Hatching a plan to meet BiL and family coming from Vienna as Tyrol is about equidistant. Recommendations of places to stay? Things not to miss? Ideally we will mainly be outside biking / hiking with the kids if the weather allows
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Depends on what you want as there is a big choice. Kitzbühel is actually a nice place when not over run with sekt drinking types, not really big mountains but plenty of hiking & biking routes. It is also easy to get to with a train station in the middle of town. The Zillertal has a range of options, with some big mountains (by the standards of the eastern Alps) on the border ridge at the end of the valleys to the south of Mayrhofen. If you want a more remote spot I like Vent down the end of the Ötztal, it is a real mountain village (though not much there if the weather is poor). Lots of other places. Most of the huts close at the end of September so not many high up lunch spots. I suspect if it is a half term week in Austria or Southern Germany finding accommodation might not be so easy. You might also think about the Südtirol, the weather is often better, especially in autumn as little chance of thunderstorms, some really stunning scenery and I believe you like wine of which there is plenty.
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?
Thermal Spas for sure like Aqua Dome in Langenfeld. The Solden ski will be closed in Oct, but there are also bike routes you could use if there is no snow already. Bike parks will be closed in Oct.
Tauern Spa near Kaprun, check if ski area open.
Stubai is very nice skiing end of Oct, especially if lucky with a snowfall.
Are you and the BIL both driving or are you traveling by plane/train?
Thanks for the ideas. We’ll be driving and will have the dog so not planning on skiing
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BobinCH wrote:
Thanks for the ideas. We’ll be driving and will have the dog so not planning on skiing
The weather can be miserable at that time of year in Austria, I'd be inclined to meet at a more Southern location. (e.g. Venice, Florenz, Lake Garda).
After all it is free
After all it is free
DB wrote:
The weather can be miserable at that time of year in Austria
It can also be really hot. What is certain, is that it’s totally impossible to say
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Scarlet wrote:
DB wrote:
The weather can be miserable at that time of year in Austria
It can also be really hot. What is certain, is that it’s totally impossible to say
Even last year which was pretty warm well into October was very cold end of Oct/early Nov. Can remember going out on a bike ride in early Nov 2020 and the car windscreens being frozen in the morning - and that was at an elevation of approx. 350m.
Let's cut to the chase - I'll bet you on a major town of your choice in Austria vs Lake Garda, based on the max. daily temp on my birthday (31 Oct / Halloween).
The prize is a can of Irn Bru and a packet of crumpets* (to be paid by the loser)
* Subject to availability from Bobby's food store in Vienna, if not available the winner can have "sommert else".
https://bobbysfoodstore.at/#home
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@DB, haha! Italy is hotter, no question, but Austria won’t necessarily be cold. Tirol was hot and sunny in October 2018 and 2019, but 2020 was miserable and cold, though the skiing was ok. Last November it then warmed up again, and people were less bothered that the lifts were closed because the new snow had melted anyway. That changed in Dec obvs. After a summer of unstable weather, who knows? Maybe @BobinCH can hatch a plan and finalise it a bit closer to the time when he has a idea of the forecast.
Or just go to Italy
P.S. Arco is nicer than Garda.
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DB wrote:
Even last year which was pretty warm well into October was very cold end of Oct/early Nov. Can remember going out on a bike ride in early Nov 2020 and the car windscreens being frozen in the morning - and that was at an elevation of approx. 350m.
They’re Scots. Will probably think that’s balmy
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.
@BobinCH, yes it is a very pleasant part of the world. Sölden itself is not a particularly nice place but it is only a very small part of the valley. There is a wealth of walking and biking available. October is often glorious weather (so called "Kaiserwetter", clear blue skies with distant views), the heat of summer has gone making it more pleasant for walking. A misty morning with the autumnal colours can be magical. Of course being in the mountains it could pour with rain all week! Do bear in mind that it is a long valley, it can be a slow drive from the autobahn to Vent or Obergurgl so that might impact on arrival / departure logistics.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@BobinCH, will you have bikes with you?
