This is a first-class site set amidst stunning scenery in a pine forest surrounded by brooding snow-capped mountains aside a (frozen) lake. The excellent facilities accommodated in a recently built block are well-designed, spotless, spacious and warm with plenty of (free) hot water available. The onsite shop, though, perhaps, poorly stocked given the time of year and the number of campers, was adequate, reasonably priced and offered (just) the key essentials. The hourly, or so, free bus into the centre of Innsbruck was an added bonus.

However, we have returned having spent six nights over Christmas at the site with a couple of ‘niggles’. We booked a large serviced pitch at the side of the lake. The pitch was not serviced, as such, and whilst the time of year probably necessitates turning water off to the taps on the pitch given the very low temperatures, it is, perhaps, something of a ‘con’ to continue selling and charging for the facility that does not exist when the climate dictates their withdrawal. The pitch was also advertised as being at the side of the lake. Our experience was probably more a failure to meet expectation but I am not sure what our pitch offered for the premium that the pitch next to us did not for a reduced price.

The nightly tariff includes 5kW hours of electricity: usage over and above is charged at €0.80 per kW hour. This price felt like a ‘penalty’ for using especially when it transpired that the meter had not been read prior to us occupying our pitch (we read it when we came to leave) and there was a convoluted calculation done at reception when we checked out trying to work out what our ‘fine’ for using the electricity should be. Having paid an amount, we were then called back to reception to pay a further amount as the owner had done another calculation as he was of the view that the first calculation produced a value deemed insufficient to what he ‘thought’ we may have used!. Amazing how their excellent English language skills deserted them when seeking to ask for a logical explanation to the sums.

The owner/manager runs, I would imagine, a reasonably successful business: there has been some significant investment in the site and it is immaculately maintained. That does not excuse the verbal attack on a member of his staff, in front of customers, for ‘not answering his phone’ in a manner that had little regard for the humiliation of his employee or the preservation of the owners’ self-respect. Neither does his ownership of the site excuse the persistent ‘racing’ of his Audi around the site at a speed that had little account for the permanently frost-covered road surface or the fact that children were playing on the site.

Sadly, as beautiful and well-appointed as the site is, we will not return.