Poster: A snowHead
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I'm planning my 40th birthday trip so the contenders atm are Solden, Saalbach or somewhere in 3Vs. As we have never been to Austria I have looked into for a while now. Just wanted some thoughts on Solden in Austria. What do people think of it as a resort and is it good for boarders? It looks good and we have been recommended by some friends but they are all skiers so I wanted a boarders POV.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can not comment on Solden as I've never been there. It looks OK so def will visit sooner or later.
Saalbach is brilliant. Went there for my second week of boarding. Lots of long, intermediate runs. Modern lifts. Amazing views. And if you after some nightlife or apres ski it will not disappoint. The place is rocking.
It is lower than Solden so you will have to go there no later than mid March to be on the safe side.
In this aspect Solden should be more snowsure, however a bit smaller and mostly above the treeline.
Solden has the opinion of a bit male dominated resort. Probably as most of them anyway.
I certainly did not feel this in Saalbach, quite good ratio of females to males there. And a nice mix of nationalities.
(Swedish bar, etc.)
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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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I've been to all 3 of the places you're considering more than once.
I'd rank them Solden, Saalbach then 3V. For me good nightlife is pretty important. If having loads of terrain is far more important then that order would be exactly reversed.
Everything that Tom W writes above about Saalbach could also apply to Solden. It's great for boarding. Good lift system and some really nice runs, particularly on the glaciers. It's high and snowsure. You can have a day out in Obergurgl (it's a short bus ride away). I've had trips to Solden and Saalbach where there was an OK ratio of men to women and then other trips where things have been a bit sausage heavy. Pot luck really.
Things to beware of in Solden. Most of the nightlife is around the Giggijoch. Some of the accommodation can be around 10-15 minutes walk from there. Try and get accommodation close to the Giggijoch if you can. The home runs are not for the faint hearted around 4pm. Taking the gondola down is an option, but there is a better one. Get the apres started at one of the huts up the mountain, wait till the crowds have gone and then head down into town to continue the apres. If you go early season then a head torch is a great investment, although they light the piste from the Gaislachkogl middle station down.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 4-05-11 16:57; edited 1 time in total
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Gainz, been to them all and for a 40th boarding birthday holiday I would say Solden & Sallbach in equal measure and then 3V coming in a solid 3rd. If very early or late season I would push Sallbach last as the pistes range from 1000 to 2000 meters.
Solden was great for boarders and had lots of side/between piste riding, plus I remember walking in to a bar quite late and stumbling upon athletic bikini clad ladies literally hanging from the rafters - god's honest truth -
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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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Only been to Solden of the three. It appeared pretty good for boarding although its a habit I don't suffer from. Extremely lively apres ski, approaching St. Anton and Ischgl levels but not the most interesting skiing in the world. By Austrian standards its not very attractive. Its situated in a narrow valley with a busy road cut through it so you get a lot of through traffic. Because its narrow much of the accommodation is on the hillside so you have a steep walk at the end of the day or night, or if you're lazy like me a short taxi ride. All in all, not my favourite resort but I had a good time there and wouldn't hesitate to go back. Oh and not many British go there, good or bad depending on your point of view.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Samerberg Sue,
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The only traffic you get going through is holiday traffic going up to Obergurgl in winter! rolling eyes The pass is closed from mid November through to the beginning of May
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No doubt true but when I was there there was certainly a lot of traffic. Oh and I didn't say the apres ski was on a par with St. Anton, only approaching it, which it is in my opinion.
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Oh yes, I preferred Hinterglemm to Saalbach - quieter lifts in the morning and the Goatstal (spelling ?)bar just up on the mountain is good fun - very much like KK etc in St Anton
any one have a link to the Goatstal web page - great video on it
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Corky wrote: |
No doubt true but when I was there there was certainly a lot of traffic. |
There certainly can be a lot of traffic, particularly at the Giggijoch end of town. If you stay up past the Gaislachkogl then the traffic is considerably less. However then you are much further away from the best apres bars and nightlife. It's only really in the morning and late afternoon where it is mostly people driving to/from Solden or Obergurgl. It doesn't put me off returning, but equally somebody expecting a quiet, pretty Austrian village would be pretty disappointed if they turned up in Solden. Somebody who just wanted a good ski area and great nightlife will enjoy it immensely though.
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Lager, yes, I would say that is about righht
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think I'm swaying over to Solden moreso now. Looks good and sounds great. I was looking at hotels but there seems to be a large amount of 4 or 5* but not many 3*. Any recommendations? I've looked at Tyrolerhof and Sunny hotels which look good though pricey.
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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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Gainz, Try Garni Hotels maybe. Usually there are plenty of them. B&B type so breakfasts only but could be 3* or 4* easily.
Accommodation standard is very high in Austria and I had no complains ever, even when staying in private small pensions.
Make sure you do a day trip to Obergurgl. You can buy a ski pass with one day included there. It is a nice and snow sure area as well.
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You know it makes sense.
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