 Poster: A snowHead
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hello,
I am trying to plan a ski trip for my wife and I and was hoping some people on this chat would be able to point us to a good resort. Due to work schedules, we will most likely be going for a week around Christmas.
- I am mostly looking for an area with somewhat reasonable prices (though I am sure lodging will be more during xmas).
- Looking for a resort big enough that we can cover a decent ski area for over a week.
- Somewhat simple to get to from a major airport. Munich is the easiest to fly into, but Geneva, Milan, and Zurich are all doable. Any tips? Should I take a train to a nearby city and then do a car transfer?
- What should I expect for crowds / lift lines around Christmas?
- Any good websites to find lodging or other tips?
- I know snow is unpredictable, but are usually all lifts open by mid-December?
Two places we were looking at are Kitzbuhel and Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Open to other suggestions or helping us narrow it down.
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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Zillertal/Mayrhofen
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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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@dan8507,
What sort of accommodation ate you looking for?
If you fly to Geneva there are plenty of transfer options either by road (both private and shared buses/taxis) and train - the airport has a station - to the surrounding high, large resorts.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Mon 29-07-24 17:24; edited 1 time in total
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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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@dan8507, I am guessing from your post you are north America based?
Christmas is not that high season but New Year is just about the busiest week of the year (for Austria maybe not so much in France). Christmas is always a bit uncertain with snow so best choose your resort carefully if booking in advance. I would avoid Kitzbühel it is not particularly high and not greatly snow sure. Saalbach has a better reputation not because it is higher but because it has excellent snow making. Zillertal might also be a good option especially if there is a lack of snow there is the glacier (but in which case it everyone else will have the same idea!). Other options to consider (though probably more expensive) are Ischgl & Lech. It might also be worth looking at the Südtirol / Dolomities. Very beautiful, cold dryish climate (hence very good snow making, very large ski area, Habsburg heritage means a mix of cuisines, easy to get to from Munich & Milan. The best places to look for accommodation is the relevant tourist office website eg https://www.saalbach.com/en (they will all have an English option - extremely unlikely to have any issues communicating in English) places like airbnb & booking.com are often not much use. Some places can easily be reached by train but in general you are probably better off hiring a car at the airport (if Milan make sure to get winter tyres, Munich & Zürich all cars come with them)
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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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Agree with @Gored and @munich_irish about Zillertal, and the access to Hintertux. Easy to get to from Munich airport, either using a transfer service like FourSeasons or via the train which requires an S Bahn from the Airport to Munich Ost and then a train to Jenbach which if you time it right is direct, if not you'll need to change at Kufstein. Then at Jenbach jump on the Zillertalbahn and get off at whichever village you decide to stay in.
What sort of accommodation are you looking for? Generally the tourist board has plenty of options:
https://www.zillertal.at/
Mayrhofen is the busiest village in the valley with the most options for eating and drinking, and i'd likely base myself there if I was visiting, albeit the Mayrhofen ski are is probably my least favourite in the valley. However, it's easy enough to get up and down the valley to access all the ski resorts.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sestriere.
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Is Venice Marco Polo airport doable? If so, Arabba, on the Sella Ronda circuit in the spectacular Dolomiti ski area.
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Be aware that at that busy time hotels will tend to insist on standard whole week bookings. They won't be very flexible.
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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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| dan8507 wrote: |
...we will most likely be going for a week around Christmas. .....
....I know snow is unpredictable, but are usually all lifts open by mid-December?
Two places we were looking at are Kitzbuhel and Saalbach-Hinterglemm.... |
From personal experience we've been going to Saalbach-Hinterglemm pre-Christmas for many years and have always had excellent conditions. (Counterintuitively it is almost better when there has been less natural snow since the snowmaking cover is fantastic and less local punters will be there if they think it might not be so good)
Much cheaper and quieter in the pre Christmas weeks - great ski area covering five distinct valleys - lots of Alpine charm and excellent mountain restaurants etc - close to Salzburg if you fancy a day sightseeing and visiting the traditional Christmas markets
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| Origen wrote: |
| Be aware that at that busy time hotels will tend to insist on standard whole week bookings. They won't be very flexible. |
We’ve booked in Schladming for new year and most of the hotels we asked were willing to be flexible on check in and out dates. Due to convenience of flights we’ve ended up being Friday to following Saturday.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Gored wrote: |
| Zillertal/Mayrhofen |
Thank you i will look into it.
