 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone,
I’m planning an epic 56-day Alps ski adventure this upcoming 2025–26 winter, and I’d be super grateful for advice from the community.
Flights are locked into Vienna (not Milan, Munich, or Zurich – can’t be changed).
I’ll rent a car from Vienna and hit the road with my 11-year-old son, who’s confident on red runs and loves alpine villages, snow, and Christmas markets.
Trip Duration: Dec 14, 2025 – Feb 6, 2026
The Big Question:
Should I go with:
- Option 1: Ikon Base Pass + Magic Pass covering Switzerland + France + Italy + Austria
- Option 2: Snow Card Tirol (Austria only, but massive coverage)
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 Option 1: Ikon Base + Magic Pass
High-altitude Swiss resorts, iconic mountains, and a few quieter Magic Pass gems.
Sample Itinerary:
• Pre-Christmas ( Dec 14–21 ):
Base in Saas-Fee – high-altitude glacier skiing + side trip to Belalp
• Christmas Week ( Dec 22–28 ):
Stay in Grimentz, in Val d’Anniviers – I’ve read this is one of the most charming alpine villages in Switzerland:
- Wooden chalets and lantern-lit lanes
- Car-free ambiance and authentic village vibes
- Torchlight descents, local choirs, festive markets
- Père Noël visits, mulled wine, and alpine traditions
- Easy ski access to Zinal, St. Luc, Chandolin
- A side trip to Lauchernalp – Lötschental
I imagine Christmas Eve walking through snow-draped streets, sipping hot chocolate while church bells echo in the valley.
• New Year’s ( Dec 29–Jan 3 ): Chamonix – festive energy, fireworks, alpine buzz, or a one day trip to Le Grand Bornand
• January Weeks:- Week 1 – Zermatt
- Week 2 – Ischgl (Ikon partner)
- Week 3 – Kitzbühel (Ikon partner)
- Week 4 – St. Moritz + San Domenico
- Final Week – Dolomites: 5 days in Tre Cime / Drei Zinnen - avoiding Austria because 1st week if Feb - is school holidays in Austria
Pros:
- Epic variety: Switzerland, Italy, France
- Magical Christmas potential in Grimentz
- High-altitude, snow-sure resorts in December
- Mix of icons (Zermatt, Mont Blanc, St. Moritz) + hidden gems (Belalp, San Domenico, Lötschental, )
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 Option 2: Snow Card Tirol
One pass. 90+ resorts across Austria.
Sample Itinerary:
• Pre-Christmas ( Dec 14–21 ):
Base in Sölden or Obergurgl – snow-sure, early season
• Christmas Week ( Dec 22–28 ):
Stay in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis – Austria’s family-friendly holiday haven:- Car-free village center
- Night sledding, reindeer visits, ski shows
- Santa on skis, family parades, and live music
- Stunning village views, wide terrain for intermediates
- Local Christmas markets and nativity scenes
Seems like a perfect place for kids to feel true alpine Christmas magic.
• New Year’s Week:
Base in Zillertal Arena or Mayrhofen – festive and fun (though crowded)
• January Weeks:- 10 days in Paznaun Valley – Ischgl, Galtür, Kappl, See*
- 1 week near Imst – great for exploring mid-size ski areas
- Few days in SkiWelt, Ski Juwel, or Alpbachtal
• Feb 1st Week:
- Final days: revisit favorites or explore Großglockner or smaller gems near Vienna, avoiding Austria School holidays
Pros:- One pass, huge coverage
- Affordable lodging and food
- Easy driving loop with minimal stress
- Serfaus offers a truly magical Christmas for kids
- Flexibility to go off the beaten path
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 Key Considerations:- Early season snow: Saas-Fee vs Sölden/Obergurgl
- Christmas charm: Grimentz vs Serfaus-Fiss
- New Year’s energy: Chamonix vs Zillertal
- Need to avoid Austria in early Feb – school holidays in Vienna & Lower Austria
- Already skied: Zermatt, 3 Vallées, Sella Ronda, Jungfrau, Serre Chevalier
- My 11-year-old loves snowball fights, hot chocolates, alpine breakfasts and ice-cremes and snowy villages (not just skiing!)
