Special Stay: Feelfree Nature Resort, Oetz

Last updated on April 16, 2026

I spent a long time searching for an ideal hotel for our time in Austria. And I knew Feelfree was a good fit from the moment I laid eyes on its stylish website. Yep, I know branding isn’t everything, but it does count for something, and the photography was gorgeous too.

But did the reality live up to the promise of its beautiful branding? Here’s my full review of Feelfree Nature Resort in Oetz. Spoiler: we loved it so much, we returned the following year.

Also see our guide to the best family hotels in Austria, and things to do in and around Innsbruck with kids.

And follow us on Instagram to see all our Austria reels and stories, including footage of Feelfree.

Highlights

• In the heart of the Ötztal Alps with epic mountain views and access to plenty of ski areas.
• Gorgeous 26m indoor-outdoor infinity pool, plus an outdoor swimming pond, and a kids pool.
• Stylish nature-forward aesthetic with a calming, serene vibe.
• Fabulous sauna area with 4 saunas, steam bath and infrared lounge.
• On-site activity and equipment hire centre for adventure sports. Plus a sister activity centre in the Hochoetz ski area where hotel guests get discounts.
• Just 5 minutes from one of Tyrol’s best ice skating lakes
• Free childcare (4-10 years) in the summer from 9am-4pm Monday-Friday. 
• Well connected by public transport, so good for a car-free holiday.
• In walking distance (or a free shuttle ride away) from the gondola to Hochoetz ski area, which is also connected to Kuhtai, providing over 90km of slopes and guaranteed snow.

Best bits for kids

• Indoor kids’ paddling pool with a slide and fountain.
• Indoor soft play area and outdoor playground.
• Kids are also welcome in the main indoor-outdoor pool, so long as they’re accompanied by an adult.
• Good kids’ menu.
• Mini bath robes provided.
• During the special Family Week offers, kids can get a free 5-day ski course.
• The Hochoetz ski area is brilliant for kids with a dedicated kids’ area (Widiversum), which becomes an adventure park in the summer.

Best bits for adults

• The kids’ pool has large floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can still feel connected with nature and appreciate the view. It also has cosy nooks for the whole family to relax in.
• The adult’s only sauna area is an exquisite place to relax.
• While it’s family-friendly, it’s also welcoming to all types of travellers, so it feels less full-on than a children’s hotel.
• Spa with massage and beauty treatments.

Good to know

• We expected the resort to be more remote and completely immersed in nature, but it’s actually on the edge of a village, close to other buildings. As we drove up to the resort, I was a little disappointed as it didn’t match my vision. But once inside, I realised that it’s surrounded by meadows, forest and river in all other directions, so you do get that immersed-in-nature feel. It’s just something to be aware of before you arrive.

Style and vibe

Feelfree Nature Resort is a small, self-declared “chalet village” where guests can have a break from modern life and relax or adventure as much as they please. Spend your time in the gorgeous pool and spa, or hit the slopes and hike in the surrounding mountains. It’s a place to celebrate and enjoy nature, surrounded by forests and meadows, and with epic Alpine views all around. 

The vibe is laidback and cosy with plenty of options, whether you’re looking for something adventurous or laidback. And while there are specific family facilities, including a kids’ pool, it’s a place where everyone feels welcome. The onsite activity centre means it’s easy to hire equipment and get all the info you need on local adventures. 

Location

FeelFree is at the beginning of the Ötztal valley on the edge of Öetz village and surrounded by the Ötztal mountains, meadows and forest. The Ötztaler Ache River runs alongside it.

I’d pictured something more remote than the village location, but once you’re in the resort, it does feel secluded as the view in one direction is pure meadows and mountains. Plus its proximity to the village means you reap the benefits of its facilities.

In Öetz, the Acherkogelbahn gondola takes you directly to the ski resort of Hochoetz, and you can get a shuttle to the gondola station in minutes from the hotel. There are hiking and cycling routes all around. Hochoetz is also connected to the Kuhtai ski area, with a shuttle bus running between the two every 30 minutes. Together, they have over 90km of slopes.

Öetz is around a 40-minute drive from Innsbruck. 

Rooms

Feelfree has a mixture of rooms, apartments, suites and chalets, all arranged around the garden, and with their own outdoor space. The overall aesthetic is typical Tyrolean with a red and white palette against natural pine. And it has a high-end, stylish finish. Some of the chalets can accommodate up to six people. 