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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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| Kenzie wrote: |
@dan8507,
What sort of accommodation ate you looking for?
If you fly to Geneva there are plenty of transfer options either by road (both private and shared buses/taxis) and train - the airport has a station - to the surrounding high, large resorts. |
Kenzie,
Thank you for the reply. Just a simple studio apartment or hotel room. Bfast would be nice. hoping for E100 a night, but 150-200 might be more realistic for Christmas time.
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| munich_irish wrote: |
@dan8507, I am guessing from your post you are north America based?
Christmas is not that high season but New Year is just about the busiest week of the year (for Austria maybe not so much in France). Christmas is always a bit uncertain with snow so best choose your resort carefully if booking in advance. I would avoid Kitzbühel it is not particularly high and not greatly snow sure. Saalbach has a better reputation not because it is higher but because it has excellent snow making. Zillertal might also be a good option especially if there is a lack of snow there is the glacier (but in which case it everyone else will have the same idea!). Other options to consider (though probably more expensive) are Ischgl & Lech. It might also be worth looking at the Südtirol / Dolomities. Very beautiful, cold dryish climate (hence very good snow making, very large ski area, Habsburg heritage means a mix of cuisines, easy to get to from Munich & Milan. The best places to look for accommodation is the relevant tourist office website eg https://www.saalbach.com/en (they will all have an English option - extremely unlikely to have any issues communicating in English) places like airbnb & booking.com are often not much use. Some places can easily be reached by train but in general you are probably better off hiring a car at the airport (if Milan make sure to get winter tyres, Munich & Zürich all cars come with them) |
Correct, North American based. thank you for the reply. lots of things to consider.
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You know it makes sense.
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| swskier wrote: |
Agree with @Gored and @munich_irish about Zillertal, and the access to Hintertux. Easy to get to from Munich airport, either using a transfer service like FourSeasons or via the train which requires an S Bahn from the Airport to Munich Ost and then a train to Jenbach which if you time it right is direct, if not you'll need to change at Kufstein. Then at Jenbach jump on the Zillertalbahn and get off at whichever village you decide to stay in.
What sort of accommodation are you looking for? Generally the tourist board has plenty of options:
https://www.zillertal.at/
Mayrhofen is the busiest village in the valley with the most options for eating and drinking, and i'd likely base myself there if I was visiting, albeit the Mayrhofen ski are is probably my least favourite in the valley. However, it's easy enough to get up and down the valley to access all the ski resorts. |
Swskier,
Thank you. For accommodations, just a studio apt or hotel room, preferably with breakfast.
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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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| Whitegold wrote: |
| Sestriere. |
Thank you, will look into it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| PeakyB wrote: |
| Is Venice Marco Polo airport doable? If so, Arabba, on the Sella Ronda circuit in the spectacular Dolomiti ski area. |
I'll check, thank you for the advice.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Origen wrote: |
| Be aware that at that busy time hotels will tend to insist on standard whole week bookings. They won't be very flexible. |
Good warning. thank you.
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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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| geoffers wrote: |
| dan8507 wrote: |
...we will most likely be going for a week around Christmas. .....
....I know snow is unpredictable, but are usually all lifts open by mid-December?
Two places we were looking at are Kitzbuhel and Saalbach-Hinterglemm.... |
From personal experience we've been going to Saalbach-Hinterglemm pre-Christmas for many years and have always had excellent conditions. (Counterintuitively it is almost better when there has been less natural snow since the snowmaking cover is fantastic and less local punters will be there if they think it might not be so good)
Much cheaper and quieter in the pre Christmas weeks - great ski area covering five distinct valleys - lots of Alpine charm and excellent mountain restaurants etc - close to Salzburg if you fancy a day sightseeing and visiting the traditional Christmas markets |
Geoff, thank you for the detail.
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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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| Lozza1uk wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| Be aware that at that busy time hotels will tend to insist on standard whole week bookings. They won't be very flexible. |
We’ve booked in Schladming for new year and most of the hotels we asked were willing to be flexible on check in and out dates. Due to convenience of flights we’ve ended up being Friday to following Saturday. |
Thank you for letting me know.
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