Why is Austria so popular ........The Report

OldAndy wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:I suppose the whole point of this thread was not an I hate Austria debate but to see if any one shares the same opinion why do people visit a certain country as you can ski anywhere most ski resorts skiing are exactly the same. Have a think about it !!!!!!

I enjoyed reading your points and views Ian.
And must say I was looking forward to hearing about your Austrian expedition - really sad when I heard how much your knee curtailed your skiing fun

I go to France .....
I speak the language well and enjoy that.
I am also very keen on the ski in and out convenience usually offered in the higher level ski stations rather than towns down in the valley.

Also when I have tried to be adventurous and go elsewhere something seems to go wrong!

OldAndy wrote:Personally I do like the familiarity of what I know - hence going again and again and again and again to Tignes and Courchevel!!

People of a different make up like the variety of new places, different runs every day/week/year, different restaurants, watering holes etc.

I think this is just a personal choice thingy - what best suits the individual.

On prices - being extraordinarily brave and exotic this year and going to both L2A and Serre Che the prices were lower than I am used to for food and drink but not anything else that I noticed.

And one factor that is important for me is knowing where I am going - a real nuisance trying to read a piste map in Serre Che up on the mountain, in the wind, when I need to find and use my glasses, and even then the writing is so small that I can hardly see it.

Ian Wickham wrote:
after my visit to AustriaI I found the prices were more or less the same after being told that it is so cheap compared to France the skiing is more or less as it is just a mountain covered in snow.
Perhaps it is just they have always gone to a destination so know no better.

  2013: Champoluc Jan, Serre Che March
Skis: Scott Neo 2009

Tony_H wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:
after my visit to AustriaI I found the prices were more or less the same after being told that it is so cheap compared to France the skiing is more or less as it is just a mountain covered in snow.
Perhaps it is just they have always gone to a destination so know no better.

Interesting that you are comparing one of Austria's most expensive resorts with one of Frances cheapest. I found St Anton expensive this year generally, but still relatively cheaper than France for food and drink on the whole, although I have carefully selected French resorts where prices are lower (Serre Che and ADH) in recent trips.

It is just a mountain covered in snow.....careful, Icy will have you for making a sweeping generalisation here! I think its incorrect for any of us to compare the skiing in one country to another to say its better, not as good, etc. Each resort has its own personality.

I think you're right about some people though. They go to one place so many times, they probably don't know anything about anywhere else, in which case they're hardly qualified to offer an opinion!!!

Dids1 wrote:Hmmmm.....do the comments above discount certain opinions on Bulgaria?