On our first visit, we stayed in a Lifestyle Suite Deluxe, which is a large open-plan studio space with two double beds and a luxurious whirlpool bathtub. For the four of us, it was perfect and we loved the cosy Alpine chalet feel. And on our second visit, we stayed in the Chalet Charme, a two-storey cottage with two bedrooms and a full kitchen, which gave us the luxury of more space, and still with that cosy Alpine feel.

Facilities

Like with Hotel Wagnerhof, the thing that first drew me to Feelfree Nature Resort was the gorgeous indoor-outdoor infinity pool. The view of the mountains from the pool is spectacular and I could have spent all day just soaking it all in. The 26m pool (10m indoor and 16m outdoor) is heated to 32°C, so it can be used year-round. Kids are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. It’s a stylish space with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows for enjoying the view. 

Downstairs in the bathhouse is the kids’ pool with a slide and water toys, and next door to that is a soft play area. The kids’ area is good in that it has big windows, so you don’t feel cut off from the nature you came to enjoy.

In a separate building to the bathhouse is the sauna area with four saunas, a steam bath and an infrared lounge, plus plenty of relaxation areas. It was such a luxury, relaxing in here at the end of the day (Steve and I took turns). You can also book massages and beauty treatments.

And outside, there’s a 300 m² natural swimming pond with loungers and mountain views. In the winter, this is a spot for braving a dip in the ice.

The onsite activity centre is fully kitted out with all you need to adventure, including guided tours and equipment hire. Activities include skiing, hiking, cycling, rafting, via ferrata and more. You get 10% off hire as a hotel guest, plus free childcare through the Widi Kid’s Program in the summer (from 9am-4pm, Monday–Friday). Guests also get free toboggan hire and a weekly guided snowshoe trek.

Food and drink

Feelfree has its own onsite restaurant, the Achwirt, serving both classic Tyrolean and international dishes. It’s a cosy setting in keeping with the bare wood, Apline aesthetic of the rest of the resort. You can book breakfast-only or half-board options. 

The breakfast buffet is impressive with many local specialities and eggs cooked to order. And dinner is a multi-course affair, including a starter, main course (including meat, fish, veggie and vegan options) and dessert. We especially loved the starter buffet, filled with excellent salads, soups and antipasti. And they have options for kids’ too (ours ate tomato pasta). The food is creative and of a high standard, which adds another touch of luxury to the resort experience. 

We also had a great apple strudel in the restaurant as a snack in the afternoon (this is an extra cost). 

Things to do nearby

Oetz is a beautiful year-round destination at the start of the epic Ötztal valley. Hochoetz is the nearest ski school to Feelfree, which you can reach via the Acherkogelbahn gondola, a short shuttle ride from the resort. This has ski schools, childcare and a kids’ practice area (complete with conveyor belt lifts), as well as the Widiversum adventure park with all sorts of fun play areas. Feelfree has its own ski centre at Hochoetz, offering lessons and rental at a discount for hotel guests.

The Kuhtai ski area is connected to Hochoetz via a shuttle bus, or you can drive there in 30 minutes from Feelfree. Kuhta is considered one of the best family ski areas in Tyrol and has one of the best toboggan runs too. But to be honest, we thought Hockoetz was just as good for beginners, and had the benefit of all the play areas. A ski pass for Hochoetz also covers Kuhtai.

The on-site activity centre at Feelfree is a good place to start for adventure inspiration, including hiking, cross-country skiing, biking, rafting, archery and more.

Natural beauty spots within minutes’ drive of the resort include the epic Stuibenfall waterfall in Umhausen, plus three gorgeous lakes (Piburg, Habichersee and Brandsee). Piburgersee freezes over in winter and is one of Tyrol’s most beautiful places for ice skating. There are also two great toboggan runs near the hotel – one from Piburg to Lake Piburg (just 5 mins from Feelfree), and another at Feldringer Alm, which is a 15-min drive away and has a hut at the top for refreshments.

The public bus connects Öetz with other villages in the valley, so you can easily explore those too.

In the summer, kids can enjoy the largest free adventure playground in Tirol at the Oetz Kids Park Adventure Playground. And at the top of the Acherkogelbahn cable car, there’s Widiversum, another amazing kids’ adventure park.

Also see our guide to things to do with kids in Innsbruck and Tyrol.

Do we recommend it?

Yes, we love Feelfree Nature Resort – I often dream about the view from that pool! In fact we love it so much, we’ve been back twice.

I really enjoy the overall aesthetic – the rooms and common areas promote a peaceful vibe and you can feel the influence of nature both inside and out. The place is literally made of the nature it celebrates.

I’d love to go back in the summer to experience a different side to the resort, or to spend longer in winter. Those views will always beckon.

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