I believe most lifts/bikeparks will be closed by then (Saalbach has a few open til 17th Oct), so you’d probably need to look for places with legal singletrack to ride and self-pedal. Nauders/Reschenpass, Fiss/Serfaus, Kitzbühel and Sölden are probably your best options, unless you pop over the Brenner to the Dolomites or Garda. Some options around Innsbruck too, but the above have more variety.
Weather could really be anything from glorious clear stable Autumn weather to 50cms of snow to the valley… if the later looks likely try to bring/rent touring kit and I’ll show you some spots
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
ed48 wrote:
Thermal Spas for sure like Aqua Dome in Langenfeld. The Solden ski will be closed in Oct, but there are also bike routes you could use if there is no snow already. Bike parks will be closed in Oct.
Tauern Spa near Kaprun, check if ski area open.
Stubai is very nice skiing end of Oct, especially if lucky with a snowfall.
Solden glacier - one of them anyway - is now open. One T bar and a gondola. Blue runs and a sketchy black. The webcam is interesting
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
munich_irish wrote:
@BobinCH, yes it is a very pleasant part of the world. Sölden itself is not a particularly nice place but it is only a very small part of the valley. There is a wealth of walking and biking available. October is often glorious weather (so called "Kaiserwetter", clear blue skies with distant views), the heat of summer has gone making it more pleasant for walking. A misty morning with the autumnal colours can be magical. Of course being in the mountains it could pour with rain all week! Do bear in mind that it is a long valley, it can be a slow drive from the autobahn to Vent or Obergurgl so that might impact on arrival / departure logistics.
It's a lovely drive - apart from though Solden which is a bit of a pit really... about 45 mins from the motorway to Obergurgl on a good day. Fascinating putting O level geography to ex-glacial valleys, the big lump of morraine the road climbs over and all
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?
This one looks good nr Habichen? Location any good?
@BobinCH, I would say that is a good spot simply as it makes logistics easier. I have only driven through Öetz so cant make any comments on the village itself, though it does seem a nice enough spot (better than Sölden). There are plenty of nice mountains around locally, up to the 2900m - 3000m mark which is high for the eastern alps. @clarky999, & @scarlet would have better knowledge of the local bike riding possibilities. Day trips down to the end of the valley would be easy enough. If the weather is miserable getting to Innsbruck or wherever is easy, regular trains from the station not too far away. Some of the lifts run until the end of October, maybe weekend only.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
munich_irish wrote:
@BobinCH, I would say that is a good spot simply as it makes logistics easier. I have only driven through Öetz so cant make any comments on the village itself, though it does seem a nice enough spot (better than Sölden). There are plenty of nice mountains around locally, up to the 2900m - 3000m mark which is high for the eastern alps. @clarky999, & @scarlet would have better knowledge of the local bike riding possibilities. Day trips down to the end of the valley would be easy enough. If the weather is miserable getting to Innsbruck or wherever is easy, regular trains from the station not too far away. Some of the lifts run until the end of October, maybe weekend only.
+1; like you have only driven through Oetz (have wondered what it's skiing is like, high up reached by one gondola). Looks way nicer than Solden, which lacks any class. The drive to Obergurgl is well worth taking on a nice day
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We have stayed in Langenfeld and can recommend it, 20 mins from Solden & Oetz. Nice small town with activity other than Skiing, very convenient for the Aqua Dome too which is highly recommended.
Also attending the FIS race a few years ago up on the glacier, was really fun experience. Especially the atmosphere in Solden in the afternoons/evenings around the race.
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@BobinCH, I wouldn't stay in Telfs. There are much nicer places around.
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Scarlet wrote:
@BobinCH, I wouldn't stay in Telfs. There are much nicer places around.
Need something for 8 plus a dog around 250 per night. Any other ideas?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@BobinCH, Have you got any other options? Where are you looking (websites)?
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.
Scarlet wrote:
@BobinCH, Have you got any other options? Where are you looking (websites)?
