 Poster: A snowHead
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As the title suggests I would appreciate the collective knowledge to point me elsewhere.
Love S/H but our only week this season will fall in the World Cup week.
So recommendations for similar destinations please.
What I love about SH. Huge area with an excellent lift system. Short transfer. Quality of the alms on the mountain. Decent sized villages. Choice of accommodation. Ease of getting around the valley with ski links and skiing back to the valley. I've skied quite a few countries but just love the Austrian vibe. So that would be my preferred destination.
We are a group of 6 middle aged men/women. Not party animals but not dead yet. 
First week in Feb is our window so time is pressing the on.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ianbradders, I’d probably go for Mayrhofen. A decent vibe and good access to the Zillertal via the train (included on ski pass) if you want to explore a bit (recommended).
Excellent skiing, good sense of travel and some nice mountain huttes. The only (marginal for me) downside is taking the gondola (Penkenbahn) from the town to the ski area. Quick transfer from Innsbruck.
Or….
Flachau. Lively(ish), decent mountain huttes and, again, good feeling of travel over towards Wagrain and St Johann. Short transfer from Salzburg.
Having either stayed in, or skied in the above two places vs having also stayed at S/H (which I thought was awesome), I wouldn’t be disappointed with Mayrhofen, if presented with your dilemma.
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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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I went to Mayerhofen many years ago. Loved it. As you say the uplift and downlift via Penkenbahn was a pain in the hoop. And is probably the only reason I would dismiss it.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Had a quick look at Flachau but thought it was somewhat disjointed but could be completely wrong on that judgement. It was only a fleeting look.
Got some research to do I guess.
Thanks.
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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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Talking of Flachau, we really enjoyed Wagrain on the other side of the hill, but joined...
And last year we went to Silvretta Montafon - great skiing, great little villages and plenty for a week - short transfer from Friedrichshafen (though we drove from UK).
Final thought - Bad Gastein or Bad Hofgastein.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I would suggest looking at Kitzbühel, add in Ski Welt and you have a big area (bigger than SH) personally think the skiing at Kitzbühel better than SH but know that is not a universally held opinion. Apres not so good though unless you are into Sekt & canapes. Flachau & Zillertal both worth a look. I pretty much only go to St Anton / Arlberg these days, nowhere else comes close for skiing, apres best too but can be crowded and is now expensive. Ischgl not as big as Arlberg (though still extensive) apres good too.
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Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
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If you do go for St Anton very easy access via train from Zürich but you might have issues finding accommodation.
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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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@ianbradders, Schladming or Ischgl should tick all your boxes.
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@ianbradders, Snowspace Salzburg (Alpendorf, Wagrain, Flachau, Zauchensee) is 210km of linked pistes with excellent mountain huts. The Ski Amade pass means you could also ski Schladming, Gastein and Hochkonig (among others).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks, some great suggestions.
Us it Flachau that the A10 runs right alongside? I remember driving down there a few years ago and there was skiers just off to the left (from SZG), I think. They seemed to pass under the motorway.
But I could be completely mistaken.
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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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| munich_irish wrote: |
| If you do go for St Anton very easy access via train from Zürich but you might have issues finding accommodation. |
True...but mailing the tourist office looking for offers always helps, lots of smaller pensions and B&B's not getting a look in on the booking site(s).
But don't start me on the resort on a whole disappearing up it's own hole...I used to adore it (2 sometimes 3 times a season) was there for an end of season blow out last year....won't be back for a while.
Shame really because as a Dub it's super handy for us.
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I'll possibly be shot down in flames, but we chose Obertauern over SH (we were going pre Christmas and it is more snow-sure). Didn't regret it and I think it provides everything the OP mentions.
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You know it makes sense.
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| ianbradders wrote: |
| I went to Mayerhofen many years ago. Loved it. As you say the uplift and downlift via Penkenbahn was a pain in the hoop. And is probably the only reason I would dismiss it. |
Probably worth noting, the lift has changed since you will have been here if it was years ago, where as it's now gondolas up the hill not a cable car, and each gondola holds probably around 50 people if jam packed, so it's not the huge queues as in the past with the cable car.
