 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Guys,
I have been a victim of the credit crunch hence i have some spare time on my hands. I am very much a beginner at skiing and want to become good so have decided to spend 3-4 months at a resort but am unsure where to go. My thoughts in regards to the resort i would like is:-
A good range of slopes. I wont be a beginner for long. I would like it to be in Europe but not France...dont ask why.
Its REALLY important that the resort is a good non skiing resort with a variety of things to do....and more than just partying, although this is important too. I vision that the resort is simply a good place to chill and meet people and has lots of interesting things to do (in and around the resort)
Not to expensive.....but i dont want this to dictate you choice of resort to much.
Hope this make sense and look fwd to your suggestions
Steve
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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London2008, welcome to snowHeads 
My suggestion would be to look at the SuperSalzburger ski pass, and pick a resort on that. The pass covers about 25 resorts around the Salzburg area, so you'll not get bored. Salzburg is a beautiful city to escape to, and places like Zell am See and Kitzbuhel are nice to spend time in even when not skiing.
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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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Zermatt.
St Anton.
Davos.
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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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Zermatt - considering your criteria -you will not be dissapointed -have fun 
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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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I have heard that StAnton is super expensive and quite tricky to bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate.
Zematt...i have heard is also super expensive and not much to do apart from ski.
Elizabeth...your idea sounds interesting. However, i would like to have a base (which is where i would spend the majority of my time). However, the super ski pass is a great idea and i will get to see lots of resorts. Are you suggesting staying in Kitz os Zell?...or Salzburg. I am confused 
Thoughts on the above???
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh....and one more thing. How much is the Super Salzburg pass?....actually i can find out myself....
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Another option is Italy - Sella Ronda and Superdolomiti skipass....
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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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Super Salzburg pass cover the resorts in the Salzburg region. If my memory serves me right then Ski Welt (biggest Austrian resort) and Kitzbuhel are included.
It is likely that given a variety of resorts, some of small ones are beginner friendly, you will enjoy skiing better than staying at just one resort. At the very least you should be able to find slopes just right for matching your progression.
Others may disagree but I found the Swiss resorts are not the best for the beginners.
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London2008, sorry, I was suggesting staying in Zell or Kitzbuhel (or one of the other resorts round there), but having an easy journey to Salzburg if you wanted to get away from skiing for the odd day or two.
http://www.salzburgsuperskicard.com/en/
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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London2008, St Anton is not super expensive at all. Go there most years and whilst it is slightly more expensive than other Austrian resorts, it is still cheaper than France. A mate of mine who regularly goes with us there has been to Zermatt and Verbier and found both far more expensive than St Anton. You can get a decent meal at Funky Chicken for under €10 and a beer will on average set you back around €4.
I would be tempted to base yourself around Landeck as this is only around 20 mins from St Anton. It's also at the start (I think) to the valley that Ischgl lies and a short hop away from the valley where Obergurgl and Solden are. You therefore have some of Austria's all within easy reach. Landeck is a town though rather than a resort. Also very short transfers from Innsbruck
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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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Another fantasticly intelligent and well thought out post from Whitegold,
| Quote: |
Zermatt.
St Anton.
Davos.
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3 of the most expensive and totally resorty places!
Go with the Salzburgerland Super pass - that is what we buy every year. We are on our 3rd season and still haven't covered half of it!
If you base yourself within the Salzburger Sportwelt (part of the Ski Amade pass) then it is pretty equal distances to all places on the super pass. Schladming areas are 1/2 hour.... Dachstein West is about 1/2 hour (Annaberg), Russbach is a bit further.
Saalbach, Ski Circus etc is about 1 hour 15 and you pass Zell on your way (45min).
Obertauern is 1/2 hour, St Martin and Lungau are about 45min - hour...
The Gasteins 40min
Then all of the Salzburger Sportwelt (Flachau, Wagrain, Zauchensee, Flachau Winkl, Radstadt, Eben, Filzmoos, Kleinarl, St.Johann, Alpendorf) are within 20min...
I really can't think why I live here...... 
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| flangesax wrote: |
| If you base yourself within the Salzburger Sportwelt (part of the Ski Amade pass) then it is pretty equal distances to all places on the super pass. |
I would agree with that, staying somewhere like St. Johann in Pongau or Wagrain. Kitzbühel I think is too far out on the edge to be a good centre, although the pass covers areas even further west, like the Zillertal Arena (Skiwelt is not included).
If you really want to ski all the area, it might be worth moving half way through (or even once a month). Staying in the Salzburg side for a while, say Wagrain, then a month somewhere around Saalbach, and finally in Kitzbühel/Kirchberg or somewhere in that corner (this all presumes you have your own transport to move about between the areas; they are not all linked).
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You know it makes sense.
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Yeah... get yourself somewhere with a little height for late April...
