Hi, We've been skiing many times as just a couple (Chamonix, Morzine, Avoriaz usually) but next year we're going for the first time with our daughter who will be 3 and a half.
Would be really grateful for some advice on snowsure family friendly resorts.
I've found flights to Geneva and Innsbruck so at the moment have the option of either and dates are pretty flexible for February/early March but we need to decide on dates soon for work so last minute won't work for us. Would Innsbruck give us a shorter transfer time to higher resorts?
Thanks in advance
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Don't go to France in the French school holidays which are from early Feb to early March.. Second week of March OK! You won't need a high altitude resort in early March.
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?
@SPeters826
You'll have fasching in Austria early Feb. Not actually been then myself, but could be busy...?
@SPeters826, If Innsbruck, the Dolomites resorts are in easy reach, they appeal to many with beautiful scenery, plentiful & reliable piste skiing and a mix of Germanic and Italian culture & food. Serfaus / Fiss is not well known in the UK but has a big focus on children probably an ideal spot to take a young one for their first ski trip, recent reports have suggested it has got expensive (not alone in that). More traditionally "Austrian" maybe the Zillertal with a number of areas along the valley. If the focus is solely on your daughter then maybe look at Seefeld, very easy transfer from the airport though not a huge amount of skiing but more than enough for a 3 year old, not the highest spot though. February / early March is high season so snow should not be a concern, crowds maybe though less concentrated in Austria than in France due to the spread of visitors from different countries.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Innsbruck is my first choice as an airport, quite small, low people numbers, very fast from touchdown to out the door. I only go in non school holiday weeks so can't vouch for those weeks.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis often comes up as a recommendation for Austrian family ski holiday, so that could be worthwhile.
As @munich_irish says, Zillertal, but if i were you, I'd focus my stay in somewhere no Mayrhofen, you'll find more suitable beginner slopes in Zell am ziller/Gerlos or Kaltenbach/Hochfügen
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thank you for the responses, we do plan to travel out of school holidays but I didn’t quite realise the French ones lasted so long so thank you for pointing that out. We will go with first week of Feb or second week of March. We have flown into Innsbruck before but not for a ski trip and that’s why I was drawn to that airport over the bigger Geneva to makes things quick and easy.
Will have a good look at those resorts mentioned Austrian resorts are completely new to us so wanted to be sure we made the right decision. Dolomites also looks beautiful! We are focused on our daughter but we also plan to go and do a few bigger runs too.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Innsbruck can be pretty grim to fly into over the winter if the weather is poor, last time we flew in there we had a 15 hour delay and the last time friends flew in there they had a 12 hour delay.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
swskier wrote:
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis often comes up as a recommendation for Austrian family ski holiday, so that could be worthwhile.
As @munich_irish says, Zillertal, but if i were you, I'd focus my stay in somewhere no Mayrhofen, you'll find more suitable beginner slopes in Zell am ziller/Gerlos or Kaltenbach/Hochfügen
This….particularly Zell am Ziller/Gerlos.
Short transfers and, although Innsbruck can occasionally become weather affected, it wouldn’t put me off (and clearly doesn’t bother the vast numbers of ski tourists and TOs that fly in/out all Winter). I had a flight diverted to Salzburg once which created a bit of a schlepp to the Dolomites….but I did get to chat to Steve Redgrave….who was in the same boat….so to speak
Fasching is late Feb/early March next year (it was mentioned as a precaution to avoid but I wouldn’t be overly worried). The second week in Feb, next year, also coincides with quite a few of the Austrian State school holidays….that can have an impact on how busy things are.
I’m also a great fan of Austrian resorts for their atmosphere and short transfers.
You might consider Hochoetz if you are travelling a bit later in March, as the snow is good and they run Happy Family weeks where your child gets 5 days free child care!
https://www.oetz.com/winter/widiversum-hochoetz/happy-family-weeks.html
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Origen wrote:
You won't need a high altitude resort in early March.
You clearly didn’t ski this season making predictions like that
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.
Well all bets are off in a season like the last one!
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
Origen wrote:
Well all bets are off in a season like the last one!
Not convinced it will be a one off…
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
No,
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
BobinCH wrote:
Origen wrote:
You won't need a high altitude resort in early March.
You clearly didn’t ski this season making predictions like that
Or in France after the school holidays, as the resorts were still pretty full.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
All over was full, by the sound of it. Also fuller than usual at Christmas. If people can avoid school hold my advice would be to wait, plan to drive ( thus flexible) and identify destination when clearer about snow conditions. If advance planning means ruling out all but the highest and most snowsure destinations it means ruling out lots of great options.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
Innsbruck can be pretty grim to fly into over the winter if the weather is poor
Fair point. We've been diverted to Munich on 2 out of 5 winter flights into Innsbruck over the years. Both diversions were in January.
But if you do manage to fly into Innsbruck, the mountain views are fantastic in clear weather.
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?
Some really useful info and places for me to look into and thanks for pointing out the possible issues flying into Innsbruck so will take that into account. We had a trip booked to Chamonix last month which we ended up having to cancel last minute (Nothing to do with the destination or snow etc) but really missed it this year so determined to get something planned, Thank you everyone and for the welcome
Thank you didn’t think of doing Salzburg will check out what flights are available and Serfaus looks a good option too
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
turms2 wrote:
if you can afford it, i cannot think a better place for a 3,5 y. kid as Serfaus Fiss Ladis
Or maybe Zauchensee
Zauchensee isn’t a bad option - a bit higher and good snow record. The central ski hire and lift station building also has (I hopefully recall accurately) a fun looking kids club.
The resort doesn’t quite have that typical Austrian “village/town” feel, but it’s pleasant enough. If getting that vibe is important, Altenmarkt is just down the road.
After all it is free
After all it is free
i think Zauchensee is probalby the best Ski area in Salzburg area, at least for me.
If someone cann aford the expensive hotels.
And as mentioned there is not a village/town at all. Only a few hotels (3* 4* and higher) and a couple appartments i think.
But it is mostly ski in ski out, and the kids club is also nice. If you can book in Zauchenseehof (Family Hotel with own kids club/programm) your daughter will love the whole thing
Same for Serfaus Fiss Ladis. Ski Schools and the whole package for kids (Berta Club, Murmli Club etc) is at another lever plus some extra things for kids (slopes etc) and many family friendly hotels
However both of them really expensive
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Austrian resorts are completely new to us so wanted to be sure we made the right decision. Dolomites also looks beautiful! We are focused on our daughter but we also plan to go and do a few bigger runs too.
