 Poster: A snowHead
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Out of the airport, join the autobahn, point and shoot, job done right?
Not for me - personally I find driving on the right in an unfamiliar car a challenge, and the narrow autobahn lanes (or perhaps they just seem that way to me), and people thumping along in belting snow fairly alarming. Add to the mix I'll be on my own and the (unreliable long range) forecast is for heavy snow.
I could get the train but then I will feel truly wet and be dependent on buses in resort.
So, to ease my nerves, could anyone advise:
1. If it's snowing heavily, am I best off on the autobahn (I was trapped on the A33 for 6 hours before Xmas, and the M27 for 4 hours last February so in the UK I'd avoid the bigger roads) or on the backroads.
2. If the autobahn is blocked, are the roads that closely follow it's path (I can at least map read well) reasonably decent or dog slow and/or treacherous.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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JimiHendrix, autobahn should be clear - was for me when it was chucking it down last month. Toll booths for Arlberg tunnel may be slushy (but I don't think that's required for St Anton). There's huge electronic displays on the autobahn indicating when snowchains are essential on the passes for various ski resorts (think St.Anton was one, but can't be sure).
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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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JimiHendrix, Probably one of the easiest transfers there is in the Alps. Motorway almost the whole way and should take an hour. The main route will be clear no probs - well I've never encountered a problem in the 8 times or so I've done the route. Are you hiring a car? Seems a bit pointless for St Anton. Taxi transfer will cost €170 for 6/7 people each way. Train is cheap but not as convenient as car/taxi. We're using www.taxi-tirol.com for the transfer - cheaper using companies based near Innsbruck as opossed to St Anton (who charge around €200).
Enjoy St Anton
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks guys.
Yeah car hire it is - €140 for 4 days, but I make back €60 in hiring skis on the way down rather than in resort. And I'm staying 3 miles out of resort and socialising with people strung out between the main resort and Pettneu.
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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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Just get the train - even if you're staying well out the way (ie Pettnau - an hours walk, and yes I timed it), the busses are easy and regular once in Anton. A shitload cheaper too.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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clarky999, i think you might be right.
It's been an unusually organised trip, with a dozen or so people staying in 5 different places on overlapping dates. I'm staying on my own, so want the car to buzz around meeting the others.
Thinking about ditching my accomodation in the sticks (somewhere between St Jakob and Pettneu), getting the train, and using the money saved on the car to go central.
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The busses are regular in the mornings and evenings - the only time you would need a car is if you want a lie in, so go skiing at 12 or 1pm, or if you're having late nights when the last night bus is 2pm. For normal skiing and apres, the bus times are fine. Staying central is obviously more convenient however, but you will probably pay the price for it...
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| Quote: |
Thinking about ditching my accomodation in the sticks (somewhere between St Jakob and Pettneu), getting the train, and using the money saved on the car to go central.
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I'd do that. The train is reliable and a short cab ride from the airport (sadly not walkable I seem to recal). In the past I have also got a lift on a Tour Operator coach for the cost of the train fare (if you see a rep just ask them, otherwise go for the train), which wsa pretty handy because they dropped us at the door of our hotel.
Staying out past St Jakob is OK, but it's not great for late night socialising and you wouldn't want to drive back after a few beers anyway, so you'd be relying on the cabs or buses anyway.
The only slight catch is that accomodation for 1 can be harder to find in the centre of town. I was there once on my own for a couple of nights and managed to get a room in a B&B called Haus Gamberg (http://test.arlberg.info/haus-gamberg/index.php?lang=en) which I would highly recommend.
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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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You can also get a bus from the airport to the train station in Innsbruck.
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Train very straightforward and comfortable. Drive easy too. Police set up speed trap ahead of one of the last tunnels, easy to spot as limit drops to 80 then 60 almost immediately. Ideally that bloke tailgating you will get bored and overtake ignoring the speed limit as you slow to 60. Then you get to cruise past him as the police pull him over and spot fine him! : )
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for all the feedback. I'd got locked into one way of thinking (MUST DRIVE, MUST DRIVE) - by using public transport the money I save on the hire car means I can taxi over any rough edges with
bus/train plans.
