Karawanken Lodge

We came here in Feb 2023 for a ski holiday. It's good for that. This part of Austria is not so well-known for ski-holidays, and whilst it maybe doesn't quite have the same mountains or little valleys as say the area around Kitzbuhel or Salzburg, the skiing was good. Unfortunately at this time the bar or restaurant were not open in the evening, so it was just bed and breakfast. That was a shame because a couple of beers in the evening would be so welcome after a day on the snow, and we would certainly have eaten here a few times too. But I understand from the owner that the way costs have gone recently has just made it impossible for them to do that. It's a shame and I'd hope that things improve. Either that or maybe they could offer some beers for the rooms. If you come here for skiing then you need a car. Assuming you have transport then you can easily spend a week here. We went to the following resorts: - Dreilaendereck, a fairly small area about 25 minutes drive away in Arnoldstein - Gerlitzen Alpe, a big area about 20 minutes drive away just north of Villach - Tarvisio, a pretty big area about 50 minutes drive away in Italy - Kranjska Gora and Podkoren, about 45 minutes drive away in Slovenia - go via the Wurzen Pass rather than through the toll tunnel. There are some other smaller areas within that range, and you can also go to Nassfeld (huge resort) which I think is about 1 to 1.5 hours drive. But plenty of good skiing around here. Bergfex is your friend there! BTW - if you go to Kranjska Gora, then if you're a decent skier then park at Podkoren (closer, and free). There's a cash-desk there to buy a pass, and you're right there at the base of the chairlift. It is however a black run all the way - if you need lighter runs then you have to go to KG - which is just a bit busier and parking costs unless you get lucky. So Karawanken Lodge is a lodge - B&B - rather than a hotel. The breakfast is great - not exactly lavish but all you want or need for a ski week. The owners are lovely - very helpful, welcoming, and also seem to speak loads of languages. I always feel bad when in a German-speaking area I end up speaking English. But they're good at English, and I'm too lazy. The room - a family room with separate bedroom - was nice. Again - plain and functional rather than lavish - but everything you need. It was nice to have a small kitchen - ok so we're not cooking, but having a kettle, and a fridge to keep some basics in, was really useful - bring coffee! We found the choice of restaurants in the area a bit limited. Virtually everything in the area is a pizzeria, and many were not open in Feb. We had to go into Villach (about 15 minutes drive) a few times. Most local restaurants have a quiet day (Ruhigtag) when they're closed too. I'd be happy to come back and stay here again if staying in the area. I'd also be happy to come to ski in this area again.