 Poster: A snowHead
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Clients of mine are after some advice - they've booked flights to Munich for Christmas week 2019. Now they want to know where to go - they're total beginners so somewhere easy to get to, with straightforward access to the slopes and ski school meting point.
The only time I've flown through Munich we were going to Schladming, but that's further than ideal.
So suggestions please?
Soll?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 24-03-19 14:23; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Reit im Winkel / Steinplatte. Beginner area in town snow permitting but it will require a short bus ride to get to Seegatterl and the Winklmoos for a bit more variety. You cannot ask for a more beginner friendly resort really, if it was in France most runs on the German side would be green. And a great traditional mountain town which will be as Christmassy as it gets. Waidring is on the Austrian side of the mountain and not that much further to get to.
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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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@sugarmoma666, @Bodeswell, Thanks, I'll pass on your advice.
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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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The Skiwelt (according to Wikipedia, Austria's largest interconnected ski area), is less than 1.5 hours transfer from Munich - Soll, Going, Ellmau, Westendorf etc
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Train to Worgl & stick a pin in a map
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Garmisch.
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| Ray Zorro wrote: |
| The Skiwelt (according to Wikipedia, Austria's largest interconnected ski area), is less than 1.5 hours transfer from Munich - Soll, Going, Ellmau, Westendorf etc |
I'm not convinced you can get to any of the Skiwelt villages in less than 1.5hrs. With a clear run, our crazy transfer driver got us to Hofgarten in about 1hr45 a couple of weeks ago.
For beginners, I think Niederau is better suited. We visited for a day a couple of years ago to see how good it would be for some beginners in our family and thought it seemed perfect. If they progress fast, Alpbach and Auffach are on the same lift pass and a short bus trip away.
The Skiwelt is great for intermediates. Some of the villages might be a good call for beginners, but you wouldn't really get the benefit of the full extent of the area.
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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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Another vote for Niederau - I learned to ski there and loved it.
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| Garmisch. |
Well yeah  They can learn to ski there, no doubt, but will be nervous wrecks as soon as they move off the few hundred yards of learner slopes. I get why you might list it but it's not the best advice for total beginners. They should ideally pick somewhere with terrain to progress into.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Another vote for Niederau, I work there!
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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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Thanks guys, looks like I'll be steering them towards Niederau.
@Chris_n, maybe they'll be in touch!
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Ehrwald in the zugspitze arena. Beautiful area with beginner areas and flattering blues to develop on to. Also a bargain transfer available by train using werdenfelser ticket.
We went for the first time this year in late January and really enjoyed skiing all the small resorts on the arena pass.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Bodeswell wrote: |
| Whitegold wrote: |
| Garmisch. |
Well yeah They can learn to ski there, no doubt, but will be nervous wrecks as soon as they move off the few hundred yards of learner slopes. I get why you might list it but it's not the best advice for total beginners. They should ideally pick somewhere with terrain to progress into. |
Well they could progress to Erwald, which has lovely long easy blue runs. Took our son in law first time skiing there last weekend. He was delighted with the long blues and progressed so well that by day three he managed to ski Garmish and do the red all the way to the bottom of the mountain.
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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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| biddpyat wrote: |
| Well they could progress to Erwald, which has lovely long easy blue runs. Took our son in law first time skiing there last weekend. He was delighted with the long blues and progressed so well that by day three he managed to ski Garmish and do the red all the way to the bottom of the mountain. |
Good effort. When you say progress to Ehrwald, you mean make it a multi centre break? Could work if they're up for it. Nowhere should be off limits, it's just Garmisch is not the first resort that comes to mind for a total beginner.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Munich airport is not ideal for quick easy access to ski resorts especially at busy times, even the queues for hire cars can be very long. Trains are possible but that involves taking the S bahn into town and then changing, not difficult to do but maybe not what they are looking for.
Christmas is also not necessarily the best time to go, snow conditions are a lottery though practically everywhere has extensive snow canon installations (complete beginners dont need lots of snow but skiing on white strips in a green field is not ideal). The advantage of Christmas is that even if the snow is not so good you should be able to find somewhere with the right sort of environment for a very "Christmasy" holiday.
Alpbach / Niederau is a potentially good option, the biggest downside is that it is low but cant see that conditions will be that much better in any of the neighbouring resorts. Also pretty straight forward drive (train station not too far away too)
Ski Welt is another obvious spot. Westendorf gets plaudits for the village and its "gemütlich" atmosphere, not convinced it is the ideal location for beginners but many folk like it. Personally I might be inclined towards Brixen or Söll as there are more nursery slopes higher up the hill.
Not sold on Garmisch, its fine for day trips from Munich and is a pleasant enough place but it is a town not a village not so good for Christmas atmosphere. The skiing is not really ideal for near beginners though it does have the Zugspitze area (not really sure it can be described as a glacier) which does offer some snow sure skiing, though access by whatever route is slow.
Kitzbühel should be nice at Christmas whatever the weather but it is expensive, likely to be busy. If the snow conditions are poor the resort is likely to be very busy as folk will come from elsewhere.
Smaller places like Steinplatte, St Johann in Tyrol would be in some ways be ideal but again the snow issue is a worry.
The first place I went to was St Johann im Pongau part of what is now Ski Amade. It is a fair way from Munich though. If it is of interest Wagrain might be the best spot for combination of atmosphere and access to skiing.
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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 thread about flying to Munich would be complete without someone mentioning the Zillertal. Mayrhofen is reachable in 1hr 45 but not at Christmas. But train to Jenbach and change is easy enough.
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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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I am also a fan of Niederau, However, my warning to beginners is that during the week I was there, the Ski School classes complained that the move from nursery slopes upwards was a very steep step (sometimes literally). There are not many long blues in resort. Although Auffach is a bit better, it is a bus ride away and even then, most of the runs there are red.
I would probably recommend St Johann in Tyrol instead. It has a slightly larger and more varied ski area, whilst still being nice and compact for beginners. The town is also bigger but with plenty of Tyrolean charm. I would also imagine the transfer from Munich is shorter. You also have the opportunity to take a short train journey to Kitzbuhel to sample a more glitzy Christmas experience and a bus journey to Steinplatte or Lofer (on the same lift pass) if you want to try a different ski area later in the week if progress is fast.
The only other resort I would throw in, which hasn't been mentioned yet is Seefeld. It's a lovely little town and was very 'Christmassy' when I went in December a few year's back. You have an easy train journey to Innsbruck for an afternoon out and it's a little higher than other resorts mentioned, so may get better snow. I fear the transfer might be a bit longer than other resorts though. I'm sure an Austrian expert can back this up.
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Wagrain is a good call. The nursery slopes are at the top of the Grafenberg gondola and the ski school (Rot Weiß Rot) is excellent.
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