Week 1 December 2012

My 6 Austrian trips were:

1994 Mayrhofen.

2002 Ischgl.

2007 Schruns.

2008 Mayrhofen.

2009 Gerlos.

2011 Zell Am See.

Thoroughly enjoyed all of them including the food, can't help with
Bad Hof ect as not been there, but would expect it to be good due to Austrian standards.

Have you read what it says on here about it?

http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Bad_Hofgastein.html

Ian Wickham, I have skied for well over 300 weeks in different resorts in France and about the same amount in different resorts in Austria and I can honestly say I pretty much enjoyed all of them but if I had to choose then there is no doubt that Austria would win quite easily for food, accomodation (it is miles better than France in this category), ambience i.e. character, and to say that the lift queues are worse in France is simply plain wrong. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but if you have only skied for one week in Austria then I don't think you are qualified to make a considered judgement.

Back to the question in hand: Obergurgl will be good early season but is 5 hours from Munich, shame you weren't flying to Innsbruck as it is only about 1.5 hrs from there. That early in the season I would suggest Hintertux which will give you the Zillertal valley if the snow really comes early or as others have said Obertauern is a hidden gem mainly for its height.

I've skiied Kitz and loved it - great town, lovely slopes, excellent ski school

However my cautionary tale would be that Kitz itself is low at 900m so though ski back to town is possible (and therefore ski in/out depending on your accomodation - needs to be at foot of Hannenkahm or the Horn (expensive on one, solitary on other)) its very often not due to poor snow low down.

The route down from the Horn in particular is a mountain road so once it gets thin on the covering you can have some "sticky" bits....

Slopes above are great and relativley snow sure - leave it late and make an informed decison maybe?

millstreet wrote:
I was in Val Thorens (France) in April 2011, V good experience.
I am constrained by the fact that I have to fly from Cork airport in Ireland, which has a direct flight to Munich.

A friend of mine recommended Bad HofGastein, my wife and I are good intermediates skiers, what are your thoughts on Bad Hof :?: :?:

I only know what Ive read about it, several hundred times, in WTSS. Sounds like a nice old town with Spa's, bus access to the lifts mainly, but a wonderful and varied ski area well linked with pretty much all god intermediate skiing and some off piste bowls to have a go at.


I've been looking to book somewhere for a couple of years now, but its been booked out the hotel I wanted every time.

Ischgl is worth considering in December.
I have been a couple of times at that time of year and the snow has been fine. The skiing is excellent and the resort is lively.

Not exactly ski out, but all the lifts are in town, and if you choose accommodation around the Silvrettaseilbahn Cable Car area the home run piste finishes right on the main street when snow conditions suit.
Not the cheapest resort around but not as expensive as some.

Take a train(s) from Munich Airport to Landeck and then onwards by bus. If train arrival and departure times do not suit the bus times then a taxi from Landeck is around 60 Euros.
Leave your skis at home and travel light.
One you have done it once it is easy and many resorts are convenient for the railway network with stations in the resorts.

Folks, thank you for your comments to date, still not set on any one place so keep info coming.
Gadgycove, thanks for your experience in Ischgl, I have been there once about 4 years ago, other than having a bad accident on the slopes and nearly killing myself, it a very enjoyable ski trip and would certainly go back again.

I can also recommend Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis but not sure about Week 1 in December. Obertauern is also fine but was very cold and windy when I was there in January. If your flights are already booked then I guess you can wait and see where the best snow is. But December is a good time to go to Ischgl.