Saalbach

My mate goes here every year, and loves the skiing, although there have been many stories of closed runs, bad weather, rain, brown pistes, and lack of snow. For this very reason I have never considered going here to ski, I dont like to take the risk of not being able to ski.
However, he is going again in Jan and invited us to join him and his wife, and their extended family. Having skied with them before, I'd love to, but I have to be perfectly honest when I say I am nervous about the conditions there. The skiing looks great, nice runs esp down to Leogang I am told, but the highest lift is sub 2000m and that is a serious concern for me.

(And can we avoid the N word in response to this post please, as I know a few people will tell me they get decent skiing there and its low......)

I've been offered accommodation and lift pass for £450. My other mate thought it was a good deal, I'm not so sure.....flights coming in at £170 plus inc skis, transfers 50 euros pp, and nothing yet built in for food and drink. It says to me its going to be expensive as well as the risk of poor snow.

Am I right to be sceptical when it comes to Saalbach? I do like the look of the skiing, but snow is a major concern.

The alternative could be Bad Gastein, Serre Chevalier, or Zermatt.

Tony, I did a week in Saalbach Hinterglem before Christmas 2009 and loved it. Its not high but they have one of the best infrastructures going both in terms of modern lifts and snowmaking (>90% iirc). There is off piste to be had, and some good bars both on and off the piste, but it's strength is the distance you can cover. I managed 70km not including lifts acc. Skiline one day, and they are usually conservative. Was considering a return sometime myself.

Not being able to ski - doubt it very much.

Not being able to ski in good conditions - possible but unlikely.

As Tino_11 said, there is a lot of investment in every Austrian resort in snowmaking (which doesn't only mean snowmaking at the time you are going, but at the start of the season when you are making a base).

Before I came to Austria (from French resorts), I too was skeptical of the height of the resorts. But they have a very professional industry built around skiing - if the snow was consistently dodgy there wouldn't be one.

The Gastein valley is a nice area (although split up into a number of different sections, obviously). If you were concerned about height, snow and size of area, I would look at somewhere like Lech (expensive) or Serfaus (unknown on British market).

alpine wrote:Not being able to ski - doubt it very much.

Not being able to ski in good conditions - possible but unlikely.

As Tino_11 said, there is a lot of investment in every Austrian resort in snowmaking (which doesn't only mean snowmaking at the time you are going, but at the start of the season when you are making a base).

Before I came to Austria (from French resorts), I too was skeptical of the height of the resorts. But they have a very professional industry built around skiing - if the snow was consistently dodgy there wouldn't be one.

The Gastein valley is a nice area (although split up into a number of different sections, obviously). If you were concerned about height, snow and size of area, I would look at somewhere like Lech (expensive) or Serfaus (unknown on British market).

Well decision made not to go to Saalbach now. The price appeared to be a lot higher than initially thought which was a main factor, but despite what people have said, the problem with snow there over previous seasons (my mate has been 5 years and has struggled with conditions at times in 3 out of the 5) and thats early-mid Jan.

Lech? I've been to St Anton and loved it, wouldn't choose Lech to stay in though, and Serfaus doesn't tick any boxes for me I am afraid.

Looks like its going to be Zermatt or somewhere high in the Dolomites, or possibly a return to Serre Che for a short break as well.

Still deciding, but Saalbach it won't be, thats one decision made!!!

Tony, if you need it 'cheap' which seems to be high on the list, I wouldn't consider Zermatt. Cheap it aint, and with the pound languishing against the Swiss Franc............. :cry:

Tony, bring me some duty free Hendriks Gin and you and the missus can stay at mine for a week )

The lift pass alone in Zermatt will cost you about £400 :shock:

Brucie wrote:Tony, if you need it 'cheap' which seems to be high on the list, I wouldn't consider Zermatt. Cheap it aint, and with the pound languishing against the Swiss Franc............. :cry:

With cheap I refer to the cost of the holiday, not of food and drink in the resort. I'm on about the price of the package to get there, hence looking at catered chalets.
Tino, big problem - there will be at least 8 of us!!! If me and Alison come in Jan, I will defo take you up on the offer though