I'm actually going to decide the day before (I can cancel the hire car with no charges) based on weather forecast - I now realise both car and public transport options are pretty easy.
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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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JimiHendrix, public transport is so easy, get on airport bus to train station (Euro 6 ish), get on train for direct link to St Anton (Euro 23 ish) which stops right in the middle of town, and if you can get a room some where central you will be sorted !! Enjoy !
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| Quote: |
JimiHendrix, public transport is so easy, get on airport bus to train station (Euro 6 ish), get on train for direct link to St Anton (Euro 23 ish) which stops right in the middle of town, and if you can get a room some where central you will be sorted !! Enjoy !
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Sadly the train station is no longer in the middle of town... it was moved a few years ago. The new one is no doubt more efficient and frees up valuable space in town, but I think the town lost a little bit of character when they moved it. The new location isn't that far from the centre, but it's a bit of a slog with bags etc.
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You know it makes sense.
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Maybe 200 metres south of the old station site? 
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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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Yeah, it's not too far, just over the main road. It may be 200m as the crow flies, I'd guess twice that to walk. Not a big deal except when you have a suitcase, skis and boots... Of course for some hotels the new location may be better.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The new station isn't really an issue, its's still prety central. Perfect for Mark Warner hotels though! You may want to consider buying the 'vorteilscarte,' or travel card. It cost 19 euros, but gives you 50% train discount in austria and 25% in Switzerland/Germany.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I did the Innsbruck - St. Anton journey over new year and took the public bus from the airport to the train station (1.70 euros) and then bought a single train ticket (14-15 euros), the counter staff wouldn't let me buy a return, don't know why. I stayed at the far end of St. Jakob and as the bus terminal is next to the train station, took the ski bus to my guest house; it takes a while to figure out which bus to get but saves on taxi fare. The free buses end at about 7 pm and the night buses cost 3 euro for a single journey and run every hour until about 10pm and then at about two hourly intervals after that. A taxi to st. Jakob costs about 20 euros in the evening.
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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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The night busses only 3 euros now? They were five last season! Do they still stop at 2pm?
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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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Train is the way to go & the Public PostBus or SkiBus when in Town.
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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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clarky999, yeah, the one I took on line 2 was 3 euros and it finished at about 2pm.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Given I've never been to St.Anton so don't know what the heck I'm doing I will be taking your collective advice and train/bussing it. Just remains to decide how to spend the cash saved on the hire car.
Just one more question - at the end of the day I need to do a quick change from sweaty ski gear to stylish evening jeans & t-shirt wear, without the faff of a double bus ride. Lockers at the Nassereinbahn - are there generally loads free or do I need be organised and reserve somehow?
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JimiHendrix, If you could try to stay closer it would make life easier for you. I'm sure you could get b&b in Nasserein (10 min walk from Galzigbahn) for around €35 a night - I've stayed right in the centre for €55 a night and will be for around €70 right at the foot of the slopes and beside the Galzigbahn at end of Feb. Might be worth considering the lockers at the Galzigbahn as this is undoubtedly where you'll finish up - ie after being to Moosewirt and Krazy Kanguruh. I've never had to use the lockers as I've always stayed central. I also think the queue is shorter now at the (new) Galzigbahn, rather than the Nassereinbahn. Sorry but I don't know where the bus from St Jakob drops off - presume it would do both gondolas. Also the brand new Rendlbahn is right very close to Galzigbahn.
Try getting in touch with sidneyreilly as he has a few appartments dead central http://www.st-antonamarlberg.co.uk/
I would not worry about what you're wearing unless you're hitting one of the fine dining restaurants. If you go to Funky Chicken/Pomodoro you can eat very well for around €10, and a fair percentage of folk will still be in ski gear. Most places are relaxed (as newts), so I would not worry about your attire. You'll still see folk carrying their skis (or someone elses ) well into the night.
Have a great trip
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| JimiHendrix wrote: |
| Just one more question - at the end of the day I need to do a quick change from sweaty ski gear to stylish evening jeans & t-shirt wear, |
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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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You'll still see folk carrying their skis (or someone elses
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Serious point that, ski theft is sadly quite regular in St Anton, so be careful with 'em.
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FAQ
