The Passport Playbook

Getting There: Easy Access to Alpine Calm

Set in Leogang, a peaceful alpine town in Austria’s Salzburg region, Forsthofgut sits at the foot of the Steinberge mountains — think wildflower meadows, rugged peaks, fresh air, and complete stillness. It feels remote, but getting there is surprisingly easy.

Fly into:

• Salzburg Airport (SZG) – just over 1 hour by car
• Munich Airport (MUC) – around 2.5 hours
• Innsbruck Airport (INN) – 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the season

We flew into Salzburg and rented a car.

A quick tip: check your rental agreement. Although Leogang is in Austria, some routes dip briefly into Germany — and that cost us an unexpected €100 in border fees. Still, the drive itself? Glorious. Mountain roads, glacier-fed lakes, alpine villages — the kind of journey that slows your pulse before you even check in.

Adventure Meets Ease

Nick’s perfect holiday involves altitude and adrenaline, so Forsthofgut’s location right next to Europe’s largest mountain bike park was a dream. Bikepark Leogang is just a five-minute walk away, and with the included cable car pass (worth €70 each per day), guests can head up the mountain multiple times a day without added cost.

You can hire bikes — including e-bikes and kid-friendly models — from the hotel or local shops in town. And if you’re not biking? There are scenic hikes, forest bathing trails, and mountaintop marble runs to explore. You can go solo or join a guided tour right from the hotel. Bonus: each room comes with a hiking backpack, ready to grab and go.

Why This Isn’t Just “Kid-Friendly” — It’s Family-Intelligent

This isn’t just “child-friendly.” It’s built for families, full stop.

• Kids’ Club open until 9pm (yes, really)
• Three family pools, a heated children’s pool, and a natural swimming lake
• Riding school, working farm, and daily animal feeding
• Indoor forest-themed play areas, soft play zones, and those marble runs
• Staff speak fluent English and German, so every child feels included

Margot dipped in and out of the kids’ club on her own terms — baking cinnamon buns, painting, hiking through forest school, feeding goats. It was the first time I saw her feel so independent and safe. And it gave me something I hadn’t had in a long time: space.

WaldSPA: More Than Just Relaxation

For me, it was all about the WaldSPA — over 5,700m² of beautifully designed calm carved into the forest’s edge.

• Three adult-only pools, including an outdoor infinity pool with mountain views
• Saunas (textile and non-textile), steam rooms, and icy cold plunges
• Quiet zones, yoga studios, and a panoramic forest-view gym

But the real game changer? The new WaldSPA Health wing — a space dedicated to next-level wellbeing. From cryotherapy to power infusions, biofeedback and diagnostics, this is where wellness meets precision. Designed for busy professionals who don’t just want to relax — they want to reset.

I’d sneak away for an hour while Margot played — a sauna, steam, cold plunge — and return to myself. That’s the magic of this place. You don’t need a week off. You just need one uninterrupted hour.

Dining That Feels Like a Treat (Not a Trade-Off)

Half-board here isn’t restrictive — it’s a luxury.

• Breakfast buffets with everything: fresh smoothies, pastries, eggs, fruit, and excellent coffee
• Afternoon snack hour with soups, cakes, and warm treats
• Dinner as a curated five-course experience, with three rotating menus: vegan, regional, Mediterranean
• Or go classic with schnitzel, steak, or a child-friendly plate from the kids’ club
• Plus three à la carte restaurants: a fine dining spot, a rustic Austrian tavern, and shockingly good sushi

Tech That Makes Travel Easier

One feature that truly impressed us? The hotel’s digital app. It functions as your personal concierge —
book kids’ activities, reserve spa treatments, browse menus, even schedule workouts — all from your phone. No awkward calls, no paper schedules. Just ease.

Even the gym is high-tech, with a companion app that tracks your sessions. And yes, there’s still a warm, human team if you’d rather speak to someone face to face.

Rooms Designed With Real Families in Mind

This is where Forsthofgut truly shines. It’s not just family-friendly — it’s family-intelligent.

• Robes and slippers for kids and adults
• Rocky mascot lanyards and room keys for kids = next-level independence
• Bottle warmers, cots, changing mats, bed guards, and more — all waiting in the room
• Pram rental (FOC), hiking backpacks, hot water bottles — every detail, covered

I didn’t realise how much stress could be removed until I walked into a room where it had already been thought of. That mental load we all carry as parents? It felt lighter here.

Come Together. Break Away. Reset.

What makes Forsthofgut special isn’t just its design or setting — it’s that it truly understands what modern families need.

To come together, but also break away. To relax without planning every second. To feel cared for, not just catered to.

So if you’re a tired professional, a worn-thin parent, or just someone in need of deep breath — this is your place.

Come for the scenery. Stay for the sanity. Leave feeling like yourself again.

hat makes Forsthofgut so special isn’t just the architecture, the views, or even the spa. It’s that this place understands how modern families actually work.

We need to come together, but also have permission to break away. To rest. To reconnect — with each other, and with ourselves.

So if you’re a tired professional, an overstimulated parent, or just someone who needs to remember what deep breath feels like — this is your place.

Come for the scenery. Stay for the sanity. Leave feeling like yourself again.

Top Tips for Staying at Forsthofgut, Leogang

1. Fly smart.
   Salzburg is the closest airport (just over an hour’s drive), but Munich and Innsbruck are great seasonal options too. Just watch your car hire terms — some routes dip into Germany and can trigger surprise cross-border fees.
2. Book spa treatments before you arrive.
   The WaldSPA is incredibly popular — and for good reason. I waited until we got there to book and missed out on a few treatments I really wanted. If there’s something specific you’re eyeing (especially in the new WaldSPA Health wing), reserve it early.
3. Download the app.
   Forsthofgut’s digital concierge app is a game-changer. Book spa treatments, reserve restaurants, check kids’ activities, or scan menus — all from your phone, no awkward calls required.
4. Use your cable car pass.
   Your stay includes a pass for the Asitzbahn cable car (normally around €70 per person per day). Whether you’re biking down or marbling your way across mountaintop play zones, it’s worth using multiple times a day.
5. Pack light for the kids.
   Seriously. The hotel provides cots, bed rails, bottle warmers, robes and slippers (yes, even for toddlers), changing mats, hiking backpacks — even pram rental is included. Save yourself the suitcase stress.
6. Check the daily activity schedule.
   There are loads of family-friendly hikes, creative workshops, and wellness classes included in your stay. Some are guided, others self-led — it’s all listed in the app or at reception.
7. Let the kids lead.
   Margot didn’t want to be in the kids’ club all day — and she didn’t have to be. She joined a few favorite sessions (like baking and forest school), then spent the rest of her time running wild through the play areas. The hotel is designed for that kind of flexible freedom.
8. Choose your dining vibe.
   Half-board covers a five-course dinner, but if you want to mix things up, try one of the hotel’s three à la carte spots — especially the surprisingly excellent sushi restaurant.
9. Bring €2 coins.
   For the mountaintop marble runs, you’ll need to buy a wooden ball — it’s €2 and worth every cent for hours of joy.
10. Don’t try to do everything.
    There’s a lot on offer — and that’s a good thing. But this place is just as much about slowing down as it is about exploring. Pick a few things each day, and give yourself permission to do nothing, too.