 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Having ummed and ahhed about it last year and not gone, my wife and I have decided to book a trip for next year. We are 1 adult of 4 weeks experience but over 10 years ago, 1 adult beginner, and 3 kids (7, 5, & 2).
Whilst looking through all the regular family specialists I stumbled across Ski Hillwood. They are based in 3 Hotels in Zauchensee which I believe is part of Ski Amade? As my first ski holiday was in a small Austrian resort (Axamer Lizum) I have fond memories, and it appears the company offer a great service with child care.
I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them? or the ski resort itsself, and how appropriate it would be for us?
their website is below if like me you had never heard of them
Thanks
Jon
http://www.familyskiholidays.com/
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jonkgray78, never heard of them but they seem a very small specialised set-up.
The hotels I do know and they are excellent - Zauchenseehof and Salzburgerhof really are ski in-ski out right on the slopes of the eastern side of the Zauch bowl right by the Zauchensee-R0ßkopf gondola which links into the Flachau-winkel slopes. For your 4-weeker needing refreshing there is the wonderful blue 1 piste which goes on forever and brings you back into the centre of the Zauchensee Arena, just up slope from the Z-hof and S-hof. There is a beginner area right along side both hotels as well and it would be easy to ski back for lunch with the others.
You will love the area and once you get your ski legs back you will have plenty to keep you occupied all week. 
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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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jonkgray78,
I have visited Zauchensee but have no experience of Hillwood.
Zauchensee is a great ski area and not particularly small, I was not a beginner and don't really know how the good the nursery area is, it is fairly high and the snow should be very relliable. With a young family the advantage is that the village is compact and ultra convenient, the down side is that it is purpose built and not cute traditional by Austrian standards though it is not like many of the ugly shoebox dominated resorts that some of the French resorts specialise in.
As I say i have never been with Hillwood but they do seem to have been around for a long time which is IMHO a good sign that they are doing things right and probably provide a decent service.
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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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jonkgray78,
Welcome to  's!!
I am based out in Radstadt (next to Altenmarkt/Zauchensee) and have met a few of the chaps who work/run the company.
It is a well run unit with 100% care for kids.
The hotels are great and they use the 2 ski schools in Zauchensee... one of the schools there is especially for younguns and is very good.
I think they use their own shuttle service to and from the slopes too (depending where you are staying) which can be pretty handy.
I would say though that you really do have to pay for these priveledges. In the local market they are incredibly expensive but do offer a good service.
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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 had a look at the pricing... WoW.... heavy stuff... but they do include flights and transfers which are normally about €45pp.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I went skiing with SkiHillwood probably 20 years ago and if they are still going that must say something about. Our familiy probably had at least 3 New Years with them and they were great.
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Thanks for all the replies, it all sounds very positive!
I agree the price does seem quite steep, but when I compared it to the other family companies they were all fairly similar. With 3 kids and a wife who has never skied before it might just be worth paying a bit extra and having everything taken care of. With a bit more experience and confidence I'm sure I will DIY my own trips.
thanks again
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Used Hillwood a couple of times when the kids were just starting to ski.
Good crew, friendly, professional(helped my wife a lot with hospital visits etc when she wrecked her knee).
The child care was pretty good as I recall, I'd be mor than happy to use them again.
Zauchensee is an excellent for kids to lear to ski, absolutley the best ski school I've seen.
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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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jonkgray78, it is nothing but an investment!... Get all the awkwards bit sorted with as much ease as possible... then the return comes flooding back when you are all ripping up the pow!
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not used them myself but my brother used them every year for about 10 years whilst his kids were young (mind as the youngest is now 21 that was some time ago). They were based in the Ski Welt then but he speaks very highly of the company.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just joined this forum. I've been looking at a video of a Ski Hillwood holiday from 1992. I never imagined that some of the best ski holidays ever would be with small children. We skied with Hillwood probably about five times and they were excellent. Looks like the same people still run the Company.
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