 Poster: A snowHead
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14 of us are travelling to Ischgl, Austria at halfterm. The transfer from Munich airport works out at £85 each return with local resort taxi companies, which is quite a bit for a family of 4. We are still waiting for the Easyjet flights to be released, but suspect they won't be cheap. So, we have been looking at the possibility of hiring a 17 seater minibus to drive the whole way. One of our concerns is what the approach into Ischgl is like. Is it a series of hairpin bends? Would you do it? Are we mad?!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Christina1, presumably you won't be just 4 travelling? Generally, hiring a big minibus to be taken abroad is very expensive; it might be cheaper, and more comfortable, for the group to take their ordinary family cars. That gives you more flexibility in-resort too (for example for small groups to drive to different ski areas). Never driven into Ischgl, but can't imagine it would pose any special problems for driving - you'd need chains, obviously, but that's no big deal. And even coaches can get round hairpin bends! An alternative would be to rent a car from the airport, if you can get sensible price tickets.
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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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Hmmm... in terms of the approach to Ischgl, there is an uphill windy section after leaving the main road at Landeck, but it's not a mountain side hairpin bends type of road, as it's going up the valley not up the side of a mountain. However, in bad weather there can sometimes be small drifts avalanches onto the road which can result in closures for a few hours to clear them.
So I would say, no not a steep hairpin bend type road, but it is uphill and windy.
In terms of are you mad, well that's a different question altogether. I guess factors I would consider are:
Cost of fuel and tolls for the minibus as well as the hire.
Will you use the vehicle while you are there?
Who/how many people would be available/insured/happy to drive it, in winter conditions.
Cost and practicality of making sure it has good winter tyres and chains.
Comfort - after travelling only an hour in a minibus this weekend, I would be very keen to check legroom, seat pitch, whether the seats recline etc. as people are going to be spending a long time in it.
14 people plus luggage for a skiing holiday (and potentially skis?) would you fit in a 17 seater, or would you need a trailer?
Journey time, these vehicles don't travel as fast as you would you your car, so you would need to be very cautious with your estimates of how long it would take.
Are you staying somewhere with parking.
I personally would probably not do it, I would consider driving it in a car, but not in a minibus. It seems like you have the disadvantages of travelling in a 'large' vehicle, without the comfort of a coach. But having said that, it could end up being a bargain way to travel.
So are you mad? Maybe, but don't let that stop you! If you're happy with the above potential issues then it might be the right solution for your group.
D
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Christina1, aren't you better off looking at easyJet to Innsbruck? Munich-Ischgl is a bit of a schlep. And driving a mini bus to/from UK is no way to spend a holiday.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 16-06-08 10:30; edited 1 time in total
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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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pam w, Two of the families are taking an extra teenager with them so impossible to fit into average family car. The cost of the minibus is £700 and £200 on Eurotunnel, so between 14 of us looks very tempting. Just wondered if there were hairpin bends, how many as this year the transfer between Milan and Corvara was tricky (but beautiful) with about 1.5 hours of continuous hairpins and none of us would dream of attempting something like that.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is there no option to fly into Innsbruck? If so, it can all be achieved with one large hire vehicle for luggage and a train plus bus from Innsbruck to Landeck then Ischgl.
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Christina1, Friends hired a minibus to go out to Hintertux a couple of weeks ago. It had a speed limiter fitted which restricted it to 100km/h and they still needed a trailer to hold the kit.
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Bode Swiller, Easyjet to Innsbruck do not fly on a Saturday. All other airlines are about £250 each! With the minibus it does extend the holiday a little, going Friday and returning Sunday and overnighting in an interesting town on the way in a cheap Campanile.
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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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Christina1, they fly on a Friday though to Innsbruck, and other airlines also fly there. Why not just take the train to the resort no matter where you fly into, Zurich/Salzburg/Munich/Innsbruck etc. depending on the cheapest flight
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Christina1, we hired a minibus at Zurich and drove to Ischgl - piece of cake, and that was after a snowfall. The road from Landeck to Ischgl is well cleared, you would have to be very unfortunate to encounter any problems - remember that Ischl town is relatively low. I'd do it again without a second thought.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Christina1, although I can see that £900 between 14 people looks very tempting, I would imagine your fuel bill would be horrendous (thinking several hundred pounds at least, although fuel is cheaper in Europe, prices have risen everywhere due to the $/barrel rate. Plus two nights accommodation x 14 people enroute. Plus adding a trailer for kit would be another expense, as well as extra cost for winter tyres and chains. It might end up being no cheaper at all. I was trying to be open-minded and diplomatic in my first post, but am starting to this that this way lies madness!
As I said, from an access point of view, no 1.5 hours of hairpins, but that to me would be the least of the list of drawbacks. The biggest one for me would be that minibuses are NOT comfortable, in my experience, and the journey would take a looooooooong time.
However, I now feel I am being negative, so if it's what you really want to do then I guess you will have considered all the issues, so in that case, I guess it's a case of whatever floats you!
D
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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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Deliaskis, Thank you, very informative. This may be are only option if we are looking at pushing £1,000 for the 4 of us in travelling costs with flying. There would be potentially 6 drivers so not so exhausting. What I really, really need is wonderfully cheap Easyjet flights and then all this would be irrelevant. After 7 years of organising the annual ski trip, I think after this it will be a package holiday next year!
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The road to Ischgl is no problem, but a 17 seater minibus needs a tacho, drivers with appropriate licences, is subject to driving hours regulations etc. It would be very expensive to hire one, and you would probably find it difficult to find someone who would want to hire one to you.
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You know it makes sense.
