 Poster: A snowHead
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Calling on the wisdom of St Anton familiar snowheads I need your help please. Following on from my previous thread I've decided to try and find somewhere self catering in St Anton 1- 8 April/ 2-9 April. Has to be those dates. Our group of 6 adults and a 16 year old, 3 or 4 bedrooms near the lifts or bus stop. So far I've looked on booking.com, air bnb, St Anton villas etc, a little luxury would be good along with a hot tub! Flying from London so far BA to Munich comes out cheapest but im put off by the longer transfer, can't find flights to friedrichschafen at the moment, I'm thinking its nearer? Can do monarch to Innsbruck but more expensive, also need advice on transfers, prefer mini bus as we have skis too. Thanks in advance 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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BA or Sleasy to ZRH & take train?
No idea about self catering - get the impression town is more set up for Half board hotels and B&B - try Sidney Reilly maybe
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thank you, message sent to Reilly! Sleazy not available yet, I'm getting impatient! 
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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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Also worth dropping an email to the Tourist office, they can be good at giving you a list of places that might fit the bill. There is self catering around, although tends to be more out towards Nasserein, St Jakob and Pettneu.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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can always fly swiss from heathrow to zurich and get the train to the resort, they don't charge extra for ski carriage either!
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I'm thinking 7 of us with luggage and skis might be a bit of a faff getting a train?
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You do have to change trains. Its not difficult and could be worse you could have little uns but you are effectively 7 adults so eminently doable.
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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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@feefee, Last season we did a flight to Zurich, and then took the train to St. Anton. First you take a shuttle train from the airport to Zurich main station, and then from there, you take a train to St. Anton. And at St. Anton you can hop in a cab to your accommodation.
The train station is in the airport, and you just change platforms at the main Zurich station.
It all went pretty smoothly, but I would strongly advise you to look on the train website, and the smart phone app, to see exactly what platforms you need. They will tell you in advance. And of course you can buy your tickets online.
Also, buy as far in advance as you can, as the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is.
The St. Anton trains are never really that busy that you need to reserve a seat; and it any case, all the reserved seats are lumped together, and thus those carriages are really crowded — whilst others are almost empty!
But what is tricky, on both the shuttle and the train to St. Anton, is finding the right place to stand on the platforms to ensure you are in the right class of carriage, and you have somewhere to store you skis & luggage on board. Plus, on the St. Anton train, a section of it is disconnected at someplace to go elsewhere I think — so you need to be on the right part!
On the shuttle platform there are big diagrams on the platform telling you were to stand. And on the St. Anton trains, you can look at their websites to see which part of the train is which.
The last thing you want to do on the main St. Anton train is to rush to get on the train, and then find the carriages are pretty full, and you have to drag all your gear down the length of the train (we tried that - not fun). Better to arrive in time, and stand in the right place, or have one of your party run along the train to find the best place for you all to get on.
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@feefee, Like I mentioned on the other thread I'd fly scheduled Swiss to ZHR and get the train, its so easy, FOC skis too. Alternatively (like we do), fly Lufthansa to MUC (again FOC skis) and hire a mini bus. Its 3 hours but really easy journey and easier than train (min 2 changes). If your flying from the Southeast I'd go Swiss. Train tickets are very cheap too if booked 90 days in advance, and the service is excellent.
Cards on the table - you're not going to find an apartment place for 7 people with a hot-tub in town (unless you pay mega-bucks, Scott Dunn etc). There's absolutely loads of options re accommodation but I suggest you go b&b in double rooms, and one person in a single (in Austria singles aren't disproportionately expensive like in UK). Most good places have sauna and steam etc but not hot-tubs, the Austrians think they are dirty by the way (so do I, bathing in other peoples bits)  Theres also the town Wellness centre which is awesome (don't take your speedo's though, you wont need them!)
Suggest you need to think where you want to be, St Anton, St Jakob or Pettneu, or even Stuben. I've been 60+ weeks winter and summer and know the place really well, and lots of people but there are many variables, its certainly not a one-size fits all kind of place, it caters for many types of holiday. If you want cheap and better value, head down the valley but accept you're going to have to add 1/2 hour a day onto your plans each end, if you want access to all the restaurants but accept it may be a bit noisy and more expensive stay central. Self catering isn't big in Austria like Dave says above, that said there are some places but tend to be pretty expensive compared with b&b's. (by the way don't think b&b UK style, these are so far better than most anything you'll find in UK for similar money, sometimes décor can a bit dated but always clean). Take a look look at Rundeck, Banyan, M3, Pelquitron, Angelika, not much wrong with those places, all do B&B
For 75-90€ pppn B&B you'll definitely find somewhere in town with access to all the facilities, or you can go more expensive (its easy to spend money in St Anton) I'd suggest that's what your family will want, ie easy access to a few bars and restaurants, and lifts (early bird catches the best powder after all). We sometimes stay down the valley and use hotel bus first-on kind of approach, sometimes in town, but ALWAYS have a great time!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks everyone, brilliant help and advice as always  I'm now in touch with Reilly and looking at options, really don't fancy the train so looking seriously at flight options but it's kind of falling into place. I've found a couple of scammers on air bnb, so be warned people, I'd much rather go on recommendation and see reviews of real accomodation, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is! Son and gf did a season in St Anton so familiar with the area, we stayed close to the Nasserein lift so I've got a rough idea of what's where, St Anton is definitley where we want to go, just need to get it all right, any other suggestions gratefully received.
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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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Don't know anything about St. Anton lodging options but there is a bus that runs directly from the Zurich airport to St. Anton, Lech, Zuers. It's called the Arlberg Express. We've found it to be very convenient.
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@feefee, Have stayed here a few times over the years, fantastic location, not posh or prententious but clean and just remembered has self catering appartments.
http://romanfalch.at/en/apartments-st-anton.html
If interested make sure you email Greti in German, they don't speak good English.
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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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An update😊 I've booked flights to Munich with BA super cheap, and booked an apartment with Sidney Reilly who is also arranging our transfers, so all
sorted, thank you all so much for your help and advice 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ditto on the bus from Zurich airport to St Anton. Check out Arlberg Express. Regular scheduled buses. Pick up and drop off curbside at ZRH airport. Easier than the train. No train-changing antics with skis and luggage.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@choucas, Agreed. I would give the bus a go next time. I think overall, it's an easier option. Only downside is that it does not run as frequently as the train services.
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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 have a link to the best place to buy cheap advance train tickets from Zurich to St Anton?
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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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I usually book on the Swiss train operator SBB website, but last winter noticed that the Austrian operator OBB offered much cheaper fares ZRH- St.Anton return. I have used this route many times and I would strongly recommend reserving seats if travelling in a group. The website gives you a coach plan and choice. You won't be able to book it this far in advance though, I think 90 days is the max, not sure though. The transfer at Zurich main station can be a fair walk depending on which train to get from the airport, the shuttles tend to be the furthest away, whilst the intercity's can arrive at an adjacent platform to the St. Anton train (actually the Zurich-Vienna Railjet). Boarding at Zurich is easy because that is the train's start point, but at St.Anton it is stationary for only 2/3mins, so you need to be well organised, the platform diagram indicates which coaches stop at. Whenever I've travelled, Saturdays, it has always been busy.
Not used the Arlberg Express but believe it is good.
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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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FAQ