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So What Would You Do?
If you had 8 weeks, a rental car, and an 11-year-old, starting and ending in Vienna:
• Which pass would you choose – Ikon + Magic or Snow Card Tirol?
• Has anyone done Christmas in Grimentz or Serfaus – which has the more magical vibe?
• Would I get bored skiing just Austria for 8 weeks? Or is the diversity in Tirol enough?
• Is all the planning and switching worth it for Ikon + Magic?
Any advice, route suggestions, or feedback would mean a lot!
Thanks so much in advance 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It is a mistake to pass on Arlberg.
Seeing you like it "charming and magical" you should really consider Lech (not St.Anton).
Lech is the 'queen' of Austria! Lech easily beats both Serfaus and Ischgl.
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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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| Langerzug wrote: |
It is a mistake to pass on Arlberg.
Seeing you like it "charming and magical" you should really consider Lech (not St.Anton).
Lech is the 'queen' of Austria! Lech easily beats both Serfaus and Ischgl. |
That actually fits well with what we had in mind. We’re definitely drawn to resorts that feel charming and magical—and Lech has that fairytale Alpine vibe.
In fact, St. Anton was part of our plan from the start. We even ran detailed cost comparisons for various combinations: Ikon Base, Magic Pass, and add-ons like St. Anton or Snow Card Tirol. One of our top candidate combos was Ikon Base + Magic + St. Anton, which came out to €2,369 for both adult and kid passes.
That said, we keep hearing:
“If you’re not doing off-piste, you can skip Verbier, St. Anton, and Lech.”
We’re more into groomed runs than powder hunting, so I’m wondering—how true is that in your experience?
Is Lech still a great choice for on-piste skiers, or does it mainly shine for those chasing deep snow and backcountry lines?
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Grimentz has amazing skiing ( off piste) but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for Christmas. Further down the valley may be more festive but grimentz itself is a pretty small village. However both your options sound great, hope you have a great trip! Personally I would go for the magic pass option, but only because it gives possibilities skiing more places. You won't get bored in Austria
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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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| freeridechef wrote: |
| Grimentz has amazing skiing ( off piste) but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for Christmas. Further down the valley may be more festive but grimentz itself is a pretty small village. However both your options sound great, hope you have a great trip! Personally I would go for the magic pass option, but only because it gives possibilities skiing more places. You won't get bored in Austria |
You’re right—Grimentz does seem quiet, and I’m now leaning toward somewhere a bit more festive for Christmas week.
So here’s what I’m looking for:
A proper White Christmas with a charming village atmosphere, lights, bells, Santa visits, a Christmas market—and of course, reliable skiing that week.
These are the options we’re considering:
• Chamonix (France)
• Grimentz (Switzerland)
• Gstaad (Switzerland)
• Zermatt (Switzerland)
• Serfaus (Austria)
• Lech (Austria)
• Innsbruck (Austria – more city-like but still festive?)
If you had to pick from this list, how would you rank them for Christmas charm + ski experience?
Feel free to suggest any hidden gems too—open to being surprised!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Kitzbuhel to coincide with the men's world cup?
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| Kenzie wrote: |
| Kitzbuhel to coincide with the men's world cup? |
Are you talking about Hahnenkamm Races between 19th to 25th Jan or Snow polo world cup from Jan 15 to 18th?
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Much as I love Chamonix and spend most Xmases there, it's more "town" than "village". A white Xmas is hit and miss, given its low elevation.
If you're thinking of skipping Verbier & St Anton due to the off-piste focus, Chamonix is a significant step further on the off-piste vs on-piste balance.
I'd still put it well above Zermatt tho' from an all-round perspective, so we clearly have very different preferences!
