 Poster: A snowHead
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We are thinking of a change from Italy having skied there 5 years on the bounce to Austria. We've driven to Italian resorts (usually in about 11hrs from Calais) in the aosta valley numerous times, and, with a full car has worked out pretty cheap, so looking to drive to an Austrian resort. We're concerned that a lot of Austrian resorts often seem low and not very snowsure, most of the Italian resorts we have been to are at least around 1600 mts.... often higher so snow is never an issue. we are intermediate skiers, with one early intermediate, also don't want a bus/car trek out to the slopes if possible! We usually stay in places we can virtually ski back to! Any help much appreciated as we don't know where to start with Austria!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@cbowls30, You should be able to reach any of the resorts just south of Salzburg in 11 hours from Calais. The Tyrollean resorts further West should take less time than that.
Do not worry about Austrian resorts being lower. They are very snowsure due to snowmaking and being further west altitude is less important (massive generalisation - continental air is cooler at winter, France and Italy are affected more by milder maritime weather). This winter so far most of Austria had good conditions before any real snow had fallen in France. Parts of Italy had lots of snow, others had little.
Accommodation can found right on the slopes in most areas if you want it.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 23-01-17 22:10; edited 1 time in total
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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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^swap east and west in that post for accuracy 
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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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We did Radstadt to Rotterdam (to grab the ferry up to Hull) in 9.5 hours one summer.!
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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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If you want to save yourself an hour in the car over Salzburg, the Montafon area looks good at the moment. Stay in Sankt Gallenkirch or Schruns and there'll be no trek to the lift.
The quickest route is usually through Switzerland, but for that you'll need a 40 CHF motorway vignette. It's only an extra five minutes or so to go via Stuttgart - Ulm - Lindau.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@cbowls30, the "low" Austrian resorts often have the best snow, places like St Anton and Ischgl have villages very low but get consistent high snow levels during a season.
What kind of accomodation are you after? We stayed in a very nice hotel in Stuben that has a lift straight onto the piste and also a pool/wellness centre which the kids loved after a ski.
Pics of the snow during various Easter skiing trips at Stuben here (This is at 1400m) http://greghilton.co.uk/easter-skiing-at-stuben/
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I've driven to the French Alps shed loads of times, drove to Nauders last February and will never drive to Austria again half term week, hideous traffic across the German/Austrian border going both ways and just wasn't an enjoyable experience. Off to Zell Am Ziller this Feb flying and train to resort way less stressful.
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| Quote: |
hideous traffic across the German/Austrian border going both ways
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depends where and when you cross the border. minor tail back one way the other weekend, which is normal on a Sunday evening when all the Germans and Czechs head home after a weekend skiing. barely even saw a car when i went the other way.
Never ever seen a tail back at Bregenz or the Fern Pass or the Swiss/Austrian border just south of Lake Constance or the Liechtenstein/Austria border.
As above, ignore "low". Austria often has villages in the valley rather than building purpose built stuff up the mountain. The skiing is all still at 1600m+ (ish).
I'll be off to Zell am Ziller again, by car, again.
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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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Ischgl sits at 1400 metres, the top of the gondola is 2300 metres and the highest point nearly 3000. Generally, Austria is as snow sure as France or Italy.
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| andy wrote: |
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hideous traffic across the German/Austrian border going both ways
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depends where and when you cross the border. minor tail back one way the other weekend, which is normal on a Sunday evening when all the Germans and Czechs head home after a weekend skiing. barely even saw a car when i went the other way.
Never ever seen a tail back at Bregenz or the Fern Pass or the Swiss/Austrian border just south of Lake Constance or the Liechtenstein/Austria border.
As above, ignore "low". Austria often has villages in the valley rather than building purpose built stuff up the mountain. The skiing is all still at 1600m+ (ish).
I'll be off to Zell am Ziller again, by car, again. |
Fern pass both ways on the Saturday's was nose to tail.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for all your replies, big help! We've skied in Italy so much over the years we know nothing about anywhere else!
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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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@francium., and just to provide an opposite view I've driven to Austria 4 separate years at Easter and had zero border queues.
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Fernpass can certainly get busy on Saturdays in my experience of driving down from Munich after flying, not as bad as the traffic through and around Garmisvh which can be horrendous but you are probably not going that way from the UK.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Jenniper, whoops, it was late. Now edited.
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