 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm looking for advice about which resort to go to in Austria. I've skied a lot in Italy, Via Lattea a couple of times, Cervinia, and the Dolomites a lot - Val Gardena, Arabba, Val di Fassa and Kronplatz. And while I love skiing in Italy, especially the Dolomites, I was thinking that maybe I should go somewhere else for once. As I've skied in France a bit too (Tignes, Les Deux Alps, Serre Chevalier, Valloire) the obvious choice for somewhere new is Austria, but I have no idea where.
I would be going with my 15 year old and we are mainly piste skiers who enjoy clocking up the miles and can cope fine with what passes for black runs in Italy (I've noticed that black runs in France can be quite a bit more challenging) My son is keen to do more off piste, so I would be looking to go somewhere where that is an option and where we can hire a guide/instructor who would help us do that.
Night life and apre is not a priority, quality and availability of the food is! (I'm always amazed by how much worse and more expensive the food is in French resorts compared to Italy)
So, with all that in mind, does anyone have any Austrian suggestions?
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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more off piste, so I would be looking to go somewhere where that is an option and where we can hire a guide/instructor who would help us do that = Arlberg...
St. Anton or Lech according to your budget
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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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@flashharry, generally speaking, you won't find ski areas like the mega French resorts and certainly not the size of the Sella Ronda area of the Dolomites.
Arlberg as mentioned, or you could also look at Ischgl.
Mayrhofen and the Zillertal would cover you too, but you'd need to be prepared to use the local bus/train service (included in your lift pass) to explore all the areas to really explore it all.
Further east you then have the Ski Welt and Kitzbühel.
Then further east in to Salzburgerland you should consider Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Wagrain-Flachu and also Schaldming.
That's the most major large ski areas as a starting point.
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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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Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
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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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Saalbach Hinterglemm 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It really depends on how important off piste is. If important then Arlberg is the obvious choice not only for off piste but also the size, around 300km of piste plus another 200km of ski routes / itineraries. The downsides are the cost and it can be crowded. Ischgl has a decent amount of off piste and might be a good compromise. Saalbach does have an area which is used for the freeride world tour but not sure how reliable off piste conditions are, it does have an extensive area of piste with lots of cannon coverage. The Zillertal has lots of variety (including off piste) plus a glacier but (as mentioned above) it is a fairly long valley rather than a single "resort", to get the most out of it you need to use the train & buses or have a car, also few runs back to the valley. Kitzbühel has some off piste and some nice ski routes, though these need good snow conditions.
I cant really comment on quality of the food as it is not a personal priority. Most of the larger places will have a good selection of eating places from kebabs up to fine dinning. Be aware that the most popular option in hotels is half board. Many places on the mountain will be self service but in some areas (Lech for example) there will be more service at the table available.
Pretty much all places in Austria will offer lots of "apres", some notable examples would be St Anton, Ischgl & Mayrhofen
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Thanks for the replies, food for thought
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Another vote for Saalbach Hinterglemm - Hinterglemm is a bit quieter if you're not bothered about apres, plenty of good places to eat on and off mountain. Plenty of ski schools/guides offering off piste lessons in Fieberbrunn which is easy to reach from Hinterglemm on skis.
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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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Took my 15 year old son to Mayrhoyen last xmas/new year. We too love to clock up the miles, which we were certainly able to do once away from the centre of Mayrhofen. Runs to Gerlos were amazing. We had the best week. Stayed in a hotel in Hippach (Christlwirt) via Sunweb. Was good value and the food was excellent. Not much going on in the village, but there is a lovely sports bar, but opposite the hotel is a coffee and cake cafe which was awesome. Bus stops right outside the hotel. Train is a short walk which takes you to Zillertal.
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| boggyjo wrote: |
| Stayed in a hotel in Hippach (Christlwirt) via Sunweb. Was good value and the food was excellent. |
It's a lovely restaurant there, and Steffi (waitress, blonde lady around 40) is a nice lady too. Mrs Swskier worked with her the first winter we were here and she recommended the Christlwirt for food to take my Mum and Dad to on their visit, and it didn't disappoint.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd vote Saalbach mainly for the ability to clock up miles, in a similar way to the Dolomites (lots of potential for various different big circular routes). There's mileage to be had in the Zillertal area too, but you'd have to do some of it by bus and just ski different areas each day. We also enjoyed the Kitzbuhel area, but the dynamics of our group when we were there meant we didn't travel that far.
We don't ski off piste at all, so can't comment on that side of things. But my favourite places to ski have been Via Lattea (Sauze) and the Dolomites (Selva/Arraba) along with Saalbach, so the latter would be my recommendation!
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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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@flashharry, when are you thinking of taking your holiday (I notice your son is 15, so, if it has to be in school holiday time, that would be a very relevant factor)?
I also notice that Saalbach (where I live) is getting a few recommendations. If you catch it right the off-piste there is excellent (search on YouTube for Richard Bergenholtz’s videos, and you will see what I mean).
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@flashharry, Ski Amade for miles. Short transfers from Salzburg and if you hire a car you can ski a different resort every day. Best location is probably Flachau/Wagrain and if you get bored there, then Schladming, Hochkonig (cruising right up your street), Grossarl and Gastein to explore too. Food on the Mountain is a little bit more expensive than Italy but about 20% less than France.
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You know it makes sense.
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@flashharry,
did you book already the flights? if yes where? or drive till Austria? and furthermore, if you fly will you have a car as RedandWhiteFlachau mentioned or you want transfers?
this can help a bit with the decision
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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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From my admittedly limited experience of holidays (not just skiing) in Austria and Italy I'd say the food, as that is important to you, is better in Italy. Though I'd not choose half board in either - would prefer to "shop around" and if I've had a proper lunch I might just go for a snack in the evenings. I dislike having to pay for more than I want to eat. Though for a 15 year old boy that's probably impossible unless he's a very fussy eater.
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FAQ
