 Poster: A snowHead
|
Food and beverage prices in the ski resorts of the Salzburgerland have increased by about 60% in the last 10 years.
The increase is almost twice as large as the inflation rate in the same period. This is according to research by the Arbeiterkammer Salzburg, an interest group of employees in Salzburg. The price increase is generally greatest in ski resorts with many kilometres of pistes.
Restaurants on the slopes
The study was carried out in 192 huts and restaurants in 23 different ski resorts, all of which are located directly on the slopes. In each case, 24 products were examined, of which 11 were drinks and 13 meals, including 5 children's dishes/drinks. The results were compared with the same study from 2014.
On average, prices in piste restaurants rose by 59.2%, while the consumer price index (an indicator of inflation) rose by only 33.5% over the same period.
Big risers
Beverages have risen about 49% in price over the past decade. Some examples of increases:
Schiwasser: +63%
Beer: +46 to +51%
Cola: +47%
In a third of the piste restaurants, money was charged for tap water, with an average price of 1.06 euros for 0.25 litres.
Food (including children's meals) has risen even more in price than drinks since 2014 by 63%. For example:
Apple strudel: +75%
Spaghetti Bolognese: +69%
Frankfurter with bread: +70%
Major differences
However, there are major differences between the ski resorts. For example, in Obertauern, one of the more expensive destinations at all, half a liter of beer (converted) costs €8.50, while in Werfenweng you pay €4.50. Frankfurter with bread costs €4.50 in Mühlbach am Hochkönig, while €9.60 was paid in Saalbach.
Regionally, the smallest price increases are in the regions of Lungau and Tennengau. This includes areas such as Grosseck Speiereck, Katschberg and Dachstein-West. The Pinzgau region, on the other hand, is more expensive than the average. These include: Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn, Zell am See and Kaprun. Furthermore, it has been found that the larger the ski area, the higher the prices are.
Here is the complete overview of the products under review
https://sbg.arbeiterkammer.at/service/presse/AK-Erhebung-zeigt-gewaltige-Preissteigerungen-in-Salzburg.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I was recently skied in Zell am See, Leogang, Saalback, Dorfgastein and Maria Alm and I thought that prices on the mountain were extremely reasonable, soup and a beer typically Euro 13-15 and hot chocolate around Euro 5. Last year in the 3 Valleys I couldn't find a lunch on the mountain for less than Euro 30, mainly because mountain restos don't seem to offer a sensibly priced Plat du Jour.
However I did note that my Superskicard costs exactly the same as a 3Vs pass.
Half Board 4* Hotel accommodation was extremely reasonably priced, as were beers in Zell.
TBH it will take a lot to persuade me to go back to France.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
But is anyone trying to persuade you, @DavidYacht?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| DavidYacht wrote: |
TBH it will take a lot to persuade me to go back to France. |
I'll double down on that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
No surprises. Same, same in the Arlberg.
I have a poor memory for prices, but this year it felt that prices have substantially increased from even last year. In some cases, prices went up, while quantity and quality went down. Case in point: the signature dish at S1 Lounge in Salober jumped to €18, but instead of a full wooden bowl, they inserted another bowl inside it, they deleted the side salad, the pasta was watery, and cheese was not right. A sausage & mash €17.
Season pass up 50% in 2 years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
0.5l now 0.4l in a number of places. I definitely noticed higher prices in Amade over the past month; a couple of euros on a main, a euro on soup
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Baron von chippy wrote: |
| DavidYacht wrote: |
TBH it will take a lot to persuade me to go back to France. |
I'll double down on that. |
I'll triple down on that (Zell in 2 weeks) although I'm lying as I've been forced to go to Tignes end of March (will report back on insipid pizza slice rates and other french calamities) 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
will report back on insipid pizza slice rates and other french calamities
|
So, going with an open mind then? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Origen, Have 'done' France historically many many times (although first timer to Tignes so will have an open'ish' mind). . . . whilst it can be tops for skiing itself everything else is a poor in comparison to Austria / Switzerland IMO - this includes people / vibe / accom / pricing / ski shops / tuition / lifts / lift ques / general traditional 'alpiness' . . . .also much prefer Jaegertee to Vin Chaude all day long . . .and Hammerschlagen over ridiculous disco dancing to monotonous europop at the Folie 'I'm waay to old to be here but no-one will know if I keep my face mask on' Douce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I am very tight - but I appear to have "assimilated" ski resort prices - this year in Valmeneir/Valloire a sandwich was 7-8 euros and drink 5 euros - been the same price in France for several years now because I remember being appalled when a diet coke was more than 3 euros pre-pandemic but I can't believe I now actually think its ok for pay over £7 for a cheese and ham baguette. The main problem was that very few restaurants offer a sandwich option, so I just had soup a few times - I really don't want a "meal" at lunchtime.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Is this symptomatic of sky high inflation in the Alps generally, especially since 2020?
