 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello, I've been doing some reading and research for about 10 days. I would like your expert opinion to narrow my search down to maybe 2 towns/regions.
Logistics:
20th-21st December: Munich
21st-28th December: Tyrol
28th-30th December: ??
30th: Fly out of Munich at 20:10
Persons: 2 Adults + 1 7yrs child
Travel between Munich and Austria: by train
Some facts / data points:
- I want to Ski (absolute beginner, skied few times 18 years ago), I will not hire an instructor just practice in nursery slopes. Wife does NOT want to Ski. Kid will attend a 5 full day group lessons (ideally with Lunch)
- We would like a nice town with charming Christmas market and nice streets, coffee shops/huts (we don't drink), kids activities like playground, rope parks, indoor pools, free buses in the region
- Accommodation budget (for 21st-28th): ideally 1000EUR for the 7 nights (self-catering/airbnb completely fine) but can go up to 200EUR/night for a nice place in a pedestrian city center with maybe breakfast/HB
[rant]I started a budget tracker sheet, started with Innsbruck, Seefeld and Skiwelt but got overwhelmed/lost quickly given how complicated the possibilities are. Some resorts have free practice areas but might not have snow or school there, some you can get free ski rental for a child with one parent renting, some are very family friendly (Ellmau/Soll) but might not be as Christmassy as other so my wife might not like it.[/rant]
My findings so far:
| City/Town/Village | Pros | Cons | Shortlisted Yes/No
| | Innsbruck | Nice city, ticks all non-ski boxes | Ski School/resort might be 40-70min bus each way | No
| | Seefeld | Nice village, ticks all non-ski boxes, good ski schools, found great accommodation (booked since it's fully refundable) | will require Ski passes for me and my child which add up quiet a bit | Yes
| | Zell am See | I've been reading that it's very charming with lots to do, Ski schools are close by on CityXpress | Haven't finished my budget for the town but costs of school, rental and passes are adding up just like Seefeld | Yes
| | Kitzbuehel | Nice town, ticks most non-ski boxes, has free practice areas and schools actually operate there | Supposedly expensive but I've found airbnbs as cheap as Zell am See if not better quality | Yes
| | SkiWelt | need to do more research | need to do more research | No
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Two questions:
- Any clear winner from the list above? should I consider other regions/towns? maybe even Oberstdorf?
- Where to stay the last two nights (non-Ski/snow)? closer to Munich in a nice medival town in bavaria, for example, is preferred but can consider Salzburg if trains to Munich airport are cheap enough
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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... i hope you have popcorn
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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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It's irrelevant. If you're truly wanting to ski why are you setting yourself up to fail by avoiding lessons?
I'd go to Seefeld with that spec.
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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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@ifaour, Welcome to Snowheads.
I'd add Radstadt in the Ski Amade. Great little town, super family ski area for your level of abilities and good instructors at the Ski School. Lots of stuff to do including the Therme Amade in Altenmarkt for swimming/wellness. Free buses everywhere. Salzburg by train for your extra nights and you can buy the "Bavarian" Family tickets for train journey to and from Munich.
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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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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| Welcome to snowheads... i hope you have popcorn |
Thanks, I hope it's not too controversial 
| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
It's irrelevant. If you're truly wanting to ski why are you setting yourself up to fail by avoiding lessons?
I'd go to Seefeld with that spec. |
I should clarify, the priority is for our little one to try it out and learn. Meanwhile, I will try for a couple of hours every day and see if it comes back to me. I'm very fit but I'm concious my joints aren't as flexible as they used to be. Moreover, given we will have 4-5 hours kid-free time, we can do some sightseeing that would be "too boring" for the kid. And hence, I feel paying full price for ski passes for me and/or my child who will be in a small school area seems a waste for a 1st trip on a budget, especially the difference between 5 day practice slopes vs ski pass is 400-600EUR
Also, if I do like it so much, I would target to come back alone outside school holiday season (and not necessarily to Austria). Nonetheless, thanks for your vote to Seefeld.
| RedandWhiteFlachau wrote: |
@ifaour, Welcome to Snowheads.
I'd add Radstadt in the Ski Amade. Great little town, super family ski area for your level of abilities and good instructors at the Ski School. Lots of stuff to do including the Therme Amade in Altenmarkt for swimming/wellness. Free buses everywhere. Salzburg by train for your extra nights and you can buy the "Bavarian" Family tickets for train journey to and from Munich. |
Thanks! I will check it out. Have a good one!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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One more question, it seems the Ski rental is primarily for skies, poles, boots and helmets. It seems you don't rent Goggles? we have Decathlon here in Ireland where I could get basic ones for what it would probably cost me renting them (if that's a thing).
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That's your easiest question. Yes, buy them in Decathlon which is a great source of everything.
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Your budget for well located accommodation is too low. Once you've decided on location, book ski school right away. They will know what pass your son will need and can advise on pass needed for nursery slope. One private lesson for yourself, maybe on second day, would be a good investment.
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| That's your easiest question. Yes, buy them in Decathlon which is a great source of everything. |
Got it, I will check Decathlon and the likes of Aldi/Lidl for bargains.
