 Poster: A snowHead
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Just back from "lads" trip to France and someone mentioned the idea of a family Christmas in the mountains, to which the out-laws were surprisingly enthusiastic!
We are likely to be two skiers (French grading reds and blues, piste only) and two yound kids (never before, 3 and 6), plus two non-skiing grandparents. Unlikely to ski every day, and do other things as well (trips to Innsbruck, steam train, sledging, etc.)
Most of our skiing has been in France which we know and love, but thinking at that time of year, with non-skiers in mind and other factors (my boys love trains) that Mayrhofen (or similar) is a good starting point. Ideally we'd be looking for the equivalent of a demi-pension type arrangement with the option of a meal in if we didn't want to hit the town. We have only been to Austria once so less familiar with the set up and "norms" there...
Please can the collective provide any recommendations or guidance to where might be good places to stay, Hotel St Georg seems to have good review and is the kind of place we might be looking at, but loath to rely on TripAdvisor... Plus recommendations on ski schools / activities / etc. for things to do. Also if any SHs have accommodation that needs renting, happy to hear!!
TIA 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No real perspective but I have been to the Ziller valley recently and you would have to try hard not to like the on piste skiing there.
The train along the valley floor is a good thing and I’m sure there are great areas for learner skiers.
Importantly Zillertal Pils is a ripping beer. 
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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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| sbooker wrote: |
Importantly Zillertal Pils is a ripping beer. |
Do you mean for the digestive system?
Old joke from Forces days in Berlin - BK was fine but the other was usually known as Sh@theiss
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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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Mayrhofen is a beautiful Austrian town - fantastic location for the slopes & great for wandering around (plenty of traditional craft shops, clothing, cake shops, etc.). Be sure to pop in to the metzgerei (butchers with a cafe) opposite the lift station for a cheap & tasty snack - it’s open all day & was a firm favourite with our kids.
We stayed in the Hotel Strass on a half board basis; the food was great, it’s right next to the Penken lift and it’s also got a swimming pool & spa. Highly recommended.
A top tip is to rent a locker at the top of the Penkenberg lift, so you don’t have to lug your kit around every day - you can even hire equipment up there, which makes life much easier when you’ve got kids in tow.
Non-skiers can easily go up the mountain because the slopes are accessed by cable car - just wait until after the morning rush has passed so you don’t have to queue.
Public transport is efficient - as you’d expect - and free with your lift pass. We took the train & bus to Gerlosstein for a morning of sledging & snow tubing, which the kids loved.
We were there 29/12 - 04/01... or that was the plan until we got snowed in! Just be aware of how much it snows in December/January. That might sound odd - it’s a ski resort, right?! But we ended up stuck in Austria after our flight was cancelled, having to make our own way to Munich with kids, skis etc. and having to pay for an extra night’s accommodation.... I’d go back but only in Feb. half term!
And NYE is a blast there with fireworks & a street party, great fun, the Austrians sure know how to party!
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Thanks @Angeladay1, I'll check all those out
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