Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Ritzlerhof

Spectacularly located in the village of Sautens, on a shelf in the hillside high above the Ötz Valley, the Ritzlerhof is single-mindedly purposed toward meditational levels of peace and relaxation. This is not a ski hotel—it's far from the lifts, though not impossibly so—but walks of all grades are on the doorstep, from a stroll to a nearby lake (the highest and warmest in Tyrol) to strenuous mountain hikes. Originally a high pasture farmhouse, it became a gasthaus in 1949 and has gradually become more luxurious, with an emphasis on being at one with nature. Suite 117 is exquisite, occupying a corner with a vast panorama of the valley and peaks, a cozy fire, and a private sauna, but all rooms have a balcony or terrace on which breakfast can be served.