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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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| ankitind wrote: |
| Kenzie wrote: |
| Kitzbuhel to coincide with the men's world cup? |
Are you talking about Hahnenkamm Races between 19th to 25th Jan or Snow polo world cup from Jan 15 to 18th? |
The ponies must be very talented to click into skis and take on the Mausfalle 
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@ankitind, the 'Lech-side' of Ski Arlberg (that's Lech-Zürs-Warth) offers some 200 km piste of lovely blues and reds. It's the St.Anton side where things get harder.
You might want to consider doing Lech for Christmas. Because Lech in fact probably has the best Christmas snow+charm record of all of the Alps.
When searching for acco, do note that the road Lech-Warth in winter is closed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| ankitind wrote: |
That said, we keep hearing:
“If you’re not doing off-piste, you can skip Verbier, St. Anton, and Lech.”
We’re more into groomed runs than powder hunting, so I’m wondering—how true is that in your experience?
Is Lech still a great choice for on-piste skiers, or does it mainly shine for those chasing deep snow and backcountry lines? |
Lech has great piste skiing and is very snowy and charming. If thinking of going for xmas/ NY be warned it's pricey and books up very early.
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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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| Langerzug wrote: |
@ankitind, the 'Lech-side' of Ski Arlberg (that's Lech-Zürs-Warth) offers some 200 km piste of lovely blues and reds. It's the St.Anton side where things get harder.
You might want to consider doing Lech for Christmas. Because Lech in fact probably has the best Christmas snow+charm record of all of the Alps.
When searching for acco, do note that the road Lech-Warth in winter is closed. |
All the accommodations in Lech are either already booked or extremely expensive—understandably, given the season. That said, I’ve found a couple of great options about 30–40 minutes away from Lech.
But I’ve always wondered: why is staying in Lech so heavily emphasized?
Are nearby villages not recommended for some reason—like limited ski access, poor transport links, or missing that special Christmas charm?
Would love to hear your thoughts on whether staying a bit outside still gives you the full Lech experience.
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@ankitind, The village of Lech indeed has a very special charm. Hard to put it in words though. It's the combination of thick snow, the pretty unique church and houses, the pistes on all sides ending right at the river that runs through the village centre.
The surrounding area is exceptionally beautiful also. Great scenery. There also is a kind of 'at the end of the world' feeling to Lech, high up, a bit isolated, hidden.
Once read that if Walt Disney would draw a ski village, he would draw Lech
It's small though (much smaller than e.g. Zermatt). And in the end it's all a matter of taste of course. But Lech isn't famous for nothing.
30/40 minutes definitely will not have that charm. You're probably looking at villages in the Klostertal, which are all rather soulless. And you need to watch proximity to the busy highway there.
By the way: Currently is not a good time to look for availability, anywhere. Many hotels have not openend their booking calendars for next season, many are waiting for their returning guests to decide. And in general hoteliers are just very tired now, end of season.
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You know it makes sense.
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I’m going to come in on the left field and suggest something a little different.
If you have that much time to ski in one season, and it looks like you and your kid like skiing so much you’ll be doing a lot of skiing in the future, I’d suggest you start lookin at some lesson/training program for both yourself and your son.
Alpine skiing isn’t just about “getting down” some piste of certain color. Every turn is a lot more fun if you got the proper technique. Majority of adult learners don’t have the time to get to a point of being “natural” on skis. But you have the time and the funds. It’ll be worth it.
If you go for that, it will have a bearing on where you go.
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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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| abc wrote: |
I’m going to come in on the left field and suggest something a little different.
If you have that much time to ski in one season, and it looks like you and your kid like skiing so much you’ll be doing a lot of skiing in the future, I’d suggest you start lookin at some lesson/training program for both yourself and your son.