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Deliaskis, No it doesn't float me! It is all down to cost, especially being so restricted to halfterm. We will have to have a team meeting soon and all the pros and cons put into the hat. I like masmith, ideal of flying to Zurich and then hiring a minibus, but I have a feeling the flights will be astronomical by now. Because we have been waiting for so long for Easyjet to release their flights, all the other carriers have been slowly increasing their prices so our options have been reduced.
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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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Christina1, Typically the only minibuses available from Zurich are 9 seaters, maybe you'll get larger ones from specialist companies, but the 'mass market' rental companies usually only go up to 9 seats, which, with ski luggage means a maximum of 8 people.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks everyone. Looks like we will have problems on the luggage front as Deliaskis, says. I have just come back from looking at a 17 seater at our local car hire. The seats go right to the back with no space behind. In a million years we will not get 14 bags/cases plus boots on 3 seats. They do not supply top boxes either. We will just have to look at other options. I reckon I have spent what adds up to a whole week sorting this holiday out in all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Christina1, Race clubs do use this size of minibus but then also use a Transit sized van for the luggage.
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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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| Christina1 wrote: |
| Bode Swiller, Easyjet to Innsbruck do not fly on a Saturday. All other airlines are about £250 each! With the minibus it does extend the holiday a little, going Friday and returning Sunday and overnighting in an interesting town on the way in a cheap Campanile. |
Have you looked at charter airlines - there are tons in and out on a saturday. They'll sell seat only. Otherwise, Zurich, train, taxi. Or even Salzburg, train, taxi.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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when you think about the accomodation thats going to be 4 nights for the whole thing when your on the move thats going to be around 100 quid per person then I think taking a plane to innsbruck+short private transfer would be cheaper aswell as making the travel time just one day as apposed to 3 (each way)
I'd personally just fly, easier - you don't have to arrange all the stop off routes and deal with so many things - just the plane and then the transfer.
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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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Yep, echo jj193's comments, Easyjet Gatwick to Inssbruck could be the ticket.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jj193, Still not easy with Innsbruck. Would have to fly out Sunday so missing one night in resort. Coming back would have to stay a night in Innsbruck, which isn't cheap as I have just spent the last 2 hours looking! And the transfer is still about £40 each. Will have to look at the Munich then train to Landeck option.
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As a pointer, the train from Munich to Landeck will go via Kufstein I think, and should cost around E45 ish for a single ticket, but takes around 4 hours. So total cost E90 return, and then you still need a taxi up to resort, so you might save a big fat zero on the taxi transfer.
However, if you can get Easy flights to Innsbruck on Sunday, we did something similar (but with BA) Sunday to Sunday, and stayed a night in Innsbruck for only around E35. It was actually quite nice to have a change of scene for the last night. Alternatively, I would be looking at Zurich or Friedrichshafen as alternative arrival airports.
Or, if it absolutely has to be Munich, I would look at hiring a couple of minibuses there, or what we normally do, is hire one large vehicle and put all the luggage in there, and the other passengers go in a couple of small vehicles. Seems to be the cheapest way of doing it when we have worked out all the options, but might be different for your group, just wanted to make the point that you don't necessarily need several large vehicles. I don't pretend to understand car hire pricing but I am sure with the help of the mother of all excel spreadsheets you will be able to find the formula that works!
D
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Christina1, have you also looked at Stuttgart ?
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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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Deliaskis, Looked at train prices which work out to £108 return, including taxi to resort. £432 for the family! Unfortunately missed the Ryanair Friedrichshafen release by hours and they were already up to about £200 each! Zurich about the same. Have just looked at the price of 2 minibus (9 seaters), but at £432 each plus petrol - oh dear! So thanks everyone, I think we shall just wait for Easyjet (with me checking every hour) and pay up the Munich £85 transfer.
masmith, I must admit the British Airways Stuttgart fare is good at £105, but then when we add the much longer transfer and associated price, I don't think it will help. Thanks though.
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Christina1, I feel your pain, I seriously do. Although we don't go away in school hols, I know your world of obsessive internet price surfing, just hoping thaqt the perfect solution is just around the corner.
Good luck for the Easyjet flights!
D
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Christina1, While in Ischgl last year we were talking to some German's who regularly drive from Stuttgart, they said it took about 3 hours and is an easy drive. My Autoroute suggests Munich Flughafen>Ischgl is 3 hrs drive, from Stuttgart Flughafen just an extra half hour, albeit 60 miles more at 202 miles. I've never done either journey so can't speak from experience, but if Easyjet prices are prohibitive then maybe the extra half hour from Stuttgart may not be too bad ? Hire car (Mondeo size) plus fuel should cost sub £250. Bit of a chore admitted, but it'll be worth it once your'e there !
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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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In my view the best thing to do is to hire a chauffeured mini-bus. A few years ago I was desperate to go to Ischgl for my 30th b'day which happened to be at Half-term week. So flights were very expensive etc. However, my flying with German Wings (prices didn't inflate as much as UK airlines) from Stansted to Stuttgart managed to get half-term weekend flights for about £80. Then hired a mini-bus (+driver) for transfer, which was about £40 per head (Stuttgart is further and hence more expensive transfer than Munich).
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You know it makes sense.
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kamikaze, I've done that a few times too. In this case, if all 14 are flying in together, it's worth finding a coach operator in, say, Landeck and getting a quote for the return journey. Based on quotes I've had in the last 2 seasons, I reckon £50-£60 per head would do it. There's a Munich-based bus company called Falcan (Google them) and they are a tad more pricey but still beats hiring/driving etc. Plus... if you ask them nicely, they'll stock the coach up with booze & snacks. The kids will love it.
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