Zauchensee was great last year! (better than Obertauern).
Maybe see out the Spring in Kitzbühel.
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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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I am confused!
I still dont know where to stay. From the posts above, I can decipher the following:-
The Super Salzburgerland pass is the way fwd and gives me access to every Austrian resort (but I am unlikely to cover all of it). This sounds ideal. Thank you
Staying either within the Skiwelt area or Zell am See/Kitz. However, as i have never been skiing and have never been to Austria I still dont know what the best location is that fits my CRITERIA. As mentioned, I would like to have a base hence need to decide on one resort.. Will St Johann/Wagarain fit my criteria? or is Zell/Kitz better suited? What do you mean by Salzburg side? Remember my criteria includes a resort which is a good non skiing resort with a variety of things to do....and more than just partying, although this is important too. I vision that the resort is simply a good place to chill and meet people and has lots of interesting things to do (IN and around the resort...but mostly in the resort)
Advise...please!
Ps i dont have my own transport
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Poster: A snowHead
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London2008, one big question is whether you will have a car available. If so, you're spoilt for choice and you could, for example, base yourself in Chur and have places like Lenzerheide, Arosa, Flims/Laax within 20 minutes' drive and Klosters/Davos, Savognin, St Moritz within about an hour
If you've not got a car, then the Salzburg pass sounds interesting. I know a few people have enjoyed their seasons in Flims/Laax too, because it's a large linked area with good opportunities for progression, and is on a direct and frequent bus line to Chur (posh modern buses at that) from where it's only 90 minutes by train to Zurich
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| London2008 wrote: |
I have heard that StAnton is super expensive and quite tricky to bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate.
Zematt...i have heard is also super expensive and not much to do apart from ski.
Elizabeth...your idea sounds interesting. However, i would like to have a base (which is where i would spend the majority of my time). However, the super ski pass is a great idea and i will get to see lots of resorts. Are you suggesting staying in Kitz os Zell?...or Salzburg. I am confused
Thoughts on the above??? |
You get what you pay for, dude.
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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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London2008, the supersalzburg pass doesn't cover all the Austrian resorts....but does include a fair few!
The reason I suggested Zell am See or Kitzbuhel is that they are both reasonable sized towns where there are people who live and don't ski, and they both have railway stations. Zell is on a lake, and it is a nice 3 hour walk around it if you fancy a relaxing day! I loved the time I spent in Wagrain, but I think it's smaller. The ski buses are quite good though. St Johann is a bigger place, although I have only travelled through so can't comment.
I think which ever you choose you will have a good time. I suspect that choice may be limited by suitable accommodation at the right price (unless price isn't an issue!!)
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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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If you've not got your own transport (as you say you haven't), then I'm not sure that the Salzburg SuperSki Card would be so attractive after all. To use it all, you have to travel about a bit. There probably is public transport but it might be restrictive. If you were living in St. Johann in Pongau, for example, it wouldn't be practical to ski in Kitzbühel, far less the Zillertal Arena. That's why I suggested moving around, more awkward though that might be (one thing that flangesax mentioned made me think that my three way split perhaps wasn't optimal; if you were to go for moving, I would rather leave Saalbach/Zell am See for the last, for you then have the Kitzsteinhorn glacier available at the end of the season when other areas might be closing down). When I spoke of the "Salzburg side", I meant the east end of the area (really I meant Salzburger Land as opposed to Tyrol, the two Austrian counties). The city of Salzburg is rather outside the ski areas, though you can reach it from them, by train, for example. Have a look at a map!
With regard to non-skiing activities, all the areas mentioned are ski resorts, so there is a steady stream of visitors there, enough bars and the such like, for meeting people.
One other aspect that hasn't been mentioned is whether you want ski in, ski out from your base. While that isn't impossible in the Salzburg SuperSki area (at least for the part you are immediately at), it is not the norm.
Looking back at your post now, I notice that you say that you are just getting started with skiing. I hadn't really taken that into account in my first thoughts. Reconsidering then, a lot of what has been said about the Salzburg card is still true and you might not need to use it all. However, an alternative would be the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStar Card http://www.allstarcard.at/en/, (that's the season ticket I have), staying in Kitzbühel if you want the most night life but at the expensive end of the market, or maybe Westendorf or Brixen for a somewhat quieter but a little cheaper base.
Must rush off to Hogmonay celebrations now but, if you have more questions, I'll be back tomorrow.
Happy New Year!
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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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Thanks espri, a very informative post...but i am still confused!
I think the skip pass options i will sort out when i get there. But still have no idea where to go. I am tempted by Zell am See for the resons mentioned by Elizabeth and my research shows it kinda fits my criteria. What do you think?
Kitzbuhel was also a consideration of mine 2 weeks back but i phoned around for accomodation and came to a lot of dead ends.