Alpine skiing isn’t just about “getting down” some piste of certain color. Every turn is a lot more fun if you got the proper technique. Majority of adult learners don’t have the time to get to a point of being “natural” on skis. But you have the time and the funds. It’ll be worth it.
If you go for that, it will have a bearing on where you go. |
This is a fantastic suggestion—thank you!
That’s actually something I’ve been thinking about too — really appreciate you putting it so clearly.
I’d really like to use some help to make tangible progress, not just rack up ski days. My 11-year-old son is already skiing blacks comfortably, and I’m solid on reds, but we’ve never had proper technical coaching.
I was thinking - Instead of locking into a single multi-week program at one resort (which would limit flexibility), I was thinking of doing 1–2 private lessons at each base, and using those as calibration points — get focused feedback, then ski independently for a few days to practice drills. With 3–5 bases planned, this seems like a structure that still allows freedom to explore. Please correct me, if I'm wrong.
That said, I’m still trying to figure out what kind of instruction works best. We’ve done group lessons with ESF in France, but honestly, it felt like more of a moving drill — just following the instructor with minimal feedback. And with the language barrier (I don’t speak French), it was hard to connect. My son enjoyed earning a badge at the end, but we didn’t come away feeling like we actually improved much.
I’ve heard that Austria is a great place to learn properly, especially for families — so I want to do it right this time.
A few questions for anyone who’s gone this route:
• Does this “1–2 private lessons per base” model actually lead to real improvement over time?
• Are there any ski schools in Tirol or Arlberg that offer performance-focused coaching, especially for intermediate adults and confident young skiers?
• For my son, would you recommend sticking with occasional privates, or doing a more structured kids’ academy week or race camp somewhere?
• Also open to thoughts on private vs group lessons in Austria — especially when balancing learning with enjoyment.
Would love to hear what’s worked (or hasn’t) from others who’ve done a longer trip like this!
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Tue 1-04-25 6:43; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Langerzug wrote: |
@ankitind, The village of Lech indeed has a very special charm. Hard to put it in words though. It's the combination of thick snow, the pretty unique church and houses, the pistes on all sides ending right at the river that runs through the village centre.
The surrounding area is exceptionally beautiful also. Great scenery. There also is a kind of 'at the end of the world' feeling to Lech, high up, a bit isolated, hidden.
Once read that if Walt Disney would draw a ski village, he would draw Lech
It's small though (much smaller than e.g. Zermatt). And in the end it's all a matter of taste of course. But Lech isn't famous for nothing.
30/40 minutes definitely will not have that charm. You're probably looking at villages in the Klostertal, which are all rather soulless. And you need to watch proximity to the busy highway there.
By the way: Currently is not a good time to look for availability, anywhere. Many hotels have not openend their booking calendars for next season, many are waiting for their returning guests to decide. And in general hoteliers are just very tired now, end of season. |
Staying in a beautiful village definitely adds to the overall charm of the trip—no doubt about that. But for us, since we’re typically on the slopes from 9 AM till the last lift closes, we often only have the evenings to soak in the village vibe.
From photos, Lech gives me more of a Cortina feel than a Zermatt one—elegant, charming, but maybe not as dramatically iconic?
Now, Lech is clearly special—and priced accordingly. But help me understand this:
If we’re more focused on chasing good pistes and can happily survive Les Menuires (which many call the “ugliest ski village” but we still loved it for the skiing), how reasonable is it to stay outside the main Lech-Zürs core in the Arlberg area?
Is it practical to base ourselves somewhere less charming but better priced, and then just start different ski days from different access points in the region?
Would love to hear your take on trade-offs between charm, access, and ski experience in this area.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You're right, it's all about trade offs. Since you are looking at the Tirol Card, and seem ok with driving to a resort each day, I would seriously suggest staying somewhere like Landeck. No, it won't have the small ski town charm. But it will be priced better, and more importantly, it puts you in a fantastic location to access many of the resorts on that pass each day.
