 Poster: A snowHead
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80 euros
Jesus Christ!!!!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I don’t have exact data to compare, but I have the feeling that ski pass prices in Austria have really exploded since the COVID period.
For Sölden, during the Super High Season (yes, they actually have both High and Super High), the ski pass for the four of us costs €1,356 (season 2024/2025 prices).
Okay, it includes access to the other Ötztal resorts, but still – that’s almost the same price as a 3 Vallées ski pass for the four of us, and the resorts in Ötztal are not connected as in 3V.
I have to admit: lift infrastructure in Austria is on another level compared to most of France (Sölden is even planning two more 8-seater chairlifts for next season, if I’m not mistaken), and the slope grooming in Sölden is excellent.
But all of that doesn't help me much if the slopes are overcrowded, even if there are no queues and I have heated seats on the lift.
Accommodation prices are also at the same level. Sure, the apartments are really nice and well-equipped – but seriously? I’m only staying for 7 nights. I don’t want to pay €200 per night and still have to take a bus to get to the lifts...
It honestly makes me sad, because I really love Austria.
I just hope Sölden brings back the 333 season card offer. If not, I may have to turn my back on Austria once again.
I hope Sölden will make again the offer with the saison card, otherwise i have to turn my back to Austria once again.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Does anyone know if you can take a bike on the rail line between the Hof and Zell?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@JimboS, Yes, you can.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@SaraJ, thanks!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@JimboS, there is a charge, about €2.40 or so.
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| Quote: |
I don’t have exact data to compare, but I have the feeling that ski pass prices in Austria have really exploded since the COVID period.
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I think you're right @turms2. If I recall correctly, Zillertal ski area day tickets have gone up from around €35 a day about 10 years ago. The first €50 day ticket I saw (and I was shocked at the time!) was at Kaltenbach in early 2021. And now, four years later, we're in sight of €80 a day.
In terms of your Austria v France comparison, at least food and drink is a fair bit cheaper in Austria. I was drinking €5 beers in Lanersbach earlier this week, versus €10 in Tignes in April.
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Just had a look at the summer ski pass price on the Tux website, 65euro for a full day, discounted the later you go up.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@mountainaddict, The question is: where exactly in Lanersbach? Down in the village or up in a mountain restaurant?
To be honest, I don't drink alcohol, so I can't really agree or disagree with what you're saying, since I never paid attention to the prices in either France or Austria.
However, I would assume that beer in Tignes is more expensive than in Lanersbach. What I do find interesting is a comparison like: a beer in Lanersbach vs. one in St. Gervais (village), and then again in a mountain restaurant — both in France and Austria.
As for food prices, I don’t remember Austria being particularly cheap either. In La Plagne, I saw a Margherita pizza for 11–12 euros — I guess prices in Austria are roughly the same.
But that’s a different topic and a bit off-topic here anyway.
Back to thema, unfortunately the best prices among the Glaciers are in Stubai (Kinder till 10 J free) and Kaunertal, and the 1st ist really crowded and the second i a pain in the A*** to go up the (18 U - turns)
I hope Sölden make this season again the offer for the season card. I love glacier skiing in October....Skiing is crap, but the feeling that the season starts, and the winter is on the way is the best feeling ever
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Looks like a bit of a top up in last day
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We woke up to snow covered mountains here in Kirchberg for the third time in the last seven days. It will be gone my mid afternoon. Unfortunately at this time of year its a waste!!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@turms2, Lanersbach is one of the villages you drive through on the way up to Hintertux. It's about 10mins or so before Hintertux.
If you compare a beer in the Tuxer Fernerhaus vs a mountain restaurant in Tignes as you mention, you'll see a massive difference. €5.50-6.00 is a fairly standard price in the Zillertal in mountain restaurants, that's more like €10+ in Tignes as per your example.
Even down in the village in Tignes, if you go to say the Loop bar in Le Lac or Le Brasero in Le Lavachet, their happy hour prices bring the price of a beer down to the same as a standard price in Zillertal.
The price of a day pass in the winter this season went from €72 to €76 euros. I remember the €72 amount being front page in the Tiroler Tageszeitung.
Back in January 2023, we came to Austria on holiday, and bought a 9 Salzburg Super Ski pass, that cost us €453 each, that would have been €507 this season, an 11.9% increase.
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@8611, as @jafa says, there's fresh snow down to around 2000m I'd say. It was similar last Sunday when we walked up to the Hohenstrasse. It's been a fairly cold week in general this week, and a lot of rain too, so it's no real surprise.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@SaraJ, I was about to message you asking when it was all kicking off! I guess I won't be coming for a swim tomorrow then 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@swskier, yeap i know where is lanersbach.