I think i still need more suggestions on where to stay. I will only do this season once hence this is a important decision for me.
If anyone has any websites for accomodation in Zell...please let me know.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Wengen?
DHO club would provide you with lots of mostly britisch contacts to ski with...
Which could be a nice benefit...
Plenty of non skiing close by, everything from interlaken-east and up is on the skipass.
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I suspect that it might be difficult to organise accommodation for a whole season in most places, especially at this rather late date and from a distance. Any place that is relying on renting out rooms will probably have rented them out already, at least for part of the season. You haven't said whether you're looking for a hotel or B&B (=Pension). I think that the best bet might be to contact the Tourist Office (=Fremdenverkehrsamt/Fremdenverkehrsbüro) in wherever you decide you want to go. They should have an overview of what's available and might be able to give you a few phone numbers rather than ringing dozens of places directly on your own. Maybe you could find a private family who would be happy to rent you a room for 3 months that way. I've found a web site that might be useful, http://www.fremdenverkehrsamt.com/oesterreich.html (the site covers all the whole world!). There you can find numbers for Zell am See (under Salzburger Land) or Kitzbühel (under Tirol) and other places too.
Zell am See wouldn't be a bad base. The only advantage of Kitzbühel/Brixen/Westendorf is that the ski area you could reach without needing transport is bigger (the whole of the Kitzbühel area and the Skiwelt are linked with only one short bus ride). But maybe that isn't so important, especially while you're just starting. Wengen (in Switzerland) is a fine place too but maybe slightly more expensive than Austria. Again a great ski resort but up a mountain and you have to take the train to Interlaken, if you want a bigger town.
In the end, it may boil down to finding somewhere and making the best of it. Good luck!
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| London2008 wrote: |
Hi Guys,
I have been a victim of the credit crunch hence i have some spare time on my hands. I am very much a beginner at skiing and want to become good so have decided to spend 3-4 months at a resort but am unsure where to go. My thoughts in regards to the resort i would like is:-
A good range of slopes. I wont be a beginner for long. I would like it to be in Europe but not France...dont ask why.
Its REALLY important that the resort is a good non skiing resort with a variety of things to do....and more than just partying, although this is important too. I vision that the resort is simply a good place to chill and meet people and has lots of interesting things to do (in and around the resort)
Not to expensive.....but i dont want this to dictate you choice of resort to much.
Hope this make sense and look fwd to your suggestions
Steve |
Sorry, Steve - it doesn't make much sense to me, in that "victim" does not seem consonant with the rest of your post.
Anyway, welcome to snowHeads.
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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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Given the number of posts on here in Oct/Nov about people unable to find accommodation in Wengen, I'm guessing that option may be difficult.
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London2008,
| Quote: |
has lots of interesting things to do (in and around the resort)
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This does depend on what you find interesting. It's very subjective. Personally, I like walking and swimming and maybe the odd trip to the cinema and these activities can usually be pursued in any decent sized resort. Otherwise, I would find it virtually impossible to do the things which I find interesting in or extremely close to any ski resort, I'd have to be near a big town or a city. I would, therefore, never go to a ski resort for three months unless I were happy - which in fact I would be - to ski for every day of those three months, and do pretty much nothing else, except eat (well) drink, socialise and read. What interesting things do you mean?
Oh, edit to say: welcome to snowHeads!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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laundryman, .....your absolutely right...the word victim doesnt seem to fit my my scenario.
Hurtle, ...i think your right. That is exactly what i want to do. Just want to give myself as much oppurtunity as possible.
The short list is as follows:-
Zell am See
Zurs am Arlberg
St Johann
Lech
...i think these places will do the trick....right???
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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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Zürs is a very small place, in the middle of nowhere (at least, it was last time I was there, about 20 years ago). Zürs and Lech tend to be expensive - great skiing.
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London2008,
I use Bergfex for all the skiing and accommodation information.
This web site has I think nearly all the Austrian and most of the Swiss and Italian resorts. In each resort the accommodations are listed. I never have a problem to find a place to stay for a few days here and there. There is a big price range too you can choose to stay in a cheapie self catering fare away from a chairlift station or select a ski-in--ski-out 5 star hotel.
Bergfex site lists all the vital statistics of every resort, shows the piste map and indicates the location from a master map too.
Bergfex covers mainly Austria, Switzerland, Germany and most of the Northern Italy. It also lists the top 10 resorts of each country. The information is very reliable and unbiased.
I have to say its accommodation selection information is best in the business. It is my experience that the accommodation booking, especially with Internet, Austria is the easiest and have the widest choices. In a couple of weeks I shall go around Switzerland to stay in 4 locations over a 3 week trip. Again all done with the information off Bergfex. Bergfex only provides the links to the accommodation and in most cases the middleman is involved. If you have to book through a central system it will be regulated and backed up be the local tourist office, guaranteeing fair price and standard.