The hotel we love near Schladming increases its tariffs each winter by exactly 20%. It has high occupancy from mid December to March. This isn’t the old adage of “well, they have to make their year’s income in 4 months”, as they have a bumper June to September season too.
My guess is that anyone with money is now optimising their skiing and travel post pandemic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
My guess is that anyone with money is now optimising their skiing and travel post pandemic
|
Yes. Post pandemic and pre-catastrophic global warming! People want these services and can and will pay for them. It's a commercial business and there's a reasonably competitive market.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm in agreement with several others above, I stopped going to France in favour of Austria or Italy a few years ago for the many reasons already presented above. In the main, the people and food are generally more pleasant.
Of course, there will be the odd nice froggy, it would be rude to say they are all vile.... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Snow&skifan wrote: |
…
The hotel we love near Schladming increases its tariffs each winter by exactly 20%. It has high occupancy from mid December to March. This isn’t the old adage of “well, they have to make their year’s income in 4 months”, as they have a bumper June to September season too.
|
Why would you not do that if you continue to run high occupancy? You own a business to make money. Customers may hate it, but there it is.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
It would be good if lots of people decide not to go to French resorts because they seem to have been too crowded so far this season. If they became a bit less popular, and the resorts and businesses have to work a bit harder to offer VFM, that would be good for customers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
You pays your money, you takes your choice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
So people say, and it seems obvious, but I'm never very sure what they mean. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
The 3 Valleys is not representative of French ski resort prices as a whole.
Plat du jour widely available for €14 in many French resorts I was at last week (Courchevel being the main exception, though Sainte Foy was also a bit pricey). Other main courses generally in the €11-€20 range.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I’m not a European so I may have this wrong but I don’t understand how people generalise France. I’ve just been in Briancon and the prices of food and beverage are quite a bit cheaper than the prices of similar food and drink prices in Les Arcs/Tignes last winter. The accommodation prices are much cheaper too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
I’m not a European so I may have this wrong but I don’t understand how people generalise France.
|
No, you've not got it wrong. It's like somebody sitting at a café beside the Grand Canal in Venice and complaining that drinks in Italy are expensive. France has well over 300 ski resorts and I find that the more of them people have visited, the less inclined they are to generalise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| sbooker wrote: |
| I’m not a European so I may have this wrong but I don’t understand how people generalise France. I’ve just been in Briancon and the prices of food and beverage are quite a bit cheaper than the prices of similar food and drink prices in Les Arcs/Tignes last winter. The accommodation prices are much cheaper too. |
In my experience, Serre Che (not exactly a small ski area) was nowhere near as expensive as some of the other French “mega” resorts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As a Salzburg resident I'd say that prices were held lower than inflation for the first couple of seasons after Covid to get people coming back to the mountains. We then saw an above inflation rise from '23 onwards as higher energy and labour costs caught up. It is interesting that Austria struggles as much as other European countries in getting folks to do lower paid jobs that support the tourist industry (in part due to a push back on immigration), especially hospitality staff, drivers, lift operators and even ski instructors in the peak weeks. We stopped taking bookings for Fasching week in mid Jan! Overall I think the prices are still relatively good value for your holiday expenditure and menu of the day is routinely in the €15-17 bracket. Beer in the village still way less than London prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@RedandWhiteFlachau, spot on. Just over the border in OO, there’s been only a marginal increase in eating/drinking prices on the mountain, much as there has been pretty much everywhere here. The biggest impact was the end of the negotiated period of electricity for the lift company in 2022/23. The 2023/24 ski pass prices were hiked quite a bit, as a consequence.
