westendorf help please

thanks benny12345 some good info there. the low altitude is the only thing worrying me, went to alpbach last year which is only 2000 at its highest but there was tons of snow in March even down to a 1000. what was it like higher up when it was slushy on lower slopes?

the snow was brilliant the whole time we were there. loads of snowcannons so even at the bottom it was fine...until the temperatures changed on that last day. Then the slush was everywhere, right from the top down. Hey, the temps might have been particularly extreme, i didn't see a thermometer! But it was memorable because if that had been the day we arrived that would have proved all my fears about low resorts true.

Even north facing slopes didn't come into the question - it just changed and it got wet, quickly.

Some great off piste runs at Brixen, making me smile just remembering them.

If you have a car i wouldn't worry too much, its close to plenty of other resorts if you need to get higher....;-)

thanks again still a bit worried, although planning on going in january so trying to convince myself it will be colder anyway

don't sweat it. no pun intended. it seems eveerywhere is much colder this year. we were out over chirstmas and new year this season and places i've never known to be colder than -10 were -18. the places i knew that are often -20(+) were unbearable this year.

january will be fine

yes it has been colder we went to morzine on the 3rd Jan and it was freezing. thanks again for all the info

hi everyone
thinking of where to go jan 2011 and westendorf looks like our sort of place but any info would be much appreciated and also where to stay hotel jakobwirt sounds nice from reviews any one stayed here? thanks

Claret, said I would give an update when I returned which should have been yesterday, but got back lunchtime today thanks to snow in Munich, so 20 hours later than planned with no luggage but Lufthansa did look after us with Hotels, meals, drink and taxi's.

Anyway, apart from the last 24 hours the trip was fantastic, 4 days of skiing 9 to 4:30pm and only scratched the surface of the area really. Very well linked over to Kitzbul and via Brixen in Thale to SCeffau, Going and Soll with a great variety of runs to cruise and also to test. I think altogether the all-star pass gets you about 450km skiing and the conerted price on my card whn home was £136, including exchange commission, for 4 days, so £34 a day.(was €155)

There are planty of little areas just off the pistes to pop off and back on to so to have a little fun as well.

The snow was fantastic and even if the snow was failing when you are to go, there were snow cannons everywhere able to keep runs open.

Not sure where your abilities lie and if this is a family trip, but from my point of view it would deffinately be somewhere I would look to take my kids, the nursery area is large uncrowded and the other choice of slopes locally to learn on would be chosen to suit the level of the class.

I had a day with The Reds ski School who were very good and probably the larger of the 3 in resort.

Town not large but enough choice around and apres ski we chose was quieter, though on the last night we did venture into Gerry's Inn, piste side, for the liveliest apres I have seen, dancing on tables the lot, though a very very strong Dutch influence in there. There was also a lot of Irish in town too.

Although staying at The Post where rooms were clean and tidy and the staff friendly and helpful we only took breakfast there, choosing to eat on FeinSinn, where the food was so good that is the only place we ate, not the cheapest but just a great variety and well cooked and friendly staff.

In general though food in the mountains and in town much cheaper than France or Italy, where I have been before and paying €6 for a spaggetti at lunch and a large beer about €3.50

Hired ski's from Hausberger in the centre on recommendation, a bit like going into ARgos filling out a slip but coming out with ski's all electronically recorded and very efficient and a great set of ski's and able to use their ski deposit which is right at the end of the nursery slopes and bottom of the first chair that you need each day.

Looked at the jakobwirt, looks excellent and only a 300m walk I would say to the piste definately looks a very good choice.

The only thing was the smoking in bars and restaurants that we are not used to now which was hard to get used to and had a sore throat from it after a couple of days and not in bars more that 2 or 3 hours an evening.

We liked it that much we are already talking of getting things sorted to go back the same time next year, so I guess its a big Thumbs Up!!!

Hope this helps, though where ever you go you are in the same position of not knowing that there will be enough snow, but it is only a 3 month season with January and February being the best I was told!

thanks very much TC for coming back to me with the update loads of info there, it sounds a great place think we will be booking very soon, the hotel sounds good also (looked at reviews on trip advisor) as for the type of skiing we like blues and reds nothing too scary though,. my son 17 might be boarding so hope its good for that. we too had a nightmare getting back from geneva should have flown sunday aft and finally flew mon tea time then got diverted to another airport because of fog!! but i suppose you have to expect it when you go somewhere snowy. glad you had a good time and thank you once again.

Without hesitation I would go to Westendorf every time.
It is one of the few resorts that has just about everything.

What I like about it are the following:

Traditional, unpretentious and compact village with great atmosphere
Skiing back into village centre
Over 1000 meters of vertical
Plenty of skiing above and below the tree line
Plenty of good mountain reataurants
Good variety of runs for all levels
Good off piste (does not get skied out in half a day like the French resorts)
Easy transfer (1hr 15mins from Innsbruck)
Access into the Ski Welt region (Soll, Ellmau) though the skiing is better in Westendorf
Good snow conditions
Not too busy (except Feb half term)
Has a railway station so non-skiers can get to Kitzbuhel very easily plus Innsbruck, Salzburg and Zell am Zee.

The resort has been taken over by Dutch tour operators but there are still some Brits and Irish staying there.

If you are an intermediate skier and staying for more than 1 week you could pay a small supplement and buy an All Star pass which includes Kitzbuhel (which you can get to by ski bus from Key West or train) and a lot of other resorts including Saalbach and Kaprun (car required)

I work in Soll, and whenever possible I ski in Westendorf on my day off because the snow is better quality, and the runs are longer and less crowded.

The skiing goes up to 1900 meters so it is best to go before early March. You can still get great great conditions (particularly on the North facing slopes) but it is less certain.
After mid March it is a safer bet to go to resorts that go up 2500 or more meters such as Lanersbach, Zauchensee, Stubaital,Serfaus and Otztal