While this boutique hotel has only 16 beds in three self-contained chalet apartments, it punches well above its weight by having a wealth of facilities and the accommodation is superbly well equipped and proportioned so that guests enjoy the privacy of their own chalet but also benefit from services and facilities usually only available in a much larger hotel.

On the ground floor are the friendly reception and the hotel bar, dining and lounge areas as well as the cigar room where smokers can enjoy the rare pleasure of enjoying a cigarette or a cigar in comfort. The three spacious, traditional chalets, Jazzi, Pazuel and Zirma have their own living areas and two or three bedrooms on the first or second floors. The spa, where you can be pampered in the sauna, steam bath, ice room, massage room, soft bed system and relaxation room, are on the top floor. Downstairs in the basement are the well stocked wine cellar, indoor swimming pool and fitness suite with Technogym equipment.

Zurs is part of the renowned Lech ski area and is snow-sure at over 1700m and has versatility with a wide range of extensive skiing for skiers of all standards.

Guide price £4,600 per person per week

£4,600 based on a full chalet for 7 nights in mid season. The price includes scheduled flights, private transfers and half board.

Accommodation

Each chalet is generously proportioned with ample space around the dining table and in deep comfortable sofas. All chalets have kitchenettes, fireplaces, balconies and are equipped to a high standard with free wireless broadband, cable and Sky TV with flat screen and an iPod dock. The hotel has a large DVD selection and there is a safe for valuables in each chalet.

Each master bedroom has its own fireplace and every bedroom has wide Austrian twin beds (90cm x 200cm), a flat screen TV and a Playstation 3 / DVD player. Nintendo Wiis are also available on request.

Zirma and Pazuel can be combined to create a private living space for groups of up to 10 people and of course, the whole of Bentley's House can be taken to accommodate 16-20 people.

Childcare

Childcare can be provided and while it is rarely needed due to the family friendly layout of the chalets, babysitting can be arranged if required.

Facilities

The spa has a massage room, sauna, steam bath, ice room, soft bed system and relaxation room with mountain views. Access is free to all guests and the in-house therapist offers a range of facials, massages and other treatments using Cellcosmet products.

The Wellness area downstairs has an indoor swimming pool and a fitness suite.

Underground parking is available if you wish to arrive by car.

Activities

The Arlberg ski area is one of the most extensive in the world offering a huge range of terrain both on and off piste. The village itself is at 1716m making it snow sure and Zurs’ Trittkopf cable car and three express chairlifts take you quickly to over 2400m. The Zurs sector of the Lech ski area benefits from slopes on both sides of the valley offering a variety of uncrowded conditions for all standards. Relatively easy blue and red runs to the village make getting home a breeze.

Zurs is integrated into the Lech ski area and is a part of the White Ring ski circuit. Getting to Lech itself is straightforward – your driver can take you straight there in a matter of minutes or you can ski there via three chairlifts and red and blue runs.

Because of Zurs’ central location between Lech and St Anton, the St Anton ski area which is covered by the Arlberg lift pass is also accessible, just a few minutes’ drive in your private shuttle vehicle. As a result, Zurs is arguably the best place to base yourself to make the most of the whole Arlberg ski area and those familiar with Europe’s other major ski areas such as the Espace Killy, Trois Vallées and the Portes du Soleil will be impressed by the absence of crowds in such a diverse and well-equipped ski area.

For non skiers, Zurs has an ice rink and the boutiques and other facilities of Lech are only a few minutes' drive away

Services

The team providing friendly yet impeccable service at Bentley’s are more numerous than the guests so you are guaranteed to be well looked after. Your butler, dedicated to you, will be on hand 24/7 to serve your drinks and meals, be on hand to take you skiing, shopping or to collect you in a smart private vehicle after lunch and will be a personal concierge throughout your stay.

Half board is standard and the head chef will propose a menu that he will tailor to suit your tastes. Breakfast includes whatever continental or cooked options you would like. Evening meals are gourmet affairs and the chef's aim to surprise and delight you. Both are served in the privacy of your chalet but can also be enjoyed in the hotel dining room.

The hotel bar serves aperitifs before supper and the sunny terrace is a great place to enjoy a chilled glass of wine or beer on a sunny afternoon after skiing. The beautiful wine cellar is superbly stocked with over 1000 vintages ranging from carefully chosen house wines to Bordeaux grands crus and Sauternes dessert wines. You should not miss the opportunity to visit and do a wine tasting with the sommelier to choose a vintage to accompany your dinner.

If you choose to stay on the “fully inclusive” basis, afternoon tea, all soft drinks and wine and Champagne between 3pm and 8pm are offered as well as inclusive private transfers to meet scheduled flights to Innsbruck and Zurich or to other airports including Friedrichshafen for private jets.

When to travel

Location and directions

Zurs, Austria

Bentley’s House is in the centre of Zurs in the centre of the Arlberg ski area, 5km from Lech and 15 km from St Anton. The ski lifts are a short walk or only a couple of minutes’ drive.

How to get there

Scott Dunn can arrange scheduled flights to Innsbruck and Zurich followed by private transfers (1hr15 from Innsbruck; 2hr15 from Zurich). Private flights and helicopter transfers can also be arranged. Helicopter transfers take around 30 mins.