Thats why i mentioned we need to compare lanersbach price with e.g. St.gervais or samoens.
But as you said even in the mountain Restaurants the prices for beer are lower compared to tignes so i suppose its Overall so.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Regarding lift pass prices... A large expenditure for the ski areas is snow making - it needs a lot of electricity to pump the water to the top of the mountains. The conditions on piste this season were exceptional considering the amount of natural snowfall.
Snow making is great. On the other hand, snow making is a bit "be careful what you wish for"!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
@swskier, yeap i know where is lanersbach.
Thats why i mentioned we need to compare lanersbach price with e.g. St.gervais or samoens.
But as you said even in the mountain Restaurants the prices for beer are lower compared to tignes so i suppose its Overall so.
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The point I was making was a simple one. I was drinking half price beer in Austria this week compared to France in April. And we found eating out there to be a fair bit cheaper than France too. For example, Wiener Schitzel in Austria this week €17; compared to €26 for tartiflette in France. So main course and a beer €22 per person in Lanersbach, versus €36 per person in Tignes. Nearly €30 extra for two of us each night is quite a difference... 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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On the snow at the top of the mountains topic, here's a picture I just took whilst walking the dog. It's from the opposite side of the valley looking over to Zillertal Arena.
Snow level is around the top of the Rosenalmbahn gondola.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Reading with horror that Mayrhofen and Hintertux now on EPIC pass. The mountain is already too full (dangerous) in key holiday periods.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Two questions for those in know...
1) What websites are best for finding self catering apartments in Zillertal ?
2) Where is a good base ? Family of 4 / all good skiers (2 young kids) / with a car.
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I think the best are the Websites from the village etc
At least when i want to book something in Austria i always check first there
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@Haggis_Trap, quite a few years ago we stayed here:
https://www.fw-steiner.de/wohnungen
(Its also on a few booking sites)
It was in Stumm, just on the outskirts of Kaltenbach. We stayed on in the top floor apartment. Big 3 bedroom apartment that suited us with two young (then) kids. You could get around without a car but a car would be ideal here. We thought it was a great apartment.
Also a great hotel restaurant 2 mins walk if you cant be bothered cooking.
They were managed by an agent who spoke English (they did want a bank transfer to book) and had a local person very near by, also with excellent English.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Haggis_Trap, what is the most important factor for you?
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@Haggis_Trap, The tourist offices are a good starting point.
There is the main Zillertal tourist site www.zillertal.at then the valley is split into 4 zones www.best-of-zillertal.at covers Strass to Aschau, www.zillertalarena.com is for Zell and Gerlos, www.mayrhofen.at is Hippach, Schwendau, Mayrhofen and www.tux.at is Finkenberg to Hintertux.
The main Zillertal website is good for an overview and also has accommodation options, however the regional websites have more.
What kind of things are you looking for? How young are the kids?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Matrix, How much difference is a few US based folks going to make? The limiting factor is mostly the amount of accommodation (locals generally avoid the stupid busy time over New Year). In the Arlberg, which has been on the pass for a few years now, there are noticeably more North American accents but dont think it has really made any difference. The place is crowded all the time now anyway. Zillertal which has a good snow record, is fairly high and has the glacier is going to be popular with Europe based folk looking for a reliable ski holiday.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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i think Zillertal with some exceptions (eg Fügen Spieljoch) is also crowded almost all the time
Ok, when someone lives there, can peak some days / times which are less/more better, but generally speaking is usually overcrowded.
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| Matrix wrote: |
| @Haggis_Trap, what is the most important factor for you? |
Just a simple family apartment. Ideally well located for skiing.
Will have a car - so doesn't need to be ski in / ski out
| SaraJ wrote: |
@Haggis_Trap, The tourist offices are a good starting point.
There is the main Zillertal tourist site www.zillertal.at then the valley is split into 4 zones www.best-of-zillertal.at covers Strass to Aschau, www.zillertalarena.com is for Zell and Gerlos, www.mayrhofen.at is Hippach, Schwendau, Mayrhofen and www.tux.at is Finkenberg to Hintertux.
The main Zillertal website is good for an overview and also has accommodation options, however the regional websites have more.
What kind of things are you looking for? How young are the kids? |
Thanks - that is useful!
Which is the best area for skiing / exploring the valley?
Have skied at Hintertux - but dont really know rest of Zillertal beyond driving though it once.
The kids are 8/11 but both ski well now (reds / blacks at good pace)
| munich_irish wrote: |
| @Matrix, How much difference is a few US based folks going to make? The limiting factor is mostly the amount of accommodation (locals generally avoid the stupid busy time over New Year). In the Arlberg, which has been on the pass for a few years now, there are noticeably more North American accents but dont think it has really made any difference. The place is crowded all the time now anyway. Zillertal which has a good snow record, is fairly high and has the glacier is going to be popular with Europe based folk looking for a reliable ski holiday. |
Planning a trip for around Xmas / New Year 25.