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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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| ianbradders wrote: |
Thanks, some great suggestions.
Us it Flachau that the A10 runs right alongside? I remember driving down there a few years ago and there was skiers just off to the left (from SZG), I think. They seemed to pass under the motorway.
But I could be completely mistaken. |
Doubt you can see the ski area at Flachau from the A10 (though it is not far but there are noise barriers and a small tunnel). It might have been at Flachauwinkl just before the Tauern tunnel where the pistes from Zauchensee are on one side and from Kleinarl on the other (currently linked by a shuttle under the autobahn but plans for a lift) but again (from memory a while back) sound barriers so not sure skiers would be visible.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Why not go to Saalbach anyway? All of the World Championship action will be on Zwolferkogel in Hinterglemm, and the centre of Hinterglemm will be the venue for all of the presentations, entertainment etc. but the rest of the resort and the Ski Circus will probably be untouched by all this. All of the pistes will be open, including those adjacent to the WC courses.
If anything, if many of the hotels and other accommodation options are already taken up by WC participants, support teams, technical and media people, as well as the spectators coming to watch the races and see their favorite stars, then the pistes in Saalbach, Leogang and Fieberbrunn might actually be relatively quiet as there will be fewer regular holidaymakers in the resorts. There is a surprising amount of accommodation currently still available for w/c 8th February and for the following week - it is almost as though the WC has frightened away many of the regular guests.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We were there last year in the build up to the World Cup and felt it did have some impact. Admittedly not huge but we left on the 16th so weren't in the thick of it. Tbh I have just kind of presumed it would be a non starter.
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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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I've never found the pistes and lifts to be busy but it's a good point about them being even quieter.
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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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| swskier wrote: |
| ianbradders wrote: |
| I went to Mayerhofen many years ago. Loved it. As you say the uplift and downlift via Penkenbahn was a pain in the hoop. And is probably the only reason I would dismiss it. |
Probably worth noting, the lift has changed since you will have been here if it was years ago, where as it's now gondolas up the hill not a cable car, and each gondola holds probably around 50 people if jam packed, so it's not the huge queues as in the past with the cable car. |
I remember we had our daughter who was about 18 Months old. As soon as the lift set off she was fast asleep. Twenty years ago and now has a little one of her own.
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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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| ianbradders wrote: |
| swskier wrote: |
| ianbradders wrote: |
| I went to Mayerhofen many years ago. Loved it. As you say the uplift and downlift via Penkenbahn was a pain in the hoop. And is probably the only reason I would dismiss it. |
Probably worth noting, the lift has changed since you will have been here if it was years ago, where as it's now gondolas up the hill not a cable car, and each gondola holds probably around 50 people if jam packed, so it's not the huge queues as in the past with the cable car. |
I remember we had our daughter who was about 18 Months old. As soon as the lift set off she was fast asleep. Twenty years ago and now has a little one of her own. |
In which case you'll find the lift access out of Mayrhofen is much better now.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| swskier wrote: |
| ianbradders wrote: |
| swskier wrote: |
| ianbradders wrote: |
| I went to Mayerhofen many years ago. Loved it. As you say the uplift and downlift via Penkenbahn was a pain in the hoop. And is probably the only reason I would dismiss it. |
Probably worth noting, the lift has changed since you will have been here if it was years ago, where as it's now gondolas up the hill not a cable car, and each gondola holds probably around 50 people if jam packed, so it's not the huge queues as in the past with the cable car. |
I remember we had our daughter who was about 18 Months old. As soon as the lift set off she was fast asleep. Twenty years ago and now has a little one of her own. |
In which case you'll find the lift access out of Mayrhofen is much better now. |
Fab.
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Quinton wrote: “the pistes in Saalbach, Leogang and Fieberbrunn might actually be relatively quiet as there will be fewer regular holidaymakers in the resorts. There is a surprising amount of accommodation currently still available for w/c 8th February and for the following week - it is almost as though the WC has frightened away many of the regular guests.”
