Skiing Austria with Kids

Hi
Im trying to organise a skiing holiday literally anywhere in Austria for a party of 17 people (8 adults 6 kids and 3 infants) the first week of Feb 09.
It must be a catered chalet and close to the slopes we dont want to lug childrens skis any distance.
Can anyone help because none of the tour operators can.
Cheers James

You wont find too much ski in/ ski out in Austria, France may be a better option.

Either way, I suggest you look at skiworld or catered-ski-chalets websites and give them a call for advice as its such a large group.

There are so many things you need to consider, not just where to go, but also where to fly to and from, prices per person, ski schools and lessons, etc etc.

Good luck, thats a big group to organise.

Esprit are a fantastic family ski chalet company who'll take your kids to and from their lessons so you don't have to pick up their skis once if you don't want to. Bliss! They also have in house nannies for the babies.
Good luck, I know what you're going through!

Well I think of myself as an amateur-expert on skiing in Austria with kids. Bighead hee hee. Anyway, I've two kids 7 and 13 who've skied a lot now, but we only ski Austria (except for the one year in France, which we didn't enjoy NEARLY as much so won't return). Firstly, like the other post said, there's not a lot of ski in-ski out, but there is some, if not a lot. Obergurgl is great, but not extensive skiing, but high so it's snow sure and ski in/out. And ski esprit do a holiday in a chalet or hotel (can't remember) to Obergurgl. Lovely and lively place but small so great for kids.

Have a look at Ellmau too. Not all ski in/out, but nearly but it's low. However, at that time of year it's fabulous. Ski Esprit do a holiday to Scheffau which ties in with it all and they take your kids up the mountain for you, but it's a short bus to the cable car, then big queues for cable car, then you're up the mountain ok. Fab place to ski but definitely not ski in out.

Don't know how experienced you are. St Christoph, near St Anton is fab too, but very very very quiet and a very tough area, so maybe not great for kids.

The best overall for kids and ski in/out is Oberlech. You won't find it on the tour operator sites much, as they tend to deal with Lech, but just up the mountain (you get there by a cable car, and they take your luggage in it too - great fun) is Oberlech. It's traffic free, all hotels/chalets in a big bowl on the pistes themselves. The ski school is fab and outside your door. The skiing is varied, not difficult and fabulous for kids. If you want more difficult pistes then you just ski to them or get the shuttle bus to St Anton, on the same ski pass. However, Oberlech is fantastic. You can book yourself into the chalets or ask a specialist supplier to book for all of you, but I reckon that if you booked the hotel, you can get the flights yourself (Zurich 2 1/4 hrs, Innsbruck 1 1/2 hrs,) and the hotel will organise you transfer bus for your whole group.

I'd therefore say that Obergurgl best if you want tour operator to organise or Oberlech if you are inclined to do it yourself.

Job done and a fantastic place.......... Enjoy.

pennyqss wrote:

Obergurgl is great, but not extensive skiing, but high so it's snow sure and ski in/out. And ski esprit do a holiday in a chalet or hotel (can't remember) to Obergurgl. Lovely and lively place but small so great for kids.
 

Esprit have chalet verwall, a hotel outside of the town (quite a trek so I wouldn't recommend it) and a new chalet called alpenblume. If you've got beginner children you couldn't get a better location than verwall, there's your very own beginner slope with a tow rope right outside the front door! Fantastic place.

I would suggest looking at Hotel Land Alpin, Scheffau. Although it is not ski in or ski out, it has a ski bus that stops outside the hotel and takes you straight to the godala's which are 100m from the bus stop.

We had a group of 16 (8 adults and 8 kids) last year including 8 non skiers and we are all going back next year at the end of January.

The main ski area is at the top of the mountain at 1600m and being a natural bowl has great skiing conditions with large no's of snow cannons to help out incase of low snow fall. This is where the ski school and nursey slops are located with the Kinder Kaiserland for non sking young kids. You also have access to the whole Ski Welt area for experienced skiers or boarders.(This includes Ellmau, Soll, Brixen, Westendorf and links to Kitsbuhl form 2009). There is a red and blue run down the mountain to the gondala but the blue is not always open and the red can be very icy at the bottom (would suggest only experienced skiers attempt it), however you can ski to half way down and get on the gondal at mid way.

Scheffau is situated at 800m and only had a light covering of snow but in good conditions it is possible to ski to the gondala from the hotel. The resort is very quite with only a few bars but with kids it suited us well.

The Hotel is in 2 sections with restaurants in both buildings and a swimming pool and wellness centre in the rear building. There is also a creche which i think is operated by Esprit. The accomodation is half board with buffets style evening meals and also afternoon tea and cakes. The food was fantansic with a large choose to suit all tastes and fussy kids, with free wine, beer and soft drinks while you are in the restaurant.
The ski hire shop is under the hotel with a large boot storage room accessable direct from the shop. There is also a shop attached to the hotel, bank next door and Spar shop 50m up the road.

Visit links below.
http://www.skiwelt.at/index.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g608678-d500360-r6655000-Alpin-Scheffau_am_Wilden_Kaiser_Tirol_Austrian_Alps.html
http://www.kinderhotelw.verein-mks.com/start.php
http://www.wilderkaiser.info/en/default.asp

Regards Richard