I guess crowds come with that time of year and the holiday period.
If we take car on Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry then Austria most accessible part of european alps.
Planning on spending a few days near Innsbruck at end of the week.
Any thoughts on the skiing around there ? Axer Lixum / Stubai etc.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Haggis_Trap, how much night life/restaurants do you want? Or are you also fine driving of an evening.
Mayrhofen is in my opinion the best place to stay, it has the most going on, I'd say it's really the only village that is a tourist village, rather than a working village that tourists come to, if you get what I mean?
I'd also say Mayrhofen is the worst ski area. Zillertal Arena or Hochzillertal/Hochfügen are the best areas in my eyes. I'm quite sad and keep a tally in the notes on my phone of when and where I ski each season, so I can see we only went to Mayrhofen 5 times last season, and 2 of those days were to teach my Nephew at Ahorn. The rest is then fairly evenly split between Zillertal arena and Hochzillertal/Hochfügen.
By basing yourself in Mayrhofen, you'd have the skiing there, and then you'd be around a 15 minute drive to Zillertal Arena, a 25 minute drive to Hochzillertal/Hochfügen and a 25 minute drive to Hintertux.
If you're happy in a village with a lot less going on, then consider Zell am Ziller or Kaltenbach.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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To add to what @swskier, said, if you have a car and don't mind travelling to the lifts, then staying in a village away from the lifts could be a cheaper option. So, for example, for Kaltenbach/Hochzillertal look at Stumm or Uderns.
There are also good, reliable free ski buses from the outlying villages - though, for the more outlying places there is maybe only one per hour.
I think at all the main lift stations there is some kind of possibility for storing equipment overnight, which makes a busride with kids less arduous!
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Poster: A snowHead
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I would say there is no question about location, stay in Mayrhofen for the holiday vibe, but don't stay near the high street as it's too noisy at busy times. The Gasser appartments are really nice and close to the lift. Or if you want a crazy mountain hut experience, try the Brugger mountain hut (they moved it from the mountain to their back garden in the village, the kids will love that. While the Penken ski area may not be the best it's still excellent and extensive as it's linked to neighbouring areas.
We have been taking the kids there since 2000, usually at Easter, back then we always booked ourselves, now flights/ferry's are more expensive we find it's cheaper to book with crystal.
https://www.landhausgasser.com/en/
https://www.brugger-zillertal.at/de/brugger/impressionen/#aparthotel
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
1) What websites are best for finding self catering apartments in Zillertal ?
2) Where is a good base ? Family of 4 / all good skiers (2 young kids) / with a car.
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1. We've used a mix of the local tourist office websites; Hotels.com (which does Quidco cashback and has a loyalty points scheme); and Booking.com (which often has a wider choice than Hotels.com these days).
2. In my book you can't go wrong with Mayrhofen, or somewhere close by, like Ramsau or Finkenberg. The last two are very quiet places but ideal if you just want to cater in each night. With those locations you are fairly central in the valley and - especially with a car - well placed for outings to all of the Zillertal ski areas. Mayrhofen is a busy, but very pleasant, town with a good range of restaurants, bars and shops.
*Apologies for any duplication - I hadn't read all of the earlier responses in full when I posted
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@munich_irish, probs good point you make. The covid/post covid period seemed to add a lot of beds to the town. It’s noticeably busier in all periods except when the Russians used to arrive around new year. The town has been successful and prices have gone up. I don’t think it’s as good value for the pass as I had thought previously (my feeling not based on comparable). My fear is that attracting American tourists will further put up prices and increase visitor numbers. I went to Zermatt at NY (yes I know the Matterhorn is a real pull factor and Mayrhofen won’t compete with the town) but the amount of Americans was very very noticeable. I didn’t like the vibe, not because I don’t like Americans (no problem at all) just it felt like I was not in a European country.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The tux looking lovely on the webcams this morning
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can anyone offer advice on the best way to travel from Mayrhofen to Achensee, Kim fancies a bit of SUP when we next visit
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@JimboS, best in which respect?
Quickest option is a taxi.
Most sensible is Zillteralbahn to Jenbach and then the bus up there.
More fun, but slowest and most expensive, there's the Achenseebahn from Jenbach. https://www.achenseebahn.at/
For the Zillertalbahn/bus option, ÖBB will give you all the timings you need. https://www.oebb.at/en/
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@swskier, thanks, lots of options there. Maybe do the train up and bus down as it looks quite slow.
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FAQ
All of the pools are filled in with snow in the winter to make the beginner area... And, unsurprisingly, they're still full of snow.