 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Everybody,
Looking for some advice if anyone can help.
I have booked flights to Salzburg 16th March, returning the 23rd, with my wife and 5year old both of whom are complete beginners. Aim of the trip is to get them both into a ski school so they can learn to ski and so I can solo ski a decent distance and collect them afterwards. I have been to Westendorf before on a lads trip and skied the full Skiwelt and over to Kitzbuhel, so I know it's good if there's snow. Both times I went was on the Hahnenkamm weekend in late January and snow was plentiful.
I have an apartment booked, with free cancellation, in Soll for the week but my worry is that after day 5 where can I ski with my family as it doesn't look like there are too many friendly blue runs to get them skiing on. It suits me fine to tip into Brixen and head to Westendorf or onto Kitzbuhel as I'm comfortable on most slopes.
We'd like to show our son a bit of apres ski, more a crepe and hot chocolate than Jager, Pear Williams and beers, so not a totally quiet place but family suitable.
Questions I am hoping to get a steer on are;
1. Where should we stay in the Skiwelt? If not Soll would Hopfgarten, Brixen Westendorf etc be a better option in the Skiwelt or should we go somewhere else completely.
2. What are the best options for getting to Skiwelt or other resort. We're arriving at 7pm so can't be out too late with a kid.
3. I'm worried about snow cover so any input on that would be helpful.
4. Is half board worth doing or just take our chances in the village?
Thanks,
John
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcome to Snowheads, @LeLanternVert. I can't advise on that area but generally, skiing with folk (of any age) who have been in ski school, the best advice is to stick to runs they have done with their ski instructors. You could also ask the instructors, if that seems likely to be very limiting, for advice. Generally, taking beginners to territory more demanding than they've done in lessons can lead to tantrums and disaster - perhaps more likely with wives than with 5 year olds. 
Once you've decided where to go, don't delay booking ski school.
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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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@LeLanternVert, Welcome to snowheads.
1) Personally I'd go a little higher.
2) taxi
3) See 1)
4) Yees hB works better IMV
Remember that if you want to get them hooked, it should be pleasurable. Tired people (especially children) = grumpy. So easy access to slopes and ski school may work best. Kids like pools in the evening. A smaller ski area means you can meet them for lunch.
Getting them hooked means its all about them, you have to sacrifice in my experiance. I made the sacrifice, and can honestly say that now skiing with my kids is a massive pleasure.
Good luck.
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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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Westendorf ski school is great for little ones so I would probably choose their over Soll. They have a special train to take them up the nursery slope and then magnetic tops for use on the chairlifts. My 5 year old niece made excellent progress with them this Christmas. Hopfgarten and Brixen are the sunnier slopes so more likely to struggle with snow that time of year. The other advantage of Westendorf is you can ski the rest of the ski welt or Kitzbühel and still make it back in time for ski school pick up at 3pm.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I was at Westendorf a year ago, worst winter in the alps for ages. There was enough snow to get around, they were cannoning like crazy. My only problem was I shared the slopes with most of the Netherlands, but I could only take my daughter during half term.
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@LeLanternVert, I think mid March is probably a bit late for SkiWelt. Impossible to predict conditions but it is very low. I would suggest looking at either SkiAmade - various villages but Zauchensee might work well, it is a bit higher and has a good mixture of skiing, or Saalbach - Hinterglemm - lots of skiing both for your family and yourself. Söll has the advantage of a very good toboggan run though might be too grown up for a 5 year old. Brixen is perhaps the best placed village and the beginner area is at the top of the gondola. However it also gets a lot of sun and might not be so good come mid March, village is a bit on the quiet side.
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We went to Zauchensee for the first two years (2 kids 4 and 7, wife learning, and me). Small ski area, but is quite interesting for a good skier. Good ski school and both kids were taught by Michael Walchofer's sister. I used to meet them for lunch, and after day three we would ski down in the evening after hot chocolate (massive progress)
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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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@LeLanternVert, “ Saalbach - Hinterglemm - lots of skiing both for your family and yourself.”
If you would like a copy of my own comprehensive guide to Saalbach and the Ski Circus, PM me. Ski-in ski-out accommodation available during March. Mid-March tends to be one of the best times to ski in my neck of the Alps.
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I would agree with others that Söll is possibly not the best place for beginner adults/kids as the slopes go from flat nursery to trickyish blue with nothing in between plus the main gondola is a bit of a trudge from the town so you'll be waiting for ski buses as it's definitely too far for a 5 year old to walk. I'd look at St Johann in Tirol if I were you, small and family friendly ski area and a very nice progression of slopes to build their confidence. You can easily get a taxi or train to Kitzbuhel or Ellmau yourself if you want to ski further afield, Steinplatte is included on your liftpass. If your flight arrives in late, I'd book a taxi from Salzburg or there's also the option of taking a train. There's a lovely public swimming pool in St Johann with slides etc.for your little one and a heated outdoor pool surrounded by snowy peaks for the adults to just enjoy. Westendorf is lovely too but St Johann is a much bigger town if an adult decides to take a day off from skiing or gets injured there are plenty of shops, cafes etc.to keep them amused for a day and they could take the train to Kitzbuhel for a change of scene.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Plus 1 for Ski Amade, especially with the deals. Look at Radstadt or Altenmarkt as a base, the ski area is perfect for beginners and you can hit Flachau, Zauchensee or Schladming.
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