Ellmau, Scheffau, or Soll. Decided it's a definate for SkiWelt-can't decide which town!

I've read as much as I can about this ski area and Mayrhofen and decided to go for the SkiWelt. As we use Snowbikes and there are 2 hire centres and none in Mayrhofen (which means they have to be sent out to us - and you are in trouble if something breaks) we thought having the hire centre close at hand was enough to swing it. This is a lower altitude than we normally go to, but Snowbikes are easy to use in just about any conditions other than ice and no snow at all!

We are looking at 20th Feb as prices drop then after half term, and before they climb again.
What we can't decide it which of the three resorts to go to.

We'd like to be able to ski back to the town, not have to rely on a bus to get to the lifts, or be stuck out too far from the town. We don't need night life, apre ski on the way back to hotel is all we can manage! We also like mooching round shops in the 4-6pm gap.

We can't tell from the blurb if the free ski buses connect between towns, or just take you to the lifts – so does anyone know?

And are there any hotels you recommend?

Thanks

We stayed in Ellmau for Christmas 2007 and liked it so much that we are going back this year!
We were the only family on our coach from the airport staying in Ellmau - everyone else went on to Soll - so I guess that maybe has more hotels/nightlife.

Our hotel was very near to the ski schools. There was a ski bus to the funicular railway - but it was also possible to ski back if you still had enough energy! Our sons did it a couple of times.

I also walked from the village to the funicular a couple of times.
We stayed in the village in the Sporthotel. There are a few hotels fairly central, and there is the hotel Blathof (I think it is called) which we were told was nice, but definitely out of town.

thanks Helenp3, think we are leaning towards Soll just for the wider selection of hotels and prices, but nice to hear you liked the SkiWelt enough to be going back.

We'd like to be able to ski back to the town, not have to rely on a bus to get to the lifts, or be stuck out too far from the town.

You will have to get the ski bus wherever you are in Soll. You could just about ski across the field from the bottom of the gondola to the Hotel Gansleit. This hotel lies between Soll, and the slopes.

Thanks Dave, yes I realise that, not a problem as long as the buses run regularly and you can get on them! What happends if your hotel is at the end of the pick up run?

LWS

I have stayed in Elmau and Scheffau over the last couple of years and can tell you that the ski buses between those towns are not the free ones. Unless things have changed in the last 2 year, you will have to pay on the postbus, Last year, it cost us no more that a couple of euros to travel to Ellmau for a meal. In my previous experience accomodated in Ellmau the only time the freee ski buses was provided to Scheffau was when there wasn't any snow at Ellmau. There are two gondolas from the bottom station in Scheffau, A couple of runs finish right next to the main road and main car park. There's quite a nice hotel there, and a couple of bars and a restaurant. Soll and Ellmau certainly have better nightlife and shops, but for that skiing convenience of location of slopes and gondola, Scheffau wins hands down. There's even a groomed cross country (very) gentle slope which connects the main village to the gondola and makes a suitable warm up opportunity in the AM. There's a great bar up in the village which has the internet facility for checking your skiing progress from your lift pass details, i.e. distance covered by time, descents by run number, and so on.

Anyway, only 18 days to go and I'll be there, staying in an excellent Pension on the opposite side of the road to the Gondolas'

Whichever resort you choose, enjoy the Skiwelt, as I know I will.

8) :thumbup:

Thanks Coops2, just found a good deal for 27th Feb, staying in Soll at Eggerwirt 1/2 board, nothing fancy but whole deal with 2 x lift passes, 1 x ski carriage, 2 x 20 klg luggage allowances (and meals on the plane!) for total of £1283, so quite chuffed that 2 weeks internet surfing has paid off!

Now I'm counting the sleeps and glued to the webcams!

That's a pretty good deal. If this years snow is anything like last years, it'll be great. I think Soll has night skiing doesn't it. Westendorf makes a great awayday, there's a really good fun park there.

Enjoy.