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| Origen wrote: |
| Your budget for well located accommodation is too low. Once you've decided on location, book ski school right away. They will know what pass your son will need and can advise on pass needed for nursery slope. One private lesson for yourself, maybe on second day, would be a good investment. |
Is it though? I've already secured a superb apartment in the center of Seefeld for 166€ per night fully refundable. And I see apartments on Airbnb with 4.5+ rating available from 100€-125€ per night in the center of Zell am See and Kitzbuehel in case we change our mind so it seems to me accommodation is less of an issue and I just need to optimise for Ski expenses, that is school fees, schools with packages, ski rentals with offers (1 adult + 1 child free) and obviously resort with free/reduced prices for practice lifts (vs full priced passes).
Please do let me know if I'm missing something
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| ifaour wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| That's your easiest question. Yes, buy them in Decathlon which is a great source of everything. |
Got it, I will check Decathlon and the likes of Aldi/Lidl for bargains. |
Yes, Aldi/Lidl have some excellent value skiwear items (base layers, gloves, googles etc) but they only do them for a week or so, so you need to keep an eye out for their upcoming special sales weeks.
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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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Another vote for seefeld
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@ifaour, my view is that for a first family skiing holiday your best bet would be to look at the tour operators. There are too many stressful components to negotiate, much better to concentrate on enjoying yourselves and let the TO sort out flights, transfers, accommodation, ski hire, booking lessons.
You will have enough to agonise over choosing between the destinations on offer since nowhere is going to perfectly align with your wish list.
And then assuming it is a success, you will know the ropes and can set about a self-organised trip for next year.
(I would also point out you don't need the big area of many of the places mentioned for your purposes which may help a bit with cost. Also I am another who would recommend you join a beginner class yourself, most places that would have the same timing as your youngster's classes so work well).
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You know it makes sense.
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
Yes, Aldi/Lidl have some excellent value skiwear items (base layers, gloves, googles etc) but they only do them for a week or so, so you need to keep an eye out for their upcoming special sales weeks.
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Thanks will keep an eye
| Gored wrote: |
Another vote for seefeld
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Noted, thanks.
| j b wrote: |
@ifaour, my view is that for a first family skiing holiday your best bet would be to look at the tour operators. There are too many stressful components to negotiate, much better to concentrate on enjoying yourselves and let the TO sort out flights, transfers, accommodation, ski hire, booking lessons.
You will have enough to agonise over choosing between the destinations on offer since nowhere is going to perfectly align with your wish list.
And then assuming it is a success, you will know the ropes and can set about a self-organised trip for next year.
(I would also point out you don't need the big area of many of the places mentioned for your purposes which may help a bit with cost. Also I am another who would recommend you join a beginner class yourself, most places that would have the same timing as your youngster's classes so work well). |
Thanks for your input. I actually ENJOY travel planning, budget trackers and the likes .. maybe even more than the trips themselves. I've memorized Tokyo's metro (bit of exaggeration) a decade ago while planning things, went to Seychelles/Maldives on Spain budget. Granted with a kid and getting older, I'm enjoying nicer hotels and amenities 
Also noted on lessons for myself. I will see how it goes on the first day and take it from there.
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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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@ifaour, Christmas week will be busy, you might not be able to get lessons without booking
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Poster: A snowHead
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@ifaour, be wary about those too good to be true Airbnb offers. You might find if you actually tried to book for Christmas that it is unavailable and if you book you might get gazumped. Look at average prices on resort website and be wary of anything out of line price wise.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @ifaour, Christmas week will be busy, you might not be able to get lessons without booking |
Thanks, I'm emailing few schools in Seefeld as we speak (although I'm still open for recommendations for other towns).
| Origen wrote: |
| @ifaour, be wary about those too good to be true Airbnb offers. You might find if you actually tried to book for Christmas that it is unavailable and if you book you might get gazumped. Look at average prices on resort website and be wary of anything out of line price wise. |
Noted. Luckily the one apartment I booked was through booking.com.
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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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@ifaour, took my kids (7yr and 10) along with my friends two kids last year to Seefeld, and they loved it. We used the school based in mosern who arranged a great teacher for us (we were there early season and so weren’t part of a proper group). It was around 1000euro for 3 full days lessons (group of 4 kids) so almost private coaching.
They did the lessons on the Gschwandtkopf mountain, 2 hrs morning and 2 in afternoon. So my friend and I just went up and down the small mountain while the kids learnt.
It’s worth noting the Gshwandtkopf hill is pretty small and if you do manage to find your ski skills, it would be better to head to the larger Rosshutte mtn. Although for beginners the aforementioned is fine. Always better too to be on the same mountain as the kids imo, just in case tears start flowing or they get hurt.
The town is very nice, the free ski buses good and perhaps the most popular thing for the kids was the great swimming complex with water slides. Warm outdoor pool which was lovely too, and a great way to relax / tire the kids out even more.
We are going this year and again have to arrive before Christmas week, which - due to the ways the dates have fallen - is providing difficult to find ski schools who will accommodate us on the Thursday 19-Sunday 22. Hopefully we’ll find someone!
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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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Thanks @DDWinch . I think the school in mosern was the first I contacted given the great reviews, unfortunately they won't start group lessons until the 26th this year. So I'm waiting on the other highly rated school near rosshütte to respond, I'm hoping they will have classes from the 23rd.
To be honest, I think we are fixed on Seefeld but I need to make sure we get a decent ski school, there is one in Leutasch that looks good and it seems it is just 15 min by bus so not a big commute each morning.
Otherwise we might pivot to another town like kitz.
And yes, the swimming complex is a huge plus given how much the little one like water slides.
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