Visiting Bad Gastein, Austria

Some friends have suggested we all meet up in Bad Gastein in June. I had a look on some websites and it seems like your typical spa town - pretty mountains and lots of outdoor activities. One concern is that it might be over run by seniors though and kinda boring+pricey.

Has anyone take a holiday there and would you recommend it?

I've only been in Gasteinertal in the Winter to go skiing (Bad Hofgastein, Sportgastein, Dorfgastein), but I do think that it's a nice place. The town of Bad Gastein itself is a pretty little town.

thanks, Jerseyboy. I think it looks pretty awesome for skiing.
Let me know if you have any hotels/restaurants to rec in the area

Great place. Only been in Winter for skiing though. There were a least 4 or 5 good bars crammed with young people on Friday and Saturday night. Didn't see too many oldies, even at the thermal bath. There's a fairly large backpackers' hostel there which I think gets a few youngsters into the town.

Lovely place. Take a trip through the mountain with your car on the train. Awesome!

There's a really nice hotel in either Bad Hofgastein or Dorfgastein which Helmut Kohl used to frequent. The name eludes me at the moment.

It's gorgeous, summer or winter. There were plenty of youngish people about in the evenings if you went to the right places, which I'm sure your hotel could advise you on. Prices might be slightly higher than a less resorty village, but nothing to make your eyes pop out.

I'm now trying to rent us an apartment in Bad Gastein and have a few questions ...

is the city center a nice place to stay or is it all about the mountains in Bad Gastein? Personally I don't want to be tucked away in the wilderness - I'd rather have access to markets & restaurants and then travel to the mountains for outdoor activities. BUT if the city center is ugly and cramped, then I'll re-think it.

your thoughts? thanks

Its a small alpine town. It is already in the wilderness and nestled up against the mountains. http://www.bg-apartman-badgastein.com/file.../badgastein.jpg

perfect. that photo sums it all up. we'll be fine in the city center.
thanks