Using airbnb searching on Tyrol, 4 adults, 4 kids + dog
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
so the 289CHF? nicely a little way up the Oztal valley. Looks like Umhausen
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Purely based on location but no idea about the properties I would be inclined to go for the Mittenwald one (Mittenwalder Hohenweg is a great easy via Ferrata if the lift is running, lots of walks into the nearby limestone mountain scenery ) or the one near Ehrwald.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
buchanan101 wrote:
so the 289CHF? nicely a little way up the Oztal valley. Looks like Umhausen
When you zoom in the search pulls out more properties. Alas the 289chf has no reviews - we avoid those
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@munich_irish, I would agree. If you have bikes then a ride up Karwendeltal to Karwendelhaus is really worthwhile. Fantastic scenery. Plus a walk in the Dammkar to/from the Karwendelbahn is interesting, so I'm told (have only done it on skis). Besides, Mittenwald is a nice place!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
munich_irish wrote:
Purely based on location but no idea about the properties I would be inclined to go for the Mittenwald one (Mittenwalder Hohenweg is a great easy via Ferrata if the lift is running, lots of walks into the nearby limestone mountain scenery ) or the one near Ehrwald.
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?
@BobinCH, sure you may already have done so, but possibly worth checking out Vrbo also? I've booked an apartment in Morzine for long weekend in March via Vrbo and the identical apartment via Airbnb was c.£200 more expensive.
Ended up in Telfs as it was not so easy to find places taking dogs. And weather looks good at least Sat - Mon. Seems this bike park is open. Any other suggestion for active families with kids (9-12)? We’ll have transport. Thanks in advance.
If you have climbers, Telfs isn't far from Ehnbachklamm and Martinswand (sport climbing) or I think there's a climbing centre in Telfs, or the KI in Innsbruck.
I know of a hut near Leutasch that does a very good kaiserschmarrn. It takes an energetic hike to get there, or you can ride bikes: http://www.wettersteinhuette.at/
If you go to the bike park at Mutters, the restaurant at the top of the bubble is very good (Mutterer Alm), and it's also worth walking/biking 10min up to the Panoramasee just above.
@Scarlet, thanks! Seems the Area 47 closed for winter at start of October but climbing will definitely be a hit.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@BobinCH, Ah ok, good to know. Ehnbachklamm is the nicer place, though more of a walk in. Take a picnic and have a paddle in the stream if the weather's nice! I can lend you a guide book if you want.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Scarlet wrote:
@BobinCH, Ah ok, good to know. Ehnbachklamm is the nicer place, though more of a walk in. Take a picnic and have a paddle in the stream if the weather's nice! I can lend you a guide book if you want.
Perfect. Kids doing climbing camp this week and BiL is quite proficient so will definitely give that a shot.
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BobinCH wrote:
Ended up in Telfs as it was not so easy to find places taking dogs. And weather looks good at least Sat - Mon. Seems this bike park is open. Any other suggestion for active families with kids (9-12)? We’ll have transport. Thanks in advance.
Yep, that's Bikpeark Innsbruck and I think the last still open. There are some fun trails, but coming from Verbier manage your expectations because it's definitely not on the same level as places like Sölden or Saalbach. The blue 'Chainless One' trail is pure flow, but my favourite is the (red) First One which has some nice rougher sections too. By far the toughest are the trails down to Götzens - these are a 5 min pedal across from the top of the lift, but more annoyingly around a 30 minute pedal back (along the main road) as the lift isn't running this summer. There are some pretty damn rowdy sections ((and a lot of stuff I have to walk) though, and it's where the Crankworx DH race was held the first year it was in Innsbruck.
Will you have bikes with you, or renting? You should be able to rent either from the main Die Boerse shop in town, or their outpost at the bikepark. But it would be worth calling (not email, as they can be a bit slow) to reserve as I don't know how many rental bikes they have.
If you feel like pedalling something too, the Arzler Alm Trail (on the Nordkette mountains right over the city) is really fun, tbh probably better than anything in the bikepark. It's around 500m vert from the city, so should be doable by the kids too, and there's a nice hut for food/drinks 2 mins away from the start.
If you have your own bikes, I think you can still ride the natural trails ((dotted lines) in Sölden (which is I guess an hour drive from Telfs) even though the bikepark is closed: https://bikerepublic.soelden.com/natural-trails
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