Should i go to Austria.

BTP - I haven't skied Austria and thats because each time i look at resorts there is something that puts me off. Whereas in france there always seems to be more reasons to go.

If i were to go outside of france then i would be focussing on Italy way before Austria.

Snapzzz wrote:BTP - I haven't skied Austria and thats because each time i look at resorts there is something that puts me off. Whereas in france there always seems to be more reasons to go.

If i were to go outside of france then i would be focussing on Italy way before Austria.

Done both Italy and Austria, and love them both a lot more than France by the way.
Theres a lot of places in France that WTSS and other middle class people tell me I have to ski, but same as you re Austria there is something that puts me off. Could it be the arrogant pompous attitude of the French, or just the type of Brits generally that go there, I cant decide?
Everyones different, and whilst most of these discussions remain light hearted and tongue in cheek between us, the serious side to the discussion remains, and currently a higher % of Brits ski in France than anywhere else. However, thats changed in recent years, where the % going to France has decreased and the % going to Austria has risen.
Until you have skied it, you cant really say for certain. But the atmosphere in most of the Austrian resorts I have been to has always been far nicer than the French ones, on and off the slopes.

Snapzzz wrote:



Purpose built - Villages erected where the best snow and slopes are? Where they are most convenient for access? Cant say i object to that, its a huge driving force in my decision making.

Mainly in Austria your ski day will involve a bus and i cant be arsed with all that faff. Of course there are a few resorts that offer ski in ski out but in the main they dont - similarly SC is less abundant.

Food? Ask Wickers, he said it was rubbish once didn't he? I think they do some kind of egg on every meal.

Oh, and for the record 'Austrian Twins' for you and your buddy is really going to disappoint you.

Interesting someone who hasnt skied Austria telling someone who has that their day will probably involve a bus. No buses in France, Italy, Switzerland....or long walks top lifts in any of these countries?
Where there are buses to use, you'd be glad of Austrian efficiency compared to the "if I can be bothered" attitude in France and Italy regarding ski buses.
But thats where choosing where you stay in resort is of high importance. In any country, you may have to walk or take a bus to lifts if you dont choose well enough.

Mayrhofen, for example, is a large town, with 2 main lift stations in town, and 2 in neighbouring villages that get you up the mountain quicker so taking a short bus ride out to them can be an advantage. Whereas in your purpose built French monstrosities you'll often find several main lift stations with no alternatives, and horrendous queues as a result at peak times. I love ADH but at times the queues on the main popular lifts out of town were too long for me to bother with and I skied off elsewhere. Oh and ADH has a bus service too, believe it or not. And Serre Chevalier, a very good one too linking the 4 main base stations, without which you'd end up paying a fortune in taxi fares to get back to your accommodation. Last time I checked, neither ADH not SC were in Austria though -)

The thing with a lot of Austrian resorts, mainly those I havent been to out of choice, are that the resorts where accommodation is are low lying, and to get to the ski area involves riding up the mountain, and if you pick certain property or resorts you may need a ride somehow to the lifts.

I can think of resorts like Tignes or Les Arcs, for example, where a lot of property is close to lifts, or ski in ski out. However, neither resort floats my boat personally, i like a bit of life and character where I go, but I see the attraction, and I am told the skiing in both is excellent (provided you dont like trees and dont mind sitting in your accommodation all day when they close the lifts if the wind reaches 0.5km/h......)

Its a good discussion though, and having skied resorts in Austria, France, Switzerland, Andorra and Italy personally, I like to think my own opinions are well formed and based on facts and experience, rather than heresay and misunderstanding.

Tony_H - wow, you do like having your own opinion!
Something tells me that you work in a travel agency? Many people booking this year?

You only mention 2 resorts in France, I guess that your travel agents specialise in Austria rather than France.
2 lift stations in the town at Mayorhofen does not sound like Austrian efficiency to me? Surely it would be more efficient to have more than 2 lifts in this large town? Wouldn't you say? But perhaps after a stuffy bus ride you are all rather used to being crammed in one cable car.

Why did you go to Serre Chevalier? Did you think it was in Austria, or was it a 'staff special offer'?

Anyway, where you off to this year?
I am still liking the sound of France, or maybe even The States where the serious skiiers are.

You won't be at either of those as they won't be on special offer.

BTP Snowman wrote:Tony_H - wow, you do like having your own opinion!
Something tells me that you work in a travel agency? Many people booking this year?

You only mention 2 resorts in France, I guess that your travel agents specialise in Austria rather than France.
2 lift stations in the town at Mayorhofen does not sound like Austrian efficiency to me? Surely it would be more efficient to have more than 2 lifts in this large town? Wouldn't you say? But perhaps after a stuffy bus ride you are all rather used to being crammed in one cable car.

Why did you go to Serre Chevalier? Did you think it was in Austria, or was it a 'staff special offer'?

Anyway, where you off to this year?
I am still liking the sound of France, or maybe even The States where the serious skiiers are.

You won't be at either of those as they won't be on special offer.

My word you don't take long to find your feet in a new place!

Slips straight in. Don't think he is a shy boarding man.

But then he only asked a question and gave his answer :p

He is still a boarder though - no excuse there!!

There is no excuse for boarders.
Ever.

He's probably gone for a sit down :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

He wont be able to that on a bus in Austria. They are like sardines!