Austria 2011

Ok, St Anton was brilliant (and not as expensive of many of the French resorts either) but it aimed at top end intermediate and above really, to get the best out of it.

Mayrhofen has what you want, great skiing and a lively apres scene. Good variety of slopes too. Been a number of times and would go back any time.

Havent done Ischgl, although want to sometime soon. I hear it is lively bordering on raunchy in places, but take it or leave it I guess. Mainly red runs above the trees.

Niederau is definitely not what you want, and only really recommended for beginners, or people who have a community of friends already out there.

St Anton has tons of catered chalets, Mayrhofen has 2. But the hotel scene is good and cheap, look on www.mayrhofen.at
Ischgl is hotel based also.
Saalbach might be what you want though, and has more chalets to offer, as well as easy blue cruising.

And its Airport Transfers, not taxiing ;-)

Saalbach-HinterGlemm or Zell am See both good for slope variety and apres.

Rusty

Thanks for all your replies people.

Have already done Saalbach last year so not doing there again this year. I'm still of the age where I want to try different resorts each year. For anyone who is thinking of going, it is brilliant though. Loads of slopes so you never get bored and good Apres Ski (The Goat Bar on the Hintergleem side is a must!).

Went for Ischgl in the end as I read that its good for boarders and I managed to find a catared chalet there doing a really good deal. The Apres ski is apparently crazy, but with the average age of our group 28 then cant see that being an issue!

Booked for 16th Jan next year so I'll let you all know how it goes! If anyone has any tips for here in the mean time let me know.