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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 honestly don't get the big deal about Lech. I've stayed there for a week in summer and it's no better or worse than a multitude of Austrian towns on prettiness etc and in fact lacks some ammenities. Obviously it has exclusivity/price on its side (more likely to see baby blue supercars parked up and his n her in matching white jeans and fur/leather).
The skiing is good but that's by virtue of the circuit it's connected to than the place itself. I'm inclined to go with the valley town base for the duration and hit lots of places from there for use of the Tirol card. Or 2 such bases in say West and East Tirol.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
I honestly don't get the big deal about Lech. I've stayed there for a week in summer and it's no better or worse than a multitude of Austrian towns on prettiness etc and in fact lacks some ammenities. Obviously it has exclusivity/price on its side (more likely to see baby blue supercars parked up and his n her in matching white jeans and fur/leather).
The skiing is good but that's by virtue of the circuit it's connected to than the place itself. I'm inclined to go with the valley town base for the duration and hit lots of places from there for use of the Tirol card. Or 2 such bases in say West and East Tirol. |
Thanks—really appreciate your take.
We’re planning a 56-day Austria ski road trip this winter—first time skiing in Austria. We’ve skied in Zermatt, Grindelwald, Cortina, and Ortisei before, so now trying to wrap our heads around Tirol and how it compares.
We’ll be using the Snow Card Tirol, setting up 3 to 5 bases, and adding Arlberg separately since we definitely want to ski both Ischgl and the Arlberg region—just not necessarily stay in the main towns. We’re happy staying 20–40 mins out, and we don’t mind driving after skiing.
Also still figuring out where to be during Christmas week (Dec 21–27). We’re looking for:
• A solid chance of snow in the village
• A cozy vibe with Christmas Mass, decorations, and lights
• Ideally a snow-sure ski resort too
I was initially leaning toward Serfaus, but some folks recommended looking into Obergurgl or Alpbach instead.
Would love any thoughts on:
• Good base towns that are well connected for skiing but still have some charm in the evenings?
• Quiet alternatives near Ischgl or Arlberg worth basing from?
• How manageable is it to shift bases every 10–14 days over a long trip?
• Any feedback on Serfaus vs. Obergurgl vs. Alpbach for that Christmas week?
Thanks again—still piecing it all together and every insight helps!
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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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@ankitind, for your plans it obviously is most practical to base somewhere in the Landeck area, with easy acces to all of West-Tirol including Arlberg.
Can't really help on that.
Alpbach village is too low to be considered snow sure for Christmas. Obergurgl is good for that, but a bit lacking in atmosphere.
Important to realize that Zermatt, Grindelwald, Cortina and Ortisei all started as summer destinations, growing into wintersport destinations, and they are all good size towns.
Places like Lech, Alpbach and Obergurgl, Ischgl, Serfaus are just small villages.
St.Anton is a bit larger
Kitzbühel size is more like Zermatt/Grindelwald/Cortina/Ortisei, or even slightly larger.
Innsbruck is a real -provincial- city, capital of the Tyrol state, with a university and many students. Beautiful and atmospheric, typical central-european city, with mountains as backdrop, you might like it!
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 1-04-25 11:55; edited 2 times in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Regarding the instruction/coaching, in your situation, from personal experience I would book a solid week camp for the first week of the trip. Six days of solid coaching with one coach will set you up for the season, and be much more effective than separate days with different coaches - it takes even a good coach a while to fully understand your skiing and learning style.
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@ankitind,
| Quote: |
Would love any thoughts on:
• Good base towns that are well connected for skiing but still have some charm in the evenings?
• Quiet alternatives near Ischgl or Arlberg worth basing from?
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Landeck is a possible base for Ischgl but on a drive through it didn't have obvious charm in the evening, I could be corrected on that one though . I have stayed in Kappl which is a cheaper place to ski Ischgl from and pleasant as long as you avoid accommodation right on the main valley road which is a bit dark and doesn't really connect with the rest of the village. See may be worth looking at but I haven't stayed there . Galtur is a pleasant little village to say in.
