 Poster: A snowHead
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What I thought would be a simple exercise is now becoming complicated. Looking before the school holiday period.
Any tips on ski town that would best suit young family (5 &  . Kids are first time skiers.
We simply want a place the kids can do a few days lessons. Strangley not all places offer ski school outside the Euro holidays.
A place that will be easy to get to with bus or foot. Slopes suitable for first timers (outside their lessons) - ie you don't need to take a hundred lifts to get the the lessons and blue runs.
Needs to be accessible by train or short transfer from German border.
Short list was Tirol or Zillertal but there may be quieter and smaller places that could be more enjoyable for the kids.
I am probably over thinking it!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@darrinm81, Filzmoos?
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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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Here in Kirchberg, the ski school is in town. You can drop them off in town, and either ski on the Gaisberg which is close by or take the bus to the Maeirlbahn and again close by
We have a train station right in the town.
Apart from the obvious peak periods, we are not that busy. If I ever have to queue getting up the mountain, its usually commented on.
You can check it out here.
https://www.skischule-kirchberg.at/en/about-us
I live here so feel free to DM if you chose it, or an further questions. I have no affinity with it either, so no bias (other than my son taught there about 12 years ago)
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@darrinm81, Tirol is an entire State, Zillertal is just one area within it.
Within the Zillertal perhaps Hochfügen might suit? As long as you're not looking for much going on in the evening.
Beginner slopes are right there next to the hotels and car park.
Ski school Kostenzer off 4 hour lessons plus lunch time supervision, so the kids can be off your hands pretty much all day so you can ski.
https://www.schischule-kostenzer.at/en/ski-school/kids-ski-courses/
There's not much going on up there after skiing, but if you have a 5 and 8 year old, that probably won't matter much. Train to Fügen then bus up to Hochfügen, it's pretty easy to get to.
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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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@darrinm81, Westendorf
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Assuming you are looking at January or February then have a look at SkiWelt, Brixen might be ideal (though need to get gondola to large beginners area), Westendorf popular with many, Scheffau & Söll both have good beginner's areas but again at top of Gondola. There is an advantage of going higher here in that you are likely to find much better snow than the traditional drag lift next to the car park. All of these access with taxi from either Kufstein or Wörgl stations (there will be buses but I assume too much faff with kids). Seefeld might be another option easy on train and ideal for beginners (though adult skiers might get bored after a day or two). Lermoos used to be popular with brits (though no more as people's tastes have moved on) small area but with access to more skiing nearby, train from Garmisch, not sure about ski school. Garmisch itself might be worth looking at. Niederau and Alpbach worth a mention, both easy transfers from Inntal railway stations, member here, @Chris_n is an instructor in Niederau. I would have thought all the larger places will have ski school running the entire season but can see that there might not be the demand in some of the smaller spots outside of peak weeks. Do be aware that in a poor season snow will be an issue in all these places.
Another member @Redandwhiteflachau is an instructor in Flachau which is easily reached from Salzburg but that might be too big a place for what you are looking for.
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Thanks for the tips.
Filzmoos doesn't appear to have ski school the week we are going. And may be a little too limited on runs for the adults.
Certainly like Kirchberg.
I did research Hochfügen but was unsure on the accomodation options - look a little pricey. Will check out again.
Do any of these have better snow cover than the others?
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Smaller places: Leogang (but stay in accommodation near the Asitz lift rather than in Leogang village, which is 2 km away). Or Fieberbrunn. Or Rauris. All accessible by train.
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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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@darrinm81, Hochfügen will almost certainly have better snow than any place mentioned so far, given that the village is around 1500m vs every other suggestion here being around the 800-1000m mark.
Try the local Zillertal.at website for accomodation.
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| darrinm81 wrote: |
Thanks for the tips.
Filzmoos doesn't appear to have ski school the week we are going. And may be a little too limited on runs for the adults.
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Fair enough bur you did say "We simply want a place the kids can do a few days lessons." not that you were looking for adults needs to, it's a nice little area for a day but really geared up for kids
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@darrinm81, when are you going? Early season, like December / early January I would consider going higher, like Hochfügen, Obergurgl or even to the glacier at Hintertux (end of Zillertal). Later on you will (almost) certainly be fine with Kirchberg or the Ski-Welt across the valley. Too may suitable places to mention really!
