I would have given this place 5 stars without hesitation till as weekend…read more I've been a regular since the Balance Resort opened it's doors some ten years ago. I used to call it my "second living room". (Not to be confused with my "expanded living room", the Cafe Dommayer in Vienna!!) I stayed at the Balance resort on average once a month, I guess. The hotel is a wonderful building within a wonderful landscape - the rolling hills of Styria ("Bucklige Welt"). There is some Japanese influence, a great mix of modern style and warmth, not only in the saunas. Well, that is definitely the other attraction: the spa area with a huge outdoor whirl pool, a beautiful herbal dry sauna at a very pleasant temperature, Tepidarium, white leather relaxation room, two hot saunas, steam room, separate ladies' sauna, and an infinity swimming pool, partially indoors, partially outdoors. Third reason to come here: the restaurant. Always great 5 course dinners to choose from - I've never been disappointed. And an opulent breakfast buffet with the only disadvantage that they force you to wait for you fresh made eggs and omelets. I'd prefer to have the choice to take the not-so-fresh-made scrambled eggs from the holding furnace instead of standing in line for 5 minutes. (I hate standing in line.) So why the remarkable decuction of 2 stars? This place has become a rip-off. They raised their steep prices by another third within the last months!!!! I was shocked when I got to know the room rate for this weekend (Fri-Sat) - the rates rose by almost a third to over EUR 200.- per person per night. Rates are now calculated on a daily basis I was informed - which makes it quite unreasonable to book short-term. (I often used to decide to come here just the day before.) Same for spa prices. To illustrate it, a quick pedicure used to be 38.- plus 8.- for nail polish - quite steep anyway. But it feels good to have clean and shiny toe nails when you're walking in flip flops through the spa all day long, so I made it a routine to have my pedi first thing after arrival. However, yesterday was my last pedi at the Balance Resort. They increased the price by one third to EUR 49.- + 12.- for polish (which does not even include a top coat)!!!! A simple pedicure is not worth EUR 61.- even if it's in a nice room. As a previous reviewer stated, they seem to have a marketing strategy that tries to attract families now, probably at much lower rates than I paid. That must be the marketing strategy behind it: throw-away prices for families at the cost of horrendous prices for individual travelers. I love kids, I work with kids, but the Balance Resort is NOT the place for kids. It is conceptualized as a peaceful, relaxing retreat. Parents, come here to get some couple time instead. So far the story of my second living room... With this weekend, you've lost one of your regular spontaneous guests with your new pricing, Balance Resort. And you've lost a pedicure customer, too.

From the owner: Moderne Architektur, eine Atmosphäre zum Wohlfühlen und dazu eines der besten SPAs Österreichs mit…read moreausgereiftem Metabolic Balance Programm und Spitzen-Kulinarik. Direkt an der größten Golfanlage des Landes und in herrlicher Panoramalage. Lifestyle und Wellness in perfekter Balance!

Great food and great service. Absolutely loved this place back when it was the Janisch Gasthof and…read morenow as Gastof Graf.

The perfect place to unwind, relax and recharge! The spa facilities are incredible. Amazing how…read moretime flies by while enjoying total relaxation in outdoor heated pools with beautiful views of the countryside, or floating in wonderful mineral pools, or enjoying the best and newest steam rooms I have ever seen, or taking a recharing plunge in the cold water tank, or sitting in new and modern dry saunas, or...I can't list them all! The rooms are good, not fancy. But that's ok because you will spend all your time in the spa. The food is good. They have supervised programs with special menus if you need to de-tox your body. A great staff that is very friendly and very helpful. Other great programs include massages, exercise programs, cooking classes and yoga. The salon is first class. Whether you want to de-tox or just want the most relaxing and calming time of your life, go to the Larimar.