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Kappl, See and Galtur all viable options for staying in to ski the area. Ischgl is what I would call town sized - big spa complex, slightly confusing pedestrian geography (part solved by the tunnels) heaps of shops, biggish supermarkets.
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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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| RobinS wrote: |
| Regarding the instruction/coaching, in your situation, from personal experience I would book a solid week camp for the first week of the trip. Six days of solid coaching with one coach will set you up for the season, and be much more effective than separate days with different coaches - it takes even a good coach a while to fully understand your skiing and learning style. |
+1
Coaching and instruction IMO works well as a relationship. It doesn't work nearly so well as a series of transactions.
e.g. You probably wouldn't change maths tutor for your child every couple of weeks.
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| snowdave wrote: |
| RobinS wrote: |
| Regarding the instruction/coaching, in your situation, from personal experience I would book a solid week camp for the first week of the trip. Six days of solid coaching with one coach will set you up for the season, and be much more effective than separate days with different coaches - it takes even a good coach a while to fully understand your skiing and learning style. |
+1
Coaching and instruction IMO works well as a relationship. It doesn't work nearly so well as a series of transactions.
e.g. You probably wouldn't change maths tutor for your child every couple of weeks. |
Last year I tried ESF group lessons in France but didn’t find them particularly valuable. This year, I’ll be in Sölden/Obergurgl from 15–20 December. Are there any ski schools or week-long camps in that area you’d recommend?
If it’s worth it, I can shift my base to Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for that week as well.
Also, how do ski schools typically work in Austria? Are there differences from France in terms of structure, quality, or approach?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@ankitind,
I think you should start a new thread asking after courses in Austria.
If you weren't so set on 6 weeks in Austria I'd have suggested looking at your first week in Flaine with Action Outdoors-UCPA for a structured week of lessons. There is an ongoing thread on Trip Reports by someone currently doing this.
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Re lessons you could of course see what @swskier could recommend around the Zillertal area or indeed if you were looking further East explore options among sH instructors in the Ski Amade area. I'd suspect the main challenge if kicking off around Xmas is getting the quality of development lesson you might want when it is all hands to the pump but possibly that week of 14th works fine.
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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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Re 'would I get bored skiing in Austria for 8 weeks' ? From a skiing perspective, I'd say 'no', but you may find the food on the mountain to be a bit repetitive, if that matters to you.
I've had a Snow Card Tirol for the last 4 seasons, typically staying in 3 or 4 different places for 2 or 3 weeks each, which I find is a decent balance between variety and hassle of moving; that said we self-cater and bring a car load of stuff from the UK each time, so there's maybe a bit more to pack up each time.
Not sure if laundry becomes an issue. I expect some hotels will offer this as a service, though I've never used that. Alternatively only the larger ski towns have a launderette - I only remember finding one in Chamonix and Kitzbuhel
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Poster: A snowHead
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| viv wrote: |
Re 'would I get bored skiing in Austria for 8 weeks' ? From a skiing perspective, I'd say 'no', but you may find the food on the mountain to be a bit repetitive, if that matters to you.
I've had a Snow Card Tirol for the last 4 seasons, typically staying in 3 or 4 different places for 2 or 3 weeks each, which I find is a decent balance between variety and hassle of moving; that said we self-cater and bring a car load of stuff from the UK each time, so there's maybe a bit more to pack up each time.
Not sure if laundry becomes an issue. I expect some hotels will offer this as a service, though I've never used that. Alternatively only the larger ski towns have a launderette - I only remember finding one in Chamonix and Kitzbuhel |
That’s really helpful, thank you!
Which cities or towns would you personally recommend using as bases to explore multiple resorts? We’ll have our own car and I genuinely enjoy driving in the Alps, so I’m quite flexible when it comes to daily commutes or switching bases every couple of weeks.