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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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Whilst you come through those others mentioned above on the train (and Zell am See) before you get to it, Rauris mention above is a good shout, a couple of families I know all learnt at, and returned to, Rauris. it has bunny slopes at the bottom but then a good blue area to progress onto that runs from top to mid mountain (download to village) plus some more challenging stuff for non beginners, plus more wallet friendly than the ski circus for lift pass etc.
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@darrinm81, I would suggest Kirchberg is not ideal for you as little to no skiing at village level and not ideal for learner areas, Brixen or Westendorf along the valley much better.
We get a lot of similar questions to yours and generally there isnt a correct or even good answer. You have multiple ideas about you would like and its unlikely that any one place will tick all the boxes. I would say its best to work out what is most important to you eg budget or ease of access or good beginner's area or good ski school etc and focus on those anything else will be a bonus. In good conditions pretty much any area will provide a memorable holiday.
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You know it makes sense.
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@darrinm81, Radstadt/Altenmarkt in the Ski Amade. Short transfer from the "German" border, assuming you mean Bavaria and IC trains stop at the station. Great little area for the kids and then hop on the free bus to Flachau or Zauchesee to open up the whole of the Snowspace area. All the ski schools in Ski Amade operate all season, I'm surprised you couldn't find one in Flizmoos.
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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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+1 for Seefeld
You could stay near to the Rosshutte area which has a bit more for the experienced skiers. I stayed in the pleasant Appartementhaus Birkenwald and rented ski lockers at the foot of the slopes at the Rosshutte area
(rented from Sailer Sports). It was about a 10 minute walk to the lifts in trainers and then we could get ready in the comfy boot room.
Absolute beginner runs are close by and there is a gentle progression onto blue runs.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| swskier wrote: |
@darrinm81, Tirol is an entire State, Zillertal is just one area within it.
Within the Zillertal perhaps Hochfügen might suit? As long as you're not looking for much going on in the evening.
Beginner slopes are right there next to the hotels and car park.
Ski school Kostenzer off 4 hour lessons plus lunch time supervision, so the kids can be off your hands pretty much all day so you can ski.
https://www.schischule-kostenzer.at/en/ski-school/kids-ski-courses/
There's not much going on up there after skiing, but if you have a 5 and 8 year old, that probably won't matter much. Train to Fügen then bus up to Hochfügen, it's pretty easy to get to. |
Fugen itself would also probably suit. Spieljoch is the small ski area, perfectly suited to beginners and kids, and I believe the ski school is in town.
Fugen itself is small, not masses of apres, but there is some to be found, and some nice places to stay and eat too.
Once you progress you can pop on the bus to Hochfugen to ski up there too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks all for the responses. Some great suggestions.
Checking through accomodation + ski school availaiblity to make a final decision.
Austria is certainly spoilt for snow options!
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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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Zauchensee worked well for our kids (4 and 7 at the time), Both went to five full day ski school.
The small are is still ok for 20yr plus experienced adults.
An easy stroll between lifts and hotels.
We went outside of school hols, Ski School was working for kinder.
Train to Radstat, then us the bus or Taxi.
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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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| darrinm81 wrote: |
What I thought would be a simple exercise is now becoming complicated. Looking before the school holiday period.
Any tips on ski town that would best suit young family (5 & . Kids are first time skiers.
We simply want a place the kids can do a few days lessons. Strangley not all places offer ski school outside the Euro holidays.
A place that will be easy to get to with bus or foot. Slopes suitable for first timers (outside their lessons) - ie you don't need to take a hundred lifts to get the the lessons and blue runs.
Needs to be accessible by train or short transfer from German border.
Short list was Tirol or Zillertal but there may be quieter and smaller places that could be more enjoyable for the kids.
I am probably over thinking it! |
Alpbach? SkiWelt (which is just about the closest from the German border - full of Germans at weekends...)
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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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| munich_irish wrote: |
Assuming you are looking at January or February then have a look at SkiWelt, Brixen might be ideal (though need to get gondola to large beginners area), Westendorf popular with many, Scheffau & Söll both have good beginner's areas but again at top of Gondola. There is an advantage of going higher here in that you are likely to find much better snow than the traditional drag lift next to the car park. All of these access with taxi from either Kufstein or Wörgl stations (there will be buses but I assume too much faff with kids). Seefeld might be another option easy on train and ideal for beginners (though adult skiers might get bored after a day or two). Lermoos used to be popular with brits (though no more as people's tastes have moved on) small area but with access to more skiing nearby, train from Garmisch, not sure about ski school. Garmisch itself might be worth looking at. Niederau and Alpbach worth a mention, both easy transfers from Inntal railway stations, member here, @Chris_n is an instructor in Niederau. I would have thought all the larger places will have ski school running the entire season but can see that there might not be the demand in some of the smaller spots outside of peak weeks. Do be aware that in a poor season snow will be an issue in all these places.
