Poster: A snowHead
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Hello
We are heading to Obergurgl on our first family ski trip in a few weeks. I have read the runs are better in Hochgurgl and it gets more sun. So I am not sure wether I should put the children in the Hochgurgl ski school. But we are staying very close to the Obergurgl ski school meeting point. Also not sure wether I would be able to ski Hochgurgl and get back to Obergurgl for the children at lunch time. Really not sure what to do for the best! Any advice would be extremely welcome. 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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If you're staying in Obergurgl, I'd suggest just putting your kids in ski school in Obergurgl. You'd need to get a bus then lift up to Hochgurgl, which would be a pain and you might struggle to make the meeting time in the morning. (You'd never make it using the Top Express lift.)
It's definitely possible to ski the morning in Hochgurgl and get back. The Top Express isn't the fastest lift, but I've done it in the past. Is ski school definitely only the morning? My daughter's lessons in Austria, Obergurgl included, were all day.
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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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Thank you for replying!
Yes the lessons are all day. I thought if Hochgurgl was a better mountain to ski that perhaps that would be the best ski school option.
How did your daughter find the lessons?
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@REM1, I'd agree that it makes more sense to use the Obergurgl ski school and there's plenty of good runs there. I've been there a few times for off piste weeks and the group I was with used the ski school. They were excellent. Do you know what time the lessons start and finish and what time the lunch break is? Sometimes it can be 10-12 followed by lunch and then 2-4 in the afternoon. That wouldn't allow you much time to get over to Hoch & back as the link between the two is a "horizontal" gondola that takes 12 minutes each way + any queue and boarding time. Depending on what level the children are at, the instructor may well take them over to Hoch as part of the lesson, so you could possibly meet them there for lunch.
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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 lessons are the same time at both Hochgurgl and Obergurgl 10-12, lunch, then 2-4. Thanks for the advice. I think if we want to ski in Hochgurgl we should base them there. As we will struggle to get back across to Obergurgl - and won’t get much skiing done! The reviews and videos i’ve watched online suggest Hochgurgl is better than Obergurgl. This is my third trip and the children’s first.
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We are only skiing for three days, so really want to get it right!
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Getting the kids over to Hochgurgl for 10 would be a total pita
Getting back could also involve a lot of hanging about.
As they are beginners Top Express lift is not an option for them.
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They have done three ski courses at an indoor slope but never been on real snow. Consensus so far is Obergurgl!
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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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As it's your children's first trip, I'd definitely base them in Obergurgl. You are near to the ski school meeting point, so less faff & stress in the morning. Will you also be having lessons?
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No, no lessons for us. I think perhaps we are being selfish and it would be easier on the children to be in ski school at Obergurgl.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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As the kids are beginners, Obergurgl makes more sense to me. I've been lots of times when my son was in ski school. There are two beginners areas the ski school use, one near the Hotel Hochfirst, the other nearer the Edelweiss off the main ski area. After that they go on to the main ski area.
The entire area isn't big and it was possible for me to ski to Hochgurgl and back in the 2hr window to collect him. Doing it that way does waste a bit of time on the top express but it gives your legs a rest. It will take a few visits over to complete all the runs in Hochgurgl doing it that way. You won't be able to do all the runs and back again in 2 hrs unless you ski like a downhill racer !
There are good runs in both resorts and if it's bad visibility it's probably better in Obergurgl because Hochgurgl is like skiing on the moon in whiteout conditions (except for run 25 down to the valley which is great)
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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 for the reply. We are staying in apartments right next to the Edelweiss.
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REM1 wrote: |
Thanks for the reply. We are staying in apartments right next to the Edelweiss. |
That's the best location in town, we have stayed in the Edelweiss quite a few times, it's right next to the two main lifts. It's also close to the beginners area which they use for the first day or two of classes (depending how quick classes progress)
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You know it makes sense.
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I would suggest Obergurgl school and just ski there and get across to Hochgurgl for some skiing if you really wanted. With the 12 min Top Gondola each way, plus skiing back down to Obergurgl school meeting point, it still leaves you about 1h 10 mins to ski Hochgurl if they are doing 10 to 12pm. You could do quite a few runs in that time. It's enough to get up to the Schermer gondola and down, then up to the 3,000m+ bar via Wurmkogl I+II lift and down back to the Top Gondola. Possibly enough time to ski back down to the Hochgurgl school meet point and get a chairlift back up and nip back to the Top Gondola to get back to Obergurgl.
Depending on how fast you ski, it could be anything from 5mins to 15 mins to ski down from Wurmkogl I lift back to the Top gondola. I'm a solid Intermediate, nearing Advanced and I could do it in 5:20 if I don't stop. 7mins is a comfortable time for me with a couple of short stops. It's a 2.4km long slope back to Top gondola, if you do small to medium turns. My sis, nervous and slow and steady, almost like an improving beginner is 15 mins with several stops along the way.
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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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Thanks for everyone’s advice. I really appreciate it. This is my first time organising a ski trip and it’s very overwhelming. Hopefully everyone will have a great time and it will be the first of many snow adventures!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@REM1, hello! Just jumping on this thread because we are thinking of booking a family ski holiday in obergurl (with three young beginning kids). How did it go?! Did you have a good holiday? Any tips? I’d also be really interested too what apartment you stayed in. Thank you!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hello
The transfer was good, we hired a car. And we stopped at the aqua dome on the way to swim and use the spa pools.
We had a really good time especially the children. I opted to book them into the ski school in Hochgurgl and that was a good choice. They skied all of the mountain and the ski instructor dropped them to us at a ski hut for lunch! I’ve posted a link to the apartment. It was great - just one minutes walk to the ski lift. And as it was owned by a hotel we left the skis in their locker room. There was also an option to use their pool and breakfast etc.
The negatives - it is a fairly steep resort. But the children loved it and progressed quickly. Also it is very quiet in the evening. The best apres bar is on the mountain (Neiderhutte - massive recommend).
We went in the second week of December for four nights - three days skiing. And the children had an instructor to themselves as it was so quiet.
Hope this helps you make the right decision for your family. Happy to help - i’ve had so much help from others!
https://www.gletscherblick-gurgl.com/en
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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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Thank you, this is so helpful! These are exactly the apartments we are looking at, although we seem to have to book Saturday to Saturday. Did you have nice views?
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A view of the mountains - we were in apartment 10. We even saw some goats. I’ve got a photo, i’ll see if I can post it for you …
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Booking.com let’s you book less than a week!
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This is brilliant, thank you!
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Really good ski schools. We’ve used them on and off for years.
My breakthrough in 1999 when in group lessons a great instructor took me up a couple of levels.
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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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That’s great to hear! We’ve just booked for a week, and will be putting all 5 kids into lessons. Do you have any particular recommendations? Thank you!
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Familyskier2025 wrote: |
That’s great to hear! We’ve just booked for a week, and will be putting all 5 kids into lessons. Do you have any particular recommendations? Thank you! |
You’ll probably be fine with either school and any instructor. All fluent English speakers, always helps!
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