I’m especially curious about places that offer a good balance of:
• access to diverse resorts,
• and perhaps even some charm or local culture in the evenings.
Would love to hear which areas you’ve found most rewarding during your Snow Card Tirol trips!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
| Would love to hear which areas you’ve found most rewarding during your Snow Card Tirol trips! |
When we had Tirol Snow Cards, we stayed in self catering accommodation, as follows;
- An early season short stay in Fulpmes for glacier skiing at Stubai and Pitztal.
- A week in Kappl - For skiing there, plus Ischgl, Galtür, Venet and See.
- A week near Öetz - For skiing at Hochöetz,
Sölden, Obergurgl, Hochzeiger and Imst.
- A short stay in Innsbruck to ski Patscherköfel, Nordkette and Mutteralm. Plus Seefeld by train from Innsbruck.
- A week near Mayrhofen to ski the Ziller Valley areas.
- An end of season shorter stay in Sölden to ski the glaciers there and at Kaunertal.
- Ditto a stay at Neustift in Stubaital to ski Stubai Glacier.
Mrs MA and I just love skiing anywhere, so we loved everywhere we went. Some of the areas we'd never heard of (like Hochzeiger, Patscherköfel and See) were particularly impressive. As was the massive vertical and powder at Kappl. Galtür was great too. Small but virtually deserted.
Happy days! 
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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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And my list for the Snow Card Tirol
2 x stay in Kirchberg which links directly into Kitzbuhel, and is 10 mins drive to Brixen for SkiWelt. Also short drive to Kitzbuhelerhorn and St Johann
Stay just outside Reith Im Alpbachtal. Short drive to Ski Juwel, or skin across fields to Ski area in Reith
4 x stay in Zillertal. Best options for us were Aschau and Laimach, where we were on bus routes to 2 areas either side, or drive to Hintertux and the other further area
2 x stay in Kappl, where we mostly skied in Ischgl (regular ski bus), but also drove to See, Galtur, and round to Serfaus
2 x stay in Otztal (Langenfeld), with ski bus to Solden, drive to Obergurgl, Hochoetz or Kuhtai
Stay just outside Innsbruck in Patsch, very close to Patscherkofel, and drive to Mutteralm, Axamer Lizum, Stubai, Seefeld and Kuhtai
I could recommend all of the above, and genuinely find it hard to rank them. All gave good variety - e.g.
Kirchberg / SkiWelt. Several times when it was windy, much of Kitzbuhel was closed, but SkiWelt was less exposed and still open
Zillertal. Nice variation between the 4 main areas, though we didn't really leave the valley (except once for night touring in Reith)
Kappl etc. variety in size (and busyness) between Ischgl and the smaller resorts. Also not that far to Serfaus
Otztal. similar variety between large and small resorts
Innsbruck. Probably the greatest variety, as we went in pretty much every direction
Alpbachtal. Probably least variety as just one small and one medium ski area
Some other thoughts:
We generally prefer to use a ski bus if possible. At a guess we've used ski bus for 60% of the time and drove 40% (+ 1 day in Kappl where we could walk to/from the lift, and some days in Kirchberg we could close enough back to the apartment). We deliberately travel during quiet periods (Jan, and late season), and I think some ski buses (e.g. to Ischgl) could be less pleasant at busier times
Sorry I am not much use re local charm, though this is in part due to travelling at quiet times. However I've heard good things second hand about the Christmas market in Innsbruck
Next on my list is somewhere near Serfaus. This could be any of 1. Serfaus/Fiss/Ladis for immediate access to skiing, 2. Ried im Oberinntal to access Serfaus etc, plus Kaunertal, and go up the valley into Switzerland to Samnaun which links to Ischgl, or 3. Landeck to access the previous, plus Paznaun valley (Ischgl etc). I'm leaning towards option 2
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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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Consider beautiful Hall-in-Tirol as a central base.
Also atmospheric Seefeld might work for you.
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FAQ
