Zell am Ziller

Having been to Niederau for a 3rd return visit earlier in the year I've now plucked up the courage to branch out and am going to Zell am Ziller in mid-March. It appears to be a bigger resort in terms of pistes and lifts etc, so presumably a bit easier to get lost in than N ! Any tips welcome (although I have also booked ski school for the week - mainly as the all-in price seemed a pretty economical way of buying equipment hire and lift pass as much as anything else, but also for the guiding element.

I'd appreciate any thoughts from those who know Z am Z.

Way to go billip :thumbup:

Hi Billip,
I didn't reply sooner as it's almost 30 years since I went to Zell am Ziller so I'm sure it will have changed a lot. However as no one else has posted a reply I thought I'd let you know how I got on.

We stayed a lovely little hotel called The Kirchenwirt. We had to catch buses to the lifts, but i don't remember a long walk or it being a particularly long journey.
I spent a lot of time on my backside the snow if I remember (it was only my 2nd time) and I have photos of lovely tree lined runs.
On the last day our instructor took us to a place called Gerlosstein (I'm sure it was) and took us on a bar crawl. That was great fun. There was a single man chair there, but I'm sure it's long gone.

Being only 17 the thing I remember the most was the apres ski!
We had something on every night - a fondue evening, toboganning, Austrian evening, a party evening - all laid on for the tourists of course, but brilliant fun.
That's the thing I like about Austria - they love apres ski and although we've mostly gone to France recently (because it's closer to drive) I really want to go to Austria again soon.

Sorry I'm a bit vague on the details - probably a bit of non information really! I hope you have a great time.

Dids1: thanks for replying. From studying the piste map, it does indeed look to be right alongside Gerlos, and, yes, I've factored in the short bus ride to the bottom of the gondola, which doesn't really bother me too much. So, based on your feelings about Austria being similar to my own, I'm looking forward to a great time :)

I wonder if the very few references in these forums to Zell am Ziller (unlike Zell am See) means that it isn't a resort particularly favoured by the British ?

Zell is part of the Zillertaller sport arena, and a couple of km down the valley from the mighty Hof.
I've skied Zell for a day, its got some nice slopes down the front side which get sunny late morning, after the gondola ride up, and over the back is the link to Gerlos. Sadly it was too windy when I skied it and we were not able to go over, but I hear the snow over there is the best in the area right now.

I dont know Zell as a town, but driving through it there seems to be a lot of life. I dont think its too popular with Brits, as most head up to Mayrhofen.

Its a short train ride into Mayrhofen, so if you want a really good day out, head for the Penken and enjoy.

Its certainly got more to play on than little old Niederau, but the 2 resorts are very different so it should offer a more varied experience for you. Hope you like the place.

Dont forget to ski Konigsleiten whilst you are that end of the valley, I am told the off piste is superb there.

There you go Bilip - a bit more informative info!

Let us know how you get on - I am quite tempted to go back one day.

Tony - cheers for the encouragement and info. It's quite exciting to be branching out, but not sure if I'll exhaust Zell and Gerlos then get to Mayrhofen too in one week. But Konigsleiten is definitely on the agenda. !

Dids1: I'll post a short report on here when I get back !

I was billip, now I seem to have to be billip1 for some weird info-technology reason, but no matter. Just to thank those on here who gave me so many good pointers re Zell am Ziller, where I had a great week last week. As I was in ski school for most of the week, I couldn't take advantage of all of the side-trips which people suggested, but frankly, I found more than enough to keep me happy in the Ziller Arena area. However, a trip to Kaltenbach was a real treat, with lots of skiing to be had.

I even managed my first black run (not all upright, I but managed it anyway !)

I would certainly go to the area again, although staying in Zell am Ziller itself does involve a (short) bus ride to the bottom of the gondola each morning, and the apres-ski in Zell itself is a bit limited, so maybe accommodation nearer the action would be something to consider next time. But all in all, a great area to ski in.