 Poster: A snowHead
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Probably going to Gerlos on 2nd Jan with wife and 3 kids and will need to book independently as I know of no UK TO that does Gerlos. Munich is most cost effective option with decent travelling time for us coming from Scotland (ie saving over £600 on flights if we went to Innsbruck). Is the train best way or better just hiring a car. Any recommendations on transfers or cheap car hire welcome
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi,
Just looked on the Austrian Railways website for you (www.oebb.at). There aren't times yet available for January, the current timetable is valid until December. Out of interest I searched to travel on a random date in August from Munich Airport to Gerlos. The answer that came back looked like a nightmare journey - esp. with 3 kids!!!!
The quickest journey was 4hrs39mins involving 2 trains and 3 buses 
I reckon car hire is the answer.
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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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thanks SaraJ, kinda what I thought. Do you know rough journey times? Also can the road to Gerlos be bad in winter as the drive in summer was pretty scary at bits
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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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boabski, the drive from munich Airport is about 2h15. Fairly straightforward trip. You should make sure that the car has winter tyres and snow chains and you should be OK.
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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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Definitely get the snow chains. Last time I went, even the coach had to put them on! IIRC the drive (in a coach) was around 3 hours and mostly pretty easy roads once you get past the Munich traffic. Gerlos is a really friendly little town and some some good skiing although you will need to speak a bit more German than some of the other austrian resorts. Have fun 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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sarep, Ich kann ein bischen Deutsch sprechen. Kein Probleme. Vier Bier bitte 
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Ja, naturlich. Ich komme aus Schottland  hiccup!
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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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Ach so! Na dann. Ich auch übrigens!
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Snow chain that thing, it will make a huge difference.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It is compulsory to carry snow chains on certain roads in winter... I suspect that the Gerlos Pass is one of them.
If you have to pay extra for winter tyres and snow chains on your hire car, don't even consider the cost, just pay it!
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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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SaraJ, I always thought it was illegal to drive without winter tyres in Germany in the winter! So the cars will be equipped with them as standard at no additional cost even if you pay the "extra" for them. Best to get snow chains as insurance though!
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From 15th Nov to 15th March all german cars should have so called "winter" tyres (actually just need to be all-season or not-summer-only). They'll be M+S with the snowflake. Should be no need to pay extra, unless it's a compulsory inclusive "winterisation" surcharge.
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You know it makes sense.
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Roy Hockley, not illegal - they were sneakier than that and it involves less time loss checking peoples tyres. The law says if you do not have tyres suitable for the prevalent weather conditions on your car and you are involved in some kind of "incident", then you are at fault either in part or completely. Insurance is invalid and you also get a fine and points. The amount of both varies according to what has actually happened. Summer rated compounds start to lose tracking and have longer braking distance as soon as the average temperature drops below 7°C. I get my winter tyres put on by the middle of October at the latest and change back to summer tyres at the end of April or so.
In Austria it is actually illegal to be without winter equipment up to a certain date. This year it was 15th April, but I do not know if it is the same date every year. As SaraJ says snow chains have to be in the car if you travel on certain stretches of road. These do not need to be steep mountain passes. I can remember putting chains on my car to get through from Zell am See to Salzburg one particularly interesting December evening (not) A10 was blocked with vehicles in transit without chains so we were diverted on to the old Bundesstrasse between Bischofshofen and Hallein. Not the speediest of trips nor the quietest but at least we were moving slowly but safely.
Sue 
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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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Samerberg Sue, You may be right in Austria but in Germany I believe that they have to have as you say appropriate tyres for the time of year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| Samerberg Sue, You may be right in Austria but in Germany I believe that they have to have as you say appropriate tyres for the time of year. |
Not quite! The exact wording is that it behoves the driver to have tyres appropriate to the current conditions ( § 2 in Absatz 3a der Straßenverkehrsordnung (StVO) wörtlich: „Bei Kraftfahrzeugen ist die Ausrüstung an die Wetterverhältnisse anzupassen. Hierzu gehören insbesondere eine geeignete Bereifung und Frostschutzmittel in der Scheibenwaschanlage“) it does not stipulate what appropriate equipment in fact is. So you can chance it if you like, but if the police decide that your wheels are not appropriate you're f*cked! Oh well 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Illegal? Compulsory? Recommended? Whatever the law says, winter tyres make a significant difference to winter driving...
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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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boabski, Just a thought - if you don't need a car you could use a bus transfer.
http://www.tirol-taxi.at/airporttransfer/
Looks like kids travel free so (based on last years price http://www.tirol-taxi.at/airporttransfer/pdf/Preise_AD.pdf ) you could get a dropped straight at your hotel for 244 euro which I guess would compare favourably to hire car prices (espcially a car for 5 plus luggage).
I used them this year from Munich to Mayrhofen and they were good.
Transport is by minibus and they provided baby and child seats if you need.
<edit>oops - just re-read your post. Munich may be a tad more expensive depending how old your kids are  </edit>
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Cheers Hamish, Had asked them for price as I wasn't quite sure if the kids were discounted - which it looks like they are - but just referred me to website. Will probably use though rather than hire car. Just need to get hotel finalised then I can book
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