hut owner - travelers - adventure seeker

Hello, we are Andi and Sandra, and we’ve been navigating this world together for more than seven years now. For those of you who know us… well, you don’t really need to read all of this ;-)

How It All Began
Where do I even start? Well, our life stories from birth probably wouldn’t be of much interest, so let’s not go that far back. We’re both from the same region in the Innviertel, specifically in the Braunau district. From early on, we realized that our little hometown wasn’t exactly the ideal starting point for our dreams and future plans.

And so, Andi (a trained locksmith and sauna master) set off into the world and spent years as a traveler. He held exciting jobs, starting as a sports animator and later working as a windsurfing and kitesurfing instructor, managing his own surf station in Sardinia. Since we’ve known each other for a long time, I always enjoyed following his adventures because his life of excitement and travel fascinated me too.

I’m Sandra (I write the texts for our homepage—Andi has no patience for that :D). I’m a social worker and fitness trainer, and I have a wonderful 16-year-old son, Stephan—almost an adult—and I’m incredibly proud of him. I also quickly realized that a regular job wasn’t for me; I needed more freedom to express myself.

I found that freedom working as a social worker at a youth center. I was able to mentor amazing young people and explore my creativity, organizing art and cultural festivals for the city, among other things. But even then, I felt a pull toward doing something different, which led me to start my own women’s fitness studio. That was almost nine years ago now. Looks like I’ve already gone deeper into our stories than I planned! :-)

How Did We End Up as Hut Hosts?
Without experience or a clue about what the job of a hut host entails (hint: everything!), we dove in. Suddenly, we weren’t just running a kitchen or serving drinks. We were fixing broken sewage systems, repairing sputtering power generators, and managing an endless list of responsibilities.

Andi’s background as a locksmith often came in handy, as did the help of good friends who supported us with advice and hands-on assistance. Without them, we’d have been lost more than a few times. Maintaining the rooms, the entire hut, scheduling staff, and managing guests all became part of our daily routine. Our 16-hour days (sometimes 20 during events) made us jacks-of-all-trades: hosts, servers, weather forecasters, logisticians, psychologists, and general problem solvers. Add in unpredictable weather—storms, fog, snow—and you get the full picture. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, then being a hut host might just be for you! :D

At the start, we made plenty of mistakes. I still remember our first shopping trip for hut supplies—it was a total disaster. We went to a regular supermarket, didn’t calculate anything, and just guessed what we’d need. Unsurprisingly, by the next afternoon, we were sold out of everything. :D We had no idea about cost calculations or proper ordering back then. Our first hut taught us a lot, and after six years of running huts, we’re no longer rookies. But the learning process was essential to getting us to where we are today.

Why We Love What We Do
I’ve always loved cooking, and Andi thrives on interacting with people. He’s a born entertainer, a “showman” through and through. His years as an animator shine through when he’s working the beer garden—it’s his stage! I, on the other hand, grew up with a passion for cooking. My dad loved preparing special meals for the family on weekends, using fresh ingredients from the market, and I was always right there on my little stool, watching him. Those scents and memories still stay with me.

My mom, as well a superhero, handled the daily grind of cooking for the family after full-time work. She made sure we always had home-cooked meals on the table. I think my deep connection to food and cooking stems from them—it’s a blend of quality ingredients, cherished memories, and storytelling. That’s the essence I bring to my cooking, even today on our huts: honest, hearty dishes inspired by family recipes, fused with flavors and ideas from our travels.

Our Passion for Adventure
Speaking of travel, that’s our true passion outside of work. From kitesurfing, snowboarding, and paragliding (that’s just Andi—I prefer keeping my feet on the ground; kitesurfing is enough adrenaline for me!) to every sport imaginable between the mountains and the sea, we love exploring.

Thanks to our work, we’ve created the freedom to spend a few months at a time discovering the world. We’re both adventurous and endlessly curious about new cultures and experiences.

Follow along to see where our journey takes us next!

Warm regards,
Your hut hosts,
Andi and Sandra