 Poster: A snowHead
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Having lost out Easter holiday looking to book flights for either Christmas week or New Year week.
How busy are these resorts typically?
Looking at Innsbruck flights and any of these Mayrhofen, St Anton or Obergurgl.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@NickyJ, New Year week is just about the busiest and most expensive week of the season. It is also early season so there is also a risk of not so good snow conditions. Christmas week probably better though slightly more risk with snow. I suspect you can get a good deal at the moment as folk will be rather distracted by other events to be thinking much about next season's skiing.
Of the 3 places you mention I might be inclined to go with Mayrhofen or nearby in the Zillertal. St Anton is pretty much where I always go these days but New Year is best avoided as it is so crowded. Obergurgl is a bit limited in terms of skiing and if snow poor elsewhere will be very busy.
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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’d second Munich Irish. Been in all 3 at New Year and much as I love the Arlberg I think St Anton is too busy. Obergurgl is small but it can be lovely and never gets stupidly busy. Downside there is that it’s high and mostly treeless and can get nasty in bad weather. Not a lot to do there if the lifts are shut. The Zillertal has a decent range of pistes with different aspects and altitudes so there’s usually good skiing to be had. I like Mayrhofen as a town but it’s my least favourite ski area in the Zillertal and does get really busy. Kaltenbach would be my first choice, then Zell am Ziller.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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From Innsbruck you should also look at Ischgl and Sefaus/Fiss/Ladis. Wherever you choose I’d recommend Christmas week in preference to New Year. Cheaper, much quieter and generally a more happy, laid back vibe.
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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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Thanks - decided to plump for Christmas week and should be quieter and cheaper. Have booked the Innsbruck flights. In slower time we book the accommodation.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Valkyrie, you posted while I was typing 
Will look at those areas. The others we have been to and I was reasonably confident about them for early season.
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@NickyJ, Ischgl has the benefit of being high and very snow sure (though as noted for Obergurgl this can mean storms in mid winter), personally I dont like the village at all, far too brash so not good for Christmas (this is not an opinion shared by all, some folk love the place). Serfaus is pretty high, though again maybe more prone to bad weather mid winter, it deliberately does not score highly on the lively apres front which might (or might not) be an attraction. Apres ski bars are hardly flavour of the month at the moment!
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I've previously been to Obergurgl and Ischgl for Christmas. Family trips in both years.
Related to Christmas atmosphere, Obergurgl had none whatsoever. Small village with mostly half board hotels. Ischgl felt more festive. Except a drink at Kuhstal on our way back, we didn't go the famous Apres Ski joints near the gondolas.
Altitude related, in proper winter weather we had whiteouts and strong winds, with serious ski limitations. In Obergurgl we took the skibus to Solden, in Ischgl we could only ski down to the village.
They are snowsure for Christmas but it comes with a price, as @munich_irish mentioned.
When this nightmare will finally end, I plan to go to Serfauss/Tignes le Lac for Christmas
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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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After the last few seasons when we've been at New Year to Arlberg on a few occasions, we've now decided its a no-go for us from now on at NY, mad busy and not always a pleasurable experience - lift queues/ crowded bars and restaurants/ crowded pistes/ crazy fast out of control folks everywhere (slight over-generalisation but ceases to be enjoyable when you have to spend more time looking backwards rather than forwards imo). We now go 2 weeks later when its more enjoyable due to most of the above not being applicable.
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Hi @NickyJ, I would avoid Mayrhofen from 31st onwards if you can (although the 1st tends to be quiet until after lunch), then Russians arrive for their break and it’s very busy for the next few days. Zell tends to be fine most of the time. At Christmas the only really busy day we found was the 26th as a lot of day trippers go skiing from INN and Munich. Avoid Kaltenbach on this day, it seems to suffer from the day trippers.
Also don’t travel on Saturday after Christmas or after NY. Sunday transfers only!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Bennyboy1, we have booked Saturday to Saturday? I was planning on hire car or Alps2Alps. Will I have issues with accommodation? I went to Maryhofen sat - sat last Easter holidays, so assumed we would be fine.
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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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@NickyJ, I only say that as the queues into the valley on a Saturday can be very long on the roads. If you decide not to take a hire car then train is nice.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Fri 20-03-20 10:31; edited 1 time in total
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We are booked for Christmas week so hopefully that will be better with respect to traffic?
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You know it makes sense.
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Yes should be better. We plan to go before Christmas and leave on 27th I think.
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