A holiday with twenty people means shared breakfasts, long evenings around the dining table and plenty of time together. Choosing the right accommodation helps everyone enjoy it. A chalet for 20 people in Austria needs more than enough beds: the bedroom layout, bathrooms and communal spaces should suit your group too.
These tips will help you choose. Three accommodation examples show just how different properties for the same number of guests can be.
Twenty sleeping places: how are they arranged?
You might be travelling with several families or a group of couples. That makes quite a difference when choosing bedrooms. Children often enjoy sharing with siblings or friends, while couples usually prefer a room of their own.
A chalet for twenty people does not automatically have ten double bedrooms. Bunk beds, sofa beds and extra beds may all count towards the advertised capacity. Try allocating the rooms before you book. You will soon see whether the layout works for everyone.
Look at:
- The number of separate bedrooms.
- The bed types and sizes.
- Sleeping places on an open mezzanine or in the living room.
- Walk-through bedrooms that other guests need to pass through.
- The distribution of bedrooms across the different floors.
If you enjoy staying up together in the evening, you probably do not want to turn the living room into a bedroom every night. Families with young children may prefer to sleep on the same floor. A floor plan makes these details easier to understand.
How many bathrooms does your group need?
The first ski morning quickly reveals how practical a house is. Someone wants a shower, someone else needs to brush their teeth, and the children have to get to ski school. Several easily accessible bathrooms make the morning feel much less rushed.
The number in the description only tells part of the story. A bathroom with a shower and toilet serves a different purpose from a separate toilet. And an en-suite bathroom may not always be convenient for the rest of the group to use.
Think about how much privacy you need. A group that knows each other well and heads out at different times may be comfortable with fewer bathrooms than one that leaves together every morning.
Is there room to eat and relax together?
Cooking after a day in the mountains, sharing stories and playing a game together: for many people, these are the best moments of a group holiday. A dining area where everyone can sit together makes all the difference.
Check the stated number of seats. Two dining tables in separate living areas can be useful, but if you want to eat together every evening, one large table will probably suit you better.
The same applies to the living room. Twenty sleeping places do not automatically mean twenty comfortable seats for a film night.
If you plan to cook, these features are useful too:
- Enough worktop space for several people to help.
- An oven and/or microwave.
- A dishwasher.
- Enough crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment for the whole group.
Two kitchens can make meal preparation easier, especially when some people are preparing breakfast while others get started on dinner. Whether everyone can eat together afterwards is a separate question.
How do you get from the chalet to the slopes?
In a large group, people rarely leave at exactly the same time. Some want to catch the first lift, while others prefer a leisurely breakfast. Convenient access to the slopes gives you the freedom to spend parts of the day differently.
Look at the chalet’s exact location and the lift you actually want to use. Distances given as the crow flies can be considerably shorter than the journey by road. And a short walk feels different in ski boots with children than it does on an afternoon stroll.
Include these points in your planning:
- The route to your chosen lift and the ski school meeting point.
- The location of the ski bus stop and the timetable.
- Parking at the chalet and the lift.
- Access to the property in winter conditions.
For more planning tips, read our guide to skiing holidays with family and friends (in German).
Three chalets, three different layouts
These three properties in Salzburgerland show how different a holiday for twenty people can look. One has a large shared dining table, another has two connected living areas. The best choice depends on how you want to spend your time together. You will find current details, booking conditions and availability on the accommodation pages.
Chalet Sandra in Piesendorf
If shared meals are an essential part of your holiday, Chalet Sandra is worth a look. Its layout lists a dining table for twenty people, with room for everyone from breakfast to an evening of board games.
The house has six bedrooms and three bathrooms. The twenty sleeping places include bunk beds and folding beds, so consider which families or friends would be happy to share rooms.
Lodge Amanda-Elise in Wald im Pinzgau
A holiday together, with space to retreat now and then: Lodge Amanda-Elise offers a layout that could suit you well. The accommodation consists of two adjoining houses with an internal connecting door.
There are eight bedrooms, six bathrooms and two kitchens for twenty people. The separate dining tables seat ten and twelve. If you would like everyone to eat at one table, ask whether this is possible before booking.
Luxury Lodge Kaprun Ost B in Kaprun
Relaxing in the sauna after a day’s skiing or spending time together in the hot tub: Luxury Lodge Kaprun Ost B offers both. The accommodation has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and space for twenty people.
The sleeping arrangements also include bunk beds, sofa beds and a walk-through bedroom. Allocate these places carefully within your group. For the sofa beds in particular, consider when the rooms will need to become quiet in the evening.
How much does a chalet for twenty people cost?
A shared budget makes the search easier. Start by discussing how much each person would like to spend on accommodation. Then compare chalets for the same travel dates and group size.
To work out the price per person, use the total amount, including compulsory charges such as final cleaning, bed linen and tourist tax. There may also be additional charges for using the sauna or hot tub.
How you split the cost is up to you. Will children pay less? Will a larger room cost more? What happens if someone only stays for a few nights? These arrangements are usually easier to agree on before booking than after the holiday.
Remember the security deposit too. You will need to have this amount available, although it does not form part of the final holiday cost if it is refunded in full.
A final check together before booking
Found a chalet that feels right? Go through these points together once more:
- The number of beds and bedrooms suits your group.
- The number of bathrooms suits your daily routine.
- There is enough space to eat and relax together.
- The routes to the lift and ski school are clear.
- There are enough parking spaces for your cars.
- Everyone knows their share of the costs and the deposit arrangements.
- You have discussed the house rules, payment terms and cancellation conditions.
Which chalet suits your group?
Perhaps a large dining table matters most to you. Perhaps you would prefer more separate bedrooms or the freedom to reach the lift without a car. Once you know your priorities, choosing becomes much easier.
At Ferienhaus-Tirol.eu, you can compare chalets and group accommodation from different providers. From our experience as former holiday home owners, we know how much a thoughtful layout can contribute to an enjoyable holiday together.
Explore group accommodation in Austria (German overview) and find a place for your next holiday together in the mountains.
