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

This discussion is becoming quite interesting :thumbup:

So, what are the differences between French and Austrian ski resorts?

Suppose you were teleported into an Austrian or French ski resort, how long do you think it would take you to find out which country you were in (and no cheating by reading shop signs etc.)?

And what would give it away first? (Apart from the language of course).

Ive not been to Austria and unless i can find some slope side apartments i doubt i will anytime soon.
Thats the major difference to me.
Hardly any self catering and not much Ski in Ski out either. I just can't be doing with all the faff of buses and stuff.

I fancy Austria because having been to France for the last few years I could do with a change.

And the Austrians definitely know how to apres ski like the French never could.

Nothng against France and don't want to rip it up til early hours, but a change is as good as a rest.

Still, off to France next week it is...and I'll enjoy it because I'm going to ski.

Snapzzz wrote:Ive not been to Austria and unless i can find some slope side apartments i doubt i will anytime soon.
Thats the major difference to me.
Hardly any self catering and not much Ski in Ski out either. I just can't be doing with all the faff of buses and stuff.

You're missing out on allot of good sliding then!!! There are several resorts in Austria that have ski in ski out but they aren't really on the radar of the British ski tourist. Hochgurgl, Hoch-Solden, and Oberlech are but a few.

I really don't mind using ski buses particularly as the ride is usually only 5-10 mins if you're staying in a ski town. To me the main differences between the 2 are France has a variety of huge areas, Austria's largest, the Ski Welt is 'only' ~280km of pisted runs which we all know is far too little for a week ;-) France has a variety of 'Mega Resorts' with hundred of Km's of runs. In the main Austrians ski areas are lower in altitude, more rounded hills than the jagged mountains that are synonymous with many areas of the French Alps-there are exceptions to this i.e. The Arlberg amongst others. Similarly reliable tree skiing can be hard to find being at those high altitudes although decent tree skiing does exist in France there's loads in Austria and ending up in some Farm yard is always good fun! There is the beauty of being below the tree line for so much of the skiing. This is where Austria comes in to its own. Some of the runs are truly magnificent. In the main Austrian ski resorts are a function of the towns themselves, which were very much there first. Many Austrian ski resorts are beautiful villages that continue to operate as fully functioning farming communities. A refreshing change from some of the less aesthetically pleasing purpose built French resorts.

When in France I tend to put up with the generally high prices of food and drink as most people do to just have access to the ski areas, I don't part with much cash when in France by staying chalet board. I've not been anywhere in Austria where I've not got a main course and drink for sub 10 euro on the mountain. I could go on and on but I think in summary both have their pros and cons, I do find Austria offers a better overall holiday experience for me than France when considering skiing, prices of food and drink and nightlife. This is the first year in 8 I've not skied in France (was in L2A over Christmas).

Dids1 wrote:I liked that response!

I haven't either but see no benefit in spoiling someone's anticipation when they've booked a holiday there and are looking forward to it.

You're not disputing its crap then? :roll:

I think Herr Grizwald may have come close to smacking the nail on the swede:

France probably has the better skiing;

Austria probably has the better holiday experience.

Having said that, I still prefer Switzerland to both!! :mrgreen:

Grizwald wrote:

Snapzzz wrote:Ive not been to Austria and unless i can find some slope side apartments i doubt i will anytime soon.
Thats the major difference to me.
Hardly any self catering and not much Ski in Ski out either. I just can't be doing with all the faff of buses and stuff.

You're missing out on allot of good sliding then!!! There are several resorts in Austria that have ski in ski out but they aren't really on the radar of the British ski tourist. Hochgurgl, Hoch-Solden, and Oberlech are but a few.

I really don't mind using ski buses particularly as the ride is usually only 5-10 mins if you're staying in a ski town. To me the main differences between the 2 are France has a variety of huge areas, Austria's largest, the Ski Welt is 'only' ~280km of pisted runs which we all know is far too little for a week ;-) France has a variety of 'Mega Resorts' with hundred of Km's of runs. In the main Austrians ski areas are lower in altitude, more rounded hills than the jagged mountains that are synonymous with many areas of the French Alps-there are exceptions to this i.e. The Arlberg amongst others. Similarly reliable tree skiing can be hard to find being at those high altitudes although decent tree skiing does exist in France there's loads in Austria and ending up in some Farm yard is always good fun! There is the beauty of being below the tree line for so much of the skiing. This is where Austria comes in to its own. Some of the runs are truly magnificent. In the main Austrian ski resorts are a function of the towns themselves, which were very much there first. Many Austrian ski resorts are beautiful villages that continue to operate as fully functioning farming communities. A refreshing change from some of the less aesthetically pleasing purpose built French resorts.

When in France I tend to put up with the generally high prices of food and drink as most people do to just have access to the ski areas, I don't part with much cash when in France by staying chalet board. I've not been anywhere in Austria where I've not got a main course and drink for sub 10 euro on the mountain. I could go on and on but I think in summary both have their pros and cons, I do find Austria offers a better overall holiday experience for me than France when considering skiing, prices of food and drink and nightlife. This is the first year in 8 I've not skied in France (was in L2A over Christmas).

So we have ended up in a France v Auatria debate after all that.....Hmmmm.

Ok, well I have to echo most of whats been said by Grizwald. People have the wrong idea of Austria because of places like Niederau which gets so much publicity on this site for instance. Other places are reportedly excellent skiing, liken Soll, but I've always shyed away from it because of the altitude as I don;t want to risk a weeks skiing being disrupted.

People swear by Saalbach and Schladming, neither of which are particularly high, but neither of which are particularly rounded hills either.

Certainly Arlberg and Solden and Ischgl offer the jagged peaks you mention, and I am sure many other resorts do as well Mayrhofen is hardly meadows.

I've never had an issue with using ski buses. I think the main difference here is that Austrian towns and villages tend to operate highly efficient bus systems, modern buses, and down in towns where theres plenty going on so it all just gets on with it. In France, the buses are irregular, often too small or in a bad state of repair, and the village really doesn't cater for them. You find bus stops all over Austrian resorts, often different lines linking different routes, whereas in France its one bus and thats it, take it or leave it. Thats probably why France is better for ski in ski out in the main, and rightly so as well.

Like the man says, you're missing out on some truly exceptional skiing by avoiding Austria. I've been to the Ziller Valley many times, and now also been to St Anton twice and the skiing is as good as anywhere else, and certainly with a better lift system as well. Heated seats, tissue dispensers, covers on the chairs.....you mention these to people who ski in France and they think you're winding them up!

I've got several Austrian resorts on my list to visit ahead of anywhere in France:

Solden
Ischgl
Bad Gastein
Schladming

As for France, the only resort I'm really excited about skiing is Val d'Isere. Others I'd happily consider, and have had fantastic skiing in ADH and Serre Che as well.

Its so hard to compare, especially after a winter like this one where the snow has been amazing across the board. But some Austrian resorts do scare me off with their altitude and worries over not being able to ski in poor weather. Thats probably why I haven't visited Saalbach yet.

LOTA wrote:I think Herr Grizwald may have come close to smacking the nail on the swede:

France probably has the better skiing;

Austria probably has the better holiday experience.

Having said that, I still prefer Switzerland to both!! :mrgreen:

Everyone seems to forget about Italy