Just about everywhere in these parts are experiencing a fairly severe shortage of workers in hospitality. And it’s not just the tourist industry feeling the strain. Was chatting to one of the local Krankenhaus doctors the other day and he reckoned their low staffing levels, across the hospital, were creating some severe stresses and they weren’t at all looking forward to the peak school holiday skiing weeks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| sbooker wrote: |
| I’m not a European so I may have this wrong but I don’t understand how people generalise France. I’ve just been in Briancon and the prices of food and beverage are quite a bit cheaper than the prices of similar food and drink prices in Les Arcs/Tignes last winter. The accommodation prices are much cheaper too. |
Most of the 'generalisation' from my perspective is based on fact/experience but also outlook and preference - in reality there's nothing wrong with France (the skiing can be fantastic and the country is stunning) and as you state I'm sure some resorts can be more cost effective than others. Centuries of war may have something to do with our jovial disdain of our closest cousins however for me 'laissez faire' (which I'm normally cool with anywhere else in France) and skiing don't go hand in hand . . .this and getting the feeling of being ripped off up the mountain for a measly slice of pizza / bread and cheese when others have more realistic pricing policies . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I've never understood why schiwasser seemed so expensive prior to any price rises. Isn't most of it tap water?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Hilarious how an OP post about large increases in mountain food and drink prices in some parts of Austria so quickly descends into a series of comments about "French mega-resorts".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Layne, it's because the very first reply was this one, which was essentially along the lines of "I visited the most expensive ski area in France and will therefore generalise about the entire country." Predictably that sparked more discussion than the opening post.
| DavidYacht wrote: |
I was recently skied in Zell am See, Leogang, Saalback, Dorfgastein and Maria Alm and I thought that prices on the mountain were extremely reasonable, soup and a beer typically Euro 13-15 and hot chocolate around Euro 5. Last year in the 3 Valleys I couldn't find a lunch on the mountain for less than Euro 30, mainly because mountain restos don't seem to offer a sensibly priced Plat du Jour.
However I did note that my Superskicard costs exactly the same as a 3Vs pass.
Half Board 4* Hotel accommodation was extremely reasonably priced, as were beers in Zell.
TBH it will take a lot to persuade me to go back to France. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Layne, Happy for all Francophiles to continue their love affair - the less Brits in Austria the better for the rest of us!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| hammerite wrote: |
| I've never understood why schiwasser seemed so expensive prior to any price rises. Isn't most of it tap water? |
Yep, although it can be fizzy sometimes. I agree
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Cacciatore,
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Its a discussion!
TBH I suspect that in order to maintain interest in the sport I needed a change, and small Austrian resorts offer the antidote to French mega resorts (or at least the 3Vs). Because of the different food, language, skiing infrastructure and apres the contrast of Austria vs. France may seem more extreme. On my recent trip it was clear that the demographic of those flying into Salzburg were decidedly grey, so I am probably in tune with the zeitgeist, though that didn't seem to get in way of the party.
Other lovely and affordable small French resorts may also be available.
Shall try Italy (as well) next year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@Cacciatore, @holidayloverxx, Ich finde, Wasser aus dem fass mit einem Spritzer Sloe Gin aus einem Flachmann funktioniert genauso gut.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| DavidYacht wrote: |
| Its a discussion! |
The OP was purely about the increase in food and beverage prices Salzburgerland and the major differences in the region of these increases. An unusually interesting post from mad Dutch taxi driver. The discussion on French mega resorts has been done countless times - so I just though it would be nice for a change to stick to the subject. But rock on and discuss French mega resorts... again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| RedandWhiteFlachau wrote: |
| @Cacciatore, @holidayloverxx, Ich finde, Wasser aus dem fass mit einem Spritzer Sloe Gin aus einem Flachmann funktioniert genauso gut. |
Basstscha… 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| RedandWhiteFlachau wrote: |
| @Cacciatore, @holidayloverxx, Ich finde, Wasser aus dem fass mit einem Spritzer Sloe Gin aus einem Flachmann funktioniert genauso gut. |
Bleugh
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Just to be clear I have done a bit of skiing in Austria years ago and loved it. Well, I love skiing, so why wouldn't I.
I am not trying to start an Austria bashing session.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
St Anton pikeys probably . . .they're everywhere you know 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
