I know that this is a very broad query but here goes anyway. we are a family of 6, parents ( one skier and one non skier , thats me ! ) 4 offspring ranging from 23 to 15 who are snowboarders. husband skies.
could you rec a place for Christmas in Austria which might cater for us all ? I am happy to walk, read and drink coffee , possibly swimming if available, for the week but would like to do it in nice surroundings. Shopping doesn%26#39;t do it for me.
The others are all in the intermediate/very good range of ability but generally go off together where possible.
We like self catering if possible but not an absolute requirement.
I hope you more exp than I will be able to suggest some places for us to look in to.
Previously we went a few times to Livigno in Italy where we had wonderful times but would like a change for Christmas this year.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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We went to the Tennerhof Hotel in Kitzbuehl one year (two teens, 3 adults skiing-- me not). The setting was gorgeous, the food superb, the price to match. Quaint, just above center of town.
We also went to a sportshotel (many of them throughout Austria-- we lived in Vienna at the time and chose a different one each time), which focused on the skiing. No shopping... it was a serious hike into town. The lobbies are usually large and lovely, making it easy to sit and read, do handwork or puzzles, whatever. Many sportshotels also have saunas and pools-- an advantage. Often set in a %26quot;circus%26quot;-- connecting ski trails of several mountains. Sometimes only German spoken. Demi-pension (breakfast and supper). Always good food-- often no other eating-out choices.
Good luck and enjoy.
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Thank you very much for that info. Interesting to hear about those two options.
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Yes, a very broad inquiry.It would help to know your price range and probable gateway city.
The hotel mentioned in above posting carries a large price -about 500 euro per day for a standard room for 2 with breakfast only. With a family of 6, not a bargain. Kitz can also have variable snow conditions due to lower altitude and is most expensive at Christmas time. You can find a better and less expensive situation in my opinion.
An area to investigate may be the Gerlos / Konigsleiten.
This area is about 100 klometers from Innsbruck- 150-175 from Salzburg and Munich. Thus various choices for transport there. Access available by train and bus from gateway. Numerous transfers mini vans too. Of course by car.
These places are part of the ski terrain Zillertal Arena with good chances for skiers and snow boarders.
www.zillertalarena.at.
look under hot zone snow park for some info on snow boarding.
I thoughrt of this area when reading your post as it is good for snowboarders and has numerous chalet selections some with ski in ski out facilities or very close to the good lift system.
These villages are located at relatively high altitude about 1500 meters to usually guarantee ideal snow conditions.
for more info
www.koenigsleiten.com
www.koenigsleiten.at
www.gerlos.at
Note chalets
Ferien Club and Hutten
these are nice places favored of course by families with a good alpine style and make a nice atmosphere for Christmas.
I have always liked skiing in this area as you most often find excelent snow conditions , some good open terrain that allows comfortable skiing- some south facing to collect some sun.
A possible hotel is hotel Konigsleiten or one of the good selection in Gerlos. Gerlos actually being just one long main street.
Enough for everyone and some nice selection of restaurants , ski huts and cafes.
Note Demi Pension ( french ) is known as Halbpension in german speaking areas.
Other possible towns to look to are
Saalbach- Hinterglemm
St. Anton
both with good skiing.
As you know , this time of year is very busy with highest pricing. You begin a search at a later date and should make plans quickly.
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i looked at the sport hotel in St Johann. Would there be enough snow there for skiing at Christmas ?
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Which St. Johann - more than one in Austria
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Thank you for your very comprehensive reply. It would have been difficult to get all that information elsewhere.
Re St Johann I meant the St Johann in Tyrol ( Tirol ).
In any event your earlier reply has given me plenty to work with. Thanks again.
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Lots to choose from. Basically at christmas the snow can be a bit iffy. Also in some resorts a non-skier can feel a bit %26quot;remote%26quot; from the main ski area/mountains requiring a main gondola trip to meet friends etc. I think a non-skier feels more a part of the trip when friends can easily ski down at lunch time/apres ski to meet up directly in the main resort area. This not possible in many ski-resorts - especially the lower lying ones where a main gondola lift is required to access the main ski area and skiing down is non-existent (e.g. Zell am Ziller, Mayrhofen)
You could look for a resort with a higher altitude village and good snow record at Xmas (e.g. Ischgl 1300m - my personal favourite or St Anton 1300m , Obertauern 1700m) Many resorts have %26quot;Wanderweg%26quot; where you can just walk and on some skilifts travel as a foot pasenger allowing you to access different parts of the ski area (many resorts offer this type of access but with various limitations).
Kitzbuehel does give more of a town feeling but again the %26quot;remoteness%26quot; of the town from the main ski area and the altitude. Obertauern is high altitude with skiing both sides of the valley giving you a feeling of being in the mountains.
In the zillertal the skiing is very %26quot;remote%26quot; from the main villages. .
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thank you.
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I believe the %26quot; Remote %26quot; desription description regsrding Zillertal skiing is a little misleading.
The Gerlos / Konigsleiten area described above offers in many instances door to door skiing with a large ski cicus.
Places like Hochfugen are directly in the ski terrain. Spoeljoch offers good opportunities.
Mayrhofen has a main gondola lift ( Penken ) in the very center of the town taking skiers and on foot visitors as well directly and quickly to the mountain tops and some nice ski huts.
Many non skiers like the idea of joining their skiing family for a mid day dining time in the huts with good views and then a walk in the snow.
The Ahorn lift in Mayrhofen offers a similar experience and skiiers using this mountainoften find the tpiste back to town open for a good time.
The Gondola in Hippach offers quick access to the Penken area and has skiing back to the valley.
Lanersbach jus above mayrhofen offers numerous hotels immediately adjacent to lifts and ski terrain.
Of course Hintertux has the long ski runs from the top of the glacier area directly back into the village.
Thus in many instances remote is not really a good description to apply.
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If you are booking this as a package holiday from a british tourism company don%26#39;t forget that your choice of area of accommodation will be reduced and therefore some benefits/resorts that you may be interested in (e.g. door-to-door skiing, valley run(s), quiet or lively town, no requirement for ski-bus, creche facilites, winter walking areas) may not be available to you.
e.g. in the Zillertal Inghams, Thomson and Nielsen offer a large amount of accommodation in Mayrhofen itself. No other Zillertal resort available. Crystal also offer Mayrhofen + 1 hotel in Ramsau, Zell and Fügen. Strangely even though it offers a large ski area Kaltenbach/Hochfügen are not offered. If you are independant traveller then you will have a vast choice available to you allowing you to pick and choose those things which will suit your group.
Personally I like to stay where I don%26#39;t need a skibus and that an option of a valley run is available should the lifts get busy (stopped going to Zell am Ziller when there was only 1 main gondola as there was no valley run and at busy times - weekends and kids school holidays - had to wait 1 hour to get back down - in recent years ended up finishing the skiday at 3.30 to try to avoid queues - thankfully this has improved greatly since the installation of the second gondola)
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