Where in Austria?

Hi all,

So this winter, a group of friend and I are looking at getting a week of skiing just after the school holiday's finish at christmas - from the 3rd to the 10th - in Austria. Found some cheap flights to Friedrichshafen from where we hope to get some form of public transport to our resort. Here's where you come in: We've a group of ~ 10, with 4 good skiiers (i.e. black's are a challenge in bad conditions, but otherwise not too bad, willing to explore off-piste if the route isn't too obscure but little 'back country' experience), 4 people with one week's skiing and 2 beginners. So we've got quite the range of abilities to cater to. If anyone could suggest a resort that's not too pricy (we're all students) and provides a good range of skiing, that would be great. One of our party has been to and loved St. Anton, but the accom. prices there seem to be huge! I've seen a lot of love for Niederau here, but don't know if I'd have the confidence to explore the great unknown there nor the money to pay for a guide.

All and any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Beware Ryanairs additional items, in particular checked in bags and skis/boards, as once you add these, their flights dsont actually come much cheaper than going with other charter airlines. F'hafen is an under used airport for skiing holidays. I understand the Bregenz area, very close by, is quite good and varied, with a good snow record too. Otherwise, the obvious places to suggest would be St Anton/Lech or Ischgl, neither of which are particularly "cheap".
Niederau is the other side of Austria, much closer to Salzburg. You can get good priced flights into Munich as well, might be worth considering.

You won't need a guide for Niederau.

Indeed. More a resort for Brownies.......

Have skied Zell am See many times with mixed groups from beginners to experts and always had fun and you've always got Kaprun on hand in case of a poor snow year.

Dave

Zell am See is a good place because it has a good ski area, Zell-Kaprun, but also is close for travelling to other good resorts. This year the Salzburg SuperSkiCard allows a host of other resorts including Zell-Kaprun, but the full liftpass price is hardly more than the Zell-Kaprun area. This multi resort pass for resorts in and near SalzburgerLand covers major resorts such as Wildschonau and all of the Gastein resorts, though these are mostly too far to travel to.

What's pretty easily accessible? Saalbach Hinterglemm SkiCircus area is 32 minutes by public bus away from Zell (first around 8.20 a.m. I think), ski lifts are included in the price of this pass. And Kitzbuehel (first train very early), ski lifts also included, is just over 45 minutes by train from Zell. Zell is a lovely place to stay, also Kaprun, with good apres ski life in a traditional, lovely mountain town. The skiing is good, and skiing can be really good at Kitzbuehel and fine at Saalbach.

That makes a pretty large ski area. Last year I was at Serre Chevalier, Southern French Alps, and while there are single runs linking the top of each of the four mountains at that resort which is joint 2nd largest in Europe with lots of others, the bus between the 4 mountain areas is at most 55 minutes by the resort ski bus. And often 30 minutes, if going to the next but one mountain. So travelling between Zell and these other two resorts compares favourably with a single large resort.

So all that would be extra are the return bus / train fares between Zell am See and SkiCircus / Kitzbuehel.

why Friedrichshafen ?? they must be bloody cheap flights as its a long way to anywhere and the transfer costs will be high...Wouldn't Salzburg be more efficient as there are lots of flights and good links at a reasonable price....you would be better hiring a coach from Friedrichshafen for 12 I reckon

Bad Gastein / Bad Hofgastein (see one of my other posts). Mainly reds, can get there by train from Salzbug. We fly to Munich BA from Heathrow and get a taxi.

350 euros for 9 of us one way last year in a taxi. I am just asking them for a quote for our trip at Christmas this year.

We did stay in a dirt cheap place in Bad Gastein once. Half board, opposite bus stop 10 mins to slopes. Basic rooms, half board no menu choices but plenty of food and very friendly hosts. Good value for money though.

On balance we prefer a self catered appartment in Bad Hogastein. Better access to slopes, better quality rooms and ability to choose our own food.