Saalbach or Schladming

After a pretty hairy and challenging week in Tignes-Val over Christmas now looking for something a bit more chilled for end of January in Austria. Both Saalbach and Schladming have been on my radar for the last few years but not yet managed to get there. My first choice of the two would be Saalbach as it ticks all my boxes from a ski resort,extent/scenery,mountain huts and lively atmospheric village etc but quite expensive with virtually no deals even last minute.Has anyone been to both resorts and which one would you choose taking everything in to account.
Cheers and HNY to all

We've been to both places. Schladming about 15 Times, saalbach just the once. I guess it's obvious which one we prefer.
But choose your times as Schlads goes mad at the end of January for the Night Slalom. Plus the place will be chocca with no deals.

The town is very lively and you have access to four mountains, all interconnected. The lift system is amazing as Schladming is the only resort in Steiermark and so has had loads of investment.
We normally stay in Rohrmoos which ha great access to the skiing but is a bit quieter. Loads of mountain huts, tobagonning, and it's quite easy to avoid the crowds, if that's what you want. Saalbach is also a bit of a boom town and they too are investing in the lift system. To be honest, I think you'd enjoy either place

Cheers Bunty
I'm slightly favouring Saalbach due to the larger ski area but its considerably more expensive for accommodation than Schladders so mind not quite made up yet

Schladming is huge too. Planai is the most extensive area but you can easily spend a day at Haus, Rohrmoos and Reiteralm.

Never skied in Schladming but they have an excellent public hospital with brilliant fracture surgeons and care if that's any help in deciding The town is charming too

Good to know but hopefully won't need it. Booked Schladming, Hotel Kirchenwirt. Anyone stayed there? Whats the boot room like or is it better to store boots and skis at the bottom of the lift?

I'm sure the Kirchenwirt will have a decent boot room. It's an easy walk from the Planai lifts and I don't know if you can store skis at the gondola station. I hope you enjoy Schladming. We now go to Filzmoos but have had some fantastic holidays in Sclads. We still visit to ski as it's all on the same lift pass.
Two mountain huts to receommend: the Jagastübl on Hochwurzen and the Preunegg on Reiteralm. Viel Spass!

Sallbach all day long there at the moment so much snow it unbelievable definitely more skiing to be done here than Schladming and loads off apres ski