Another member @Redandwhiteflachau is an instructor in Flachau which is easily reached from Salzburg but that might be too big a place for what you are looking for. |
This is the person the OP should listen to... he knows the area well whereas most of us know a few resorts.
My first ever ski holiday 55 years ago was in Niederau. Well set up for kids, as I think Alpbach would be (though have never been). Loads of choices in skiWelt as munich says. These are all easy access from Munich
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@darrinm81, can you give some idea of dates for this trip? 'Outside (or before) the Euro holiday period' could mean early-mid December, mid-late January or mid-late March, as there are holidays at Xmas, February and Easter?? And 'German border' isn't that specific as it runs for hundreds of miles? Are you flying into Munich or something and need somewhere accessible from there?
This info will help narrow down the resort suggestions on here 
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Mid December, before the Euro holiday period. Based a little south of Munich.
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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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@darrinm81, Ahh, now we all understand your challenge, we can help a little more. I'll send you a PM.
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@darrinm81, That makes a difference, you are not far from me, I am just to the east of Munich.
Around here the only folk that go skiing prior to Christmas are very keen folk like me, everyone else waits until after Christmas. I have been out on perfect pistes whilst everyone else is at the Christmas market drinking Glühwein! It is just not done to go skiing before the New Year break.
A lot of the small places wont open until Christmas assuming there is snow (on the radio news yesterday along with avalanche warnings for the Allgäu was news that one of the small areas was opening for the weekend). In other circumstances the local areas, Brauneck, Spitzingsee or Südelfeld (Bayerischzell) would be ideal all accessible by train (BOB) and perfect for families though in recent years snow has been an issue.
I would say the easiest larger place to go would be SkiWelt, I think it opens next week. As mentioned above the beginner areas are mid mountain but that means better snow (though the cost of ski passes). I would be pretty sure the ski schools would be working in at least one of the villages. Access is easy, if you have a Deutschland ticket then that covers trains to Kufstein (Bayern ticket too) then either bus or taxi to Söll, Schefau or Ellmau for Brixen or Westendorf either train to Wörgl or Hopfgarten (lifts here too but not sure how good for beginners or snow).
This is the webcam at Scheffau you can see the ski school directly opposite the top of the Gondola
https://www.skiwelt.at/en/webcam-brandstadl-restaurant.html
The tickets above would also get you to Salzburg and then relatively easy to get to either Saalbach or SkiAmade both of which should have some ski schools working
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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For the OP and others following this thread. The Ski Schools are all operating from opening day for lessons. What is probably NOT happening is "Ski School" in terms of group lessons. This is because the contracted instructors won't be here until the week before Christmas week (c. 14 Dec 24). They're either not employed before that, or are in training prior to the main season. However, each school will have instructors they can call on for Private lessons.
@munich_irish, All the Bayern folk I get before Christmas refuse to come again until mid-march!!
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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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Every time I turn up in the office on a Monday morning to say great skiing last weekend, I get quizzical looks and comments along the lines of " far too busy to go skiing at the moment", "the snow is always rubbish at this time" etc. Its a bit like eating Spargel in June or drinking Glühwein after Christmas Eve 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes, when I said "Euro Holidays" I meant European school holidays over the christmas break.  So from 14th Dec but before ~22nd Dec.
Everywhere does offering private lessons ($$$) but we were seeking out the particular 'kids ski school' experience for the kids.
From what I am reading the larger ski areas seem to run cannons etc from mid Dec, more kids ski options, non-ski activities.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@darrinm81, Did you read my DM?
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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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@darrinm81, I think you are going to struggle to find that, it appears most places simply dont start group lessons until the 22nd. There will be places, for instance Ischgl, but they are going to be well over your budget. You might find some of the glacier places like Hintertux will also offer courses but in general either bite the bullet with private lessons or go a different week. Christmas week is generally not that busy so that might be worth looking at, New Year is the busiest week of the year.
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