This tallies with my own perception. My own accommodation remains unbooked for the first week of February, and I know that other providers amongst my circle of British friends also have availability. As Quinton says, all the activity relating to the World Cup is likely to be focused on the Zwölferkogel (and in fact only one or two pistes).
Unusually perhaps, I don’t take any interest in ski racing. From previous experience of big races in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, you wouldn’t actually know that anything is going on if you keep away from that area of Hinterglemm. You’re probably talking about 2% of the 270 km (408 km, including Zell am See/Kaprun) of the ski area.
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| tatmanstours wrote: |
Quinton wrote: “the pistes in Saalbach, Leogang and Fieberbrunn might actually be relatively quiet as there will be fewer regular holidaymakers in the resorts. There is a surprising amount of accommodation currently still available for w/c 8th February and for the following week - it is almost as though the WC has frightened away many of the regular guests.”
This tallies with my own perception. My own accommodation remains unbooked for the first week of February, and I know that other providers amongst my circle of British friends also have availability. As Quinton says, all the activity relating to the World Cup is likely to be focused on the Zwölferkogel (and in fact only one or two pistes).
Unusually perhaps, I don’t take any interest in ski racing. From previous experience of big races in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, you wouldn’t actually know that anything is going on if you keep away from that area of Hinterglemm. You’re probably talking about 2% of the 270 km (408 km, including Zell am See/Kaprun) of the ski area. |
I am stunned to hear that your place is not booked up with it being such a perfect spot. Maybe it is time to reassess. Don't know whether you saw my comment saying that we were in S/H last March so we're there for the prepping for the racing. Conditions were pretty dire then anyway so losing that big swathe of the lower Zwolferkogel did have quite an affect. Moguls like hatchbacks.  But appreciate it is a small area of the total.
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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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Tbh here in Kirchberg one of my quietest weeks was always the DH week
Everyone tended to arrive on the Thursday/Friday in hotels etc and leave on the Sunday
Over the years I got very few enquiries re that week ( though I did get some travel company asking to accommodate the ski Sunday team)
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@ianbradders, wrote: “ I am stunned to hear that your place is not booked up with it being such a perfect spot. Maybe it is time to reassess.”
Admittedly I don’t advertise or put much time and effort into drumming up bookings. But I would be more inclined to avoid the Fasching week and peak school holiday weeks, than race weeks.
Here’s the European holiday dates:
https://www.esi-ski.com/news/european-school-holidays-calendar-2024-2025
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| tatmanstours wrote: |
Quinton wrote: “the pistes in Saalbach, Leogang and Fieberbrunn might actually be relatively quiet as there will be fewer regular holidaymakers in the resorts. There is a surprising amount of accommodation currently still available for w/c 8th February and for the following week - it is almost as though the WC has frightened away many of the regular guests.”
This tallies with my own perception. My own accommodation remains unbooked for the first week of February, and I know that other providers amongst my circle of British friends also have availability. As Quinton says, all the activity relating to the World Cup is likely to be focused on the Zwölferkogel (and in fact only one or two pistes).
Unusually perhaps, I don’t take any interest in ski racing. From previous experience of big races in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, you wouldn’t actually know that anything is going on if you keep away from that area of Hinterglemm. You’re probably talking about 2% of the 270 km (408 km, including Zell am See/Kaprun) of the ski area. |
Looks like there is availability throughout feb ,ive been looking for a while as hope to come in the first couple of weeks of march as usual ( all being well with my broken leg) and there seems to be a varied amount of accommodation available from now till then , though some of it is at the £ higher end with vastly increased prices on last year . Interesting that several are starting to discount which is unusual so early .I woudnt be put off coming in a race week if staying in saalbach the area is big enough to cope and if we go for a week would probably only go over to the far end of hinterglem a couple of times and with a bit of planning along with the tourist office telling all runs will be open . Im hoping we make it mindst we wouldnt be going down the race track or the black ho ho
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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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@tatmanstours, what is your website address? Link in your posts does not open, ta
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You know it makes sense.
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@Langer1, I don’t have one now. It wasn’t used very much, and the web host, Vistaprint, was hopeless. You can message me. Most of my communication is via private messages on here and Facebook Messenger.
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