You can see all the 47 resorts covered by the Salzburg region off Bergfex. Apparently Ski Welts and Kitzbuhel are part of the 97 Tyrol region.
I think Bergfex is just a skiing information web site serving mainly the Austrian, Swiss, German and Italian skiers. It does not do the French resorts. It has no arrangement for flights and visitors make their own transport arrangement.
It deserves a mention as I have had satisfactory results from all my previous 6 to 8 trips with its information.
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You know it makes sense.
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London2008, From your shortlist, Zurs and Lech will be hard to find cheapish accomodation. Lech is probably my fave resort (or Oberlech to be more accurate). A cheaper base for exploring Lech and Zurs would be Stuben and is only 2-3 mins away from Langen train station and 5 mins from Zurs and 10 mins to either Lech or St Anton. Here's the Stuben website http://www.stuben.com/index.php?id=3&L=1
As I said to you in a previous post Landeck could be a very convenient way of exploring the Arlberg region (St Anton/Lech/Zurs/Stuben), Ischgl and Solden/Obergurgl
Good luck with your search
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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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I am retired and live in Wengen. Various of my offspring have pursued the path you describe. My advice would be
1. If you want simply to learn to ski well nearly all resorts will meet your requirements.
2. A good first step is to visit the resort for a short period and see if you can find part time work. Usually not easy but doable. You are being assessed by the locals for determination and commitment so, from your point of view, you have loads of hoops to jump through.
3. During the first step you will meet others who have done what you want to do in that resort. They will advise you for a beer.
4. This network often know where the part time jobs are to be found.
5. And once you get this close they will also know where there are flat shares available. Commonly, in January, there are folk who have apartments more than they need and are looking to reduce their costs. Never advertised on the internet.
Hope that helps
TD
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Poster: A snowHead
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octopuski, welcome to snowHeads
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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London2008, Sallbach
250 km of slopes plenty of other resorts neary buy cheap friendly and good tuition. Happy holidays
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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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octopuski, welcome to snowHeads.
Not sure the OP is actually planning on working... but I could be wrong.
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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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Hurtle, ....ure right. Working is something i might do to meet people.
saikee, ....thanks for your post....its very informative. This maybe a stupid question but the top resort they mention...is that known by a different name.
In addition, i need accomodation (one bed apt) for 3 -4 months....and not for a few days
Thoughts?
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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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London2008, it really is difficult for you to be able to identify long term accommodation from the UK if you don't have a mole in the ski resort.
And asking for work, either for real or just as an inside track, is the best way to find accommodation once you are in a resort.
Good luck
TD
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Work is something i will consider once i am more settled.
I have decided on Zell am See. But if it so happens that i cant find acvcommodation then i wll move on to StJohann.
I hope i am making the right choice...time will tell
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Good luck!
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| London2008 wrote: |
I have decided on Zell am See.
I hope i am making the right choice...time will tell |
I'm sure it will be great, trusting you can find suitable accommodation.
Enjoy yourself!
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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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| Quote: |
I have decided on Zell am See.
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I think that is a bad choice for 3 months without transport and not intending to be nomadic....
Zell is great but it is a bit cut off from the rest of the Salzburger card and from other interesting parts of Austria.
For example - Live in Schladming....
Bus to Rossbrand, Dachstein Glacier (the krippenstein if you can get a return journey sorted!)
Ski Link to Haus, Hochwursten, Reiteralm... bus link to Fageralm - Radstadt/Altenmarkt shuttle from there to Zauchensee/Flachau Winkl/Alpendorf shuttle to Wagrain then bus back to Schladming...
direct buses to Flachau, Wagrain, Sankt.Johann/Alpendorf.
Trains to the gasteins...
trains to Salzburg...
still - just go to one of the few places the brits have heard off and be stuck between Zell and Saalbach.... 250km for 3 months will drive you mad!
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Must say, I think flangesax is laying it on a bit hard. Particularly for someone just starting skiing, Zell seems not too bad to me (though I might have chosen Kitzbühel/Skiwelt). As well as Zell itself, you can bus easily to the Kitzsteinhorn (and ski on till May) and Saalbach/Hinterglemm. It's also not far to the Hochkönig region, Maria Alm, and I presume you can bus there too.
| flangesax wrote: |
| Ski Link to Haus, Hochwursten, Reiteralm... |
Great skiing but the trip from the Reiteralm to the Hauser-Kaibling and back took a friend and me, with 40 odd years under our skis, a whole day, and I don't think we were hanging around. I'm not so sure it would be practical for a beginner (though sections might be fine).
| Quote: |
Trains to the gasteins...
trains to Salzburg... |
Trains run through Zell too.
| Quote: |
| still - just go to one of the few places the brits have heard off |
That could have its advantages, depending how good London2008's German is.
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FAQ
