Ski trip to Austria

I am considering going to Austria to ski for the first time with some friends and my partner. Any suggestions where to stay? Budget is set 350gbp-700gbp. Suitable for all ski abilities.

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How long ? does budget include transport? city you fly to ? all factors to be included in any advice.Perhaps inquire at the many english tour firms that offer packages.

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Yes this price would include everything.

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What time in the season??? Remember that christmas and UK Half term is more expensive. January tends to be cheaper as is the period before christmas. Before christmas you have to take into account snowfall records/altitude of resort (a few years ago the popular lower lying resorts including the Skiwelt had very little snow before christmas). January can be extremely cold.

Also do you have any first-timers who wish to take lessons??

If you are booking a package with a UK Tour operator then your choice of resorts will be limited. Also your choice of Board (B%26amp;B, Half Board or Catered chalet). Some of the more Popular destinations for UK Tour operators include Zell am See and numerous resorts in the Tirol Region- the %26quot;Skiwelt%26quot; - (Ellmau, Scheffau, Soll) and Mayrhofen offerring the widest choice of Hotels. Other resorts popular with UK Tour operators inclue St Johan in Tirol, Mayrhofen, Kitzbuehel, St Anton/St Christoph.

Zell am See is a nice small town with the town/village located next to the lake, valley runs back to the town and the option of skiing on the Glacier at Kaprun.

The Skiwelt is also very good option due to it%26#39;s extensive ski area and accommodation price bracket. The new gondola in Brixen in Thale now gives a quicker access to the Westerndorf ski area (all included in the same pass). From Westerndorf it is possible to access the Kitzbuehel Ski area (not included in the standard Skiwelt skipass)

For first time skiers/learners Ellmau has a skischool learning area in the village.

Also different resorts have a different price range. Expect to pay a lot more for Kitzbuehel/S Anton than Ellmau/Scheffau/Mayrhofen for instance - including eating out. Zell am See on a par with Kitzbuehel (maybe slightly cheaper). As always read the Hotel review on TA. for example for the last week in January 2010 had a quick look with Thomsonski and the Hotel Alpenhof in Ellmau was up at 500pounds and the Hotel Edelweiss in Kitzbuehel at 648. Saying that the Hotel Edelweiss